JP2009273091A - Image forming device and error processing method for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display error information on malfunctions occurring in an image forming device in ascending or descending order which can be switched, and to simplify an operation of removing malfunctions. <P>SOLUTION: A printing unit 11 prints print data to a printing medium. A storage unit 7 stores management data for managing, among malfunctions occurring in a printing operation, general error information indicating general malfunctions other than specific error information indicating specific malfunctions which are of essential operations, in association with display priority levels. An input unit 9 receives an input for selecting error information in the management data, an input for selecting a display priority level, and a remove input for selecting general error information to be removed. An error display control unit 13 controls and creates a list of error information selected by the input unit 9 and related to a malfunction occurring due to an operation of the device in accordance with the priority level, controls and displays the list of error information on a display unit 9, and controls and removes a malfunction state based on the remove input. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an error processing method for the image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus suitable for being mounted on, for example, a multi-function peripheral (MFP) and an error processing method in the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals are configured to display error information indicating contents related to a failure when an operation failure is detected so as to ensure smooth use.

  However, there are many actual faults in the image forming apparatus, and special measures are required to display error information, for example, the contents of the faults that have occurred and how to deal with the faults in an easy-to-understand manner.

  Therefore, for example, a technique such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-301425 (Patent Document 1) has been proposed.

This Patent Document 1 makes it possible to register the priority order of errors displayed on the display means, and when a plurality of errors have occurred, the number of times the lamp blinks can be varied according to the number of errors, The error can be displayed so that the user can preferentially know the error that the user wants to know whether or not it has occurred, and the number of errors or the contents of all errors can be known.
JP 2005-301425 A

  However, the above-described Patent Document 1 is intended to simply display errors with priorities or to display errors that the user wants to know, after a failure occurs and an error is displayed. However, there is room for improvement in order to continue to use the image forming apparatus without considering the handling of the obstacle.

  However, a device is also proposed that is configured so that when a plurality of errors occur, one with a high error priority is displayed and the next error is displayed after the error is canceled.

  However, the types of errors include devices that are automatically canceled by replacement of a device, such as a toner tank, and those that need to be canceled by a user's forced continuation operation. Whether the user can forcibly continue by ignoring the error display must be confirmed one by one according to the error display, and the operation is complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to switch and display error information based on the occurrence of a failure in ascending or descending order, and it is easy to simplify the canceling operation for the failure, and the operability. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an error processing method for the image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve such a problem, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that prints print data on a printing medium, and faults that may occur in the device in relation to the printing operation of the printing unit. Among them, a storage unit that stores management data that manages general error information that indicates general failure other than specific error information that indicates specific failure that is a failure of essential operation in the device, with a predetermined display priority, and A display unit that displays error information relating to a failure that has occurred in the device, an input unit that accepts selection input in ascending or descending order for the display priority order related to the error information, and error information related to the failure that has occurred due to the operation of the device. An error that controls the creation of an error information list in ascending or descending order based on the selected input from the input unit, and controls the display of this error information list on the display Those comprising the shown control unit.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the input unit has a function of accepting a release input for selecting the general error information and canceling the failure corresponding to the general error information, and the error display control unit receives the release input. A configuration in which the failure state of the general failure related to the selected general error information is controlled to be released is also possible.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the error information is displayed in descending order, the error display control unit causes a failure state of a general failure related to a low priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input. A configuration in which the release control is also possible.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the error information is displayed in ascending order, the error display control unit causes the failure state of the general failure related to the high priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input. A configuration in which the release control is also possible.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the input unit may accept input of user information relating to a user who uses the apparatus, and the error display control unit may create and control the error information list for each user information. is there.

  The error processing method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is specific error information indicating a specific failure that is a failure of an essential operation in the device among failures that may occur in the device in relation to the printing operation of the printing unit. General error information indicating a general failure other than the management data that is managed by assigning a predetermined display priority, selection input processing for selectively inputting the error information, and the display priority for the error information in ascending order or A rank selection process that accepts a selection input in descending order, and an error information list that is selected and input in this selection input process and that is related to a failure caused by the operation of the device, in ascending or descending order based on the rank selection process. And an error information generation process for controlling the generation, and an error information display process for controlling the display of the error information list on the display unit.

  In the error processing method of the present invention, a general input related to general error information selected by the cancellation input process for receiving a cancellation input for selecting the above general error information and canceling the corresponding fault, and the general error information selected by the cancellation input It is also possible to have a configuration including a release control process for releasing the failure state.

  In the error processing method of the present invention, when the error information is displayed in descending order, the cancellation control processing is performed to indicate a failure state of a general failure related to a low priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input. Configuration to control release is also possible

  In the error processing method according to the present invention, when the error information is displayed in ascending order, the cancellation control process determines the failure state of the general failure related to the high priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input. A configuration in which release control is performed is also possible.

  The error processing method of the present invention includes a user information input process that receives input of user information relating to a user who uses the device, and the release control process can be configured to control the creation of an error information list for each user information. It is.

  In such an image forming apparatus and error processing method according to the present invention, error information is selected and input from management data having general error information other than specific error information indicating a specific failure in the apparatus with a predetermined display priority. When an ascending order or descending order instruction is selected and inputted for the display priority order related to this error information, the error information related to the failure caused by the operation of the apparatus is selected and inputted, and the error information is inputted in ascending order or descending order based on the selection process. Since the error information list is created and controlled, and the error information list is displayed on the display unit, the error information based on the occurrence of the failure can be switched and displayed in ascending order or descending order, thereby improving operability.

  In the present invention, the general error information is selected and a cancel input for canceling the corresponding fault is input, and the general fault information related to the general error information selected by the cancel input is canceled and controlled. In addition to the effects described above, it is easy to simplify the release operation for the failure.

  In the present invention, when the error information is displayed in descending order, the configuration in which the failure status of the general failure related to the low priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input is controlled to be released has a high priority. If the general fault is canceled, it is possible to cancel the general fault related to the low priority.

  In the present invention, when the error information is displayed in ascending order, the configuration in which the failure state of the general failure related to the high priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input is controlled to be released has a low priority. After the general failure is released, the general failure with the higher priority remains, so that the general failure with the higher priority becomes easy to see and the response becomes easy.

  In the present invention, in the configuration in which user information related to a user who uses the device is input and the error information list for each user information is created and controlled, the creation and display of the error information list and the control for canceling the fault state are performed for each user. Is possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The error processing method according to the present invention will be described in the course of describing the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention in an image forming system including the image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus A according to the present invention and a post-processing apparatus B externally connected thereto.

First, the image forming apparatus A will be described.
The image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 3, a communication unit 5, a storage unit 7, an operation panel unit 9, a printing unit 11, and an error display control unit 13 with the print control unit 1 as a center, and constitutes a multifunction device, for example. is doing.

  Although the image forming apparatus A has various configurations other than this, it is not a main part of the present invention, and thus the description and illustration are omitted.

  The print control unit 1 controls the image reading unit 3, the communication unit 5, the storage unit 7, the operation panel unit 9, the printing unit 11, and the error display control unit 13, which will be described in detail later.

  For example, in the image forming apparatus A of FIG. 2, the image reading unit 3 is disposed on the upper part of the main body case 15, and optically reads an image from a printed document, for example, under the control of the print control unit 1, and performs a filter process or the like A known scanner or the like that generates electronic print data by sequentially storing the generated print data in the storage unit 7 for each page of the document. The internal configuration of the image forming apparatus A will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the communication unit 5 receives print data including an image and a document with, for example, another multifunction device (none of which is shown) via a network under the control of the print control unit 1. This is an interface unit that receives a predetermined protocol and sequentially stores it in the storage unit 7 for each page.

  The storage unit 7 stores, for example, hard disk (HDD) that stores print data from the image reading unit 3 and the communication unit 5 and operation programs for the print control unit 1 as well as management data, error information list, operation screens, and the like to be described later. ).

  The management data includes specific error information indicating a specific failure that is a failure of the essential operation in the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B in relation to the printing operation of the printing unit 11. And table-like data having general error information indicating general faults other than the specific fault, which are set and stored in the storage unit 7 in advance.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the management data includes priority numbers such as “paper jam” and “out of toner” as error items, and presence / absence of selection for “error that cannot be ignored” as specific error information. It is the corresponding data.

  Furthermore, the management data includes “error that can be ignored” as general error information, “error for double-sided printing”, “memory shortage during printing”, “USB memory removal error”, “department registration by remote, This is data in which priority order numbers such as “deletion failure”, “staple processing impossible”, and “punch scrap box full” are associated with the presence or absence of selection.

  “USB memory removal error” is an error when a predetermined release operation is not performed when removing a USB (universal serial bus) memory. “Remote department registration / deletion failure” is remote registration or deletion of various data from outside. An error when failure occurs, “staple processing impossible” is an error when staple processing cannot be performed in the post-processing apparatus B, and “punch waste box full” is an error when punch waste in the post-processing apparatus B is full.

  The priority in the management data is selected and set for general error information by accepting a user's selection input on the operation panel unit 9. For example, in FIG. The second is “punch scrap box full”, the third is “double-sided printing is not possible”, the fourth is “memory shortage during printing”, the fifth is “department registration / deletion failed by remote”, 6 Is set as “USB memory removal error”.

  The selection settings in the management data are displayed in a list when they occur. General error information such as “Cannot print on both sides”, “Not enough memory when printing”, “Staple processing not possible” and “Punch scrap box full” is displayed. The error information is selected with a “O” mark.

  The operation panel unit 9 is disposed, for example, on the upper part of the main body case 15 of the image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 2, and serves as a liquid crystal display unit that displays the operation state (including error information generated during the operation) of the image forming apparatus A. In addition to the function as an instruction input unit for selecting paper feed stages 23a and 23b (to be described later) for setting paper to be printed, printing execution or cancellation, the number of copies, etc. As an input unit that receives error information selection input, input of user information (user identification code) relating to a user who uses the image forming apparatus A, and general error information to cancel a failure corresponding thereto It functions and is controlled by the print control unit 1.

  That is, the operation panel unit 9 displays the management data of FIG. 3 described above under the control of the print control unit 1, and the display priority order and selection of individual user information and error information by operating key buttons (not shown). The function of inputting and setting the presence / absence of the data and storing it in the storage unit 7 is provided.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the operation panel unit 9 has a function of accepting selection input in ascending order or descending order, which is a display priority order of error information forming the error information list, which will be described later. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, it has a function of receiving display of individual general error information selected from the error information list and an input for canceling the failure for the general error information. Details will be described later.

  The display shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is for each individual user corresponding to the user information input from the operation panel unit 9. In particular, FIGS. , A screen for selecting a print density, a print magnification and a reduction / enlargement, and a selection input can be made by touching each display area.

  5 to 7 include a “cancel” input for selecting only individual general error information and an “all cancel” input for collectively selecting a plurality of general error information.

  The printing unit 11 is arranged in the main body case 15 of the image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 2, feeds paper from the paper feed stages 23a and 23b, and prints the print data on one side or both sides of the fed and transported paper in monochrome. The paper is discharged after printing or color printing.

  The error display control unit 13 creates and controls, for each user, a list of error information that is error information selected and input on the operation panel unit 9 and that is caused by the operation of the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B. The error information list is controlled to be displayed on the operation panel unit 9, and has a function of canceling the corresponding failure state in the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B by a cancel input in the operation panel unit 9.

  That is, the error display control unit 13 searches for error information corresponding to the user information selected and input from the operation panel unit 9 based on the management data described above, and when the failure occurs, as shown in FIG. For example, it has a function of creating and controlling an error information list in which error information is arranged in descending order from the set priority, for example, and controlling the display on the operation panel unit 9. Reference numerals 9a to 9d in FIG. 4 are display areas for displaying error contents corresponding to the error items in FIG.

  Further, the error display control unit 13 recreates the error information list in which the error information is arranged in descending order in ascending order as shown in FIG. 4B by selection input of the ascending order button 9e on the operation panel unit 9. It also has a function of controlling display of the controlled error information list on the operation panel unit 9.

  4B, when the error information is arranged in the ascending order of priority as shown in FIG. 4B and the descending order button 9f is selected and input, the error information list in which the error information is arranged in the descending order of priority is shown in FIG. Re-created control.

  Further, the error display control unit 13 receives general error information selected from the operation panel unit 9 according to the release input input from the operation panel unit 9 or general errors related to priorities after the general error information. It has a function to control the release of the fault state. Details will be described later.

  The print control unit 1 includes a CPU, a memory unit that stores a startup program for the CPU, and an input / output interface (none of which are shown). The image reading unit 3, the communication unit 5, the storage unit 7, and the operation described above. The panel unit 9, the printing unit 11, and the error display control unit 13 are controlled and part thereof.

  The print control unit 1 has a function of controlling the printing unit 11 to print and discharge the paper so that the paper is fed from the paper feed stages 23a and 23b, and the print data in the storage unit 7 is printed on the paper and discharged. is doing.

  The print control unit 1 monitors various operations in the image forming apparatus A, and outputs a failure information to the error display control unit 13 and an error display when a failure corresponding to the error information in the management data described above occurs. Based on the failure cancellation instruction from the control unit 13, it has a function of controlling the cancellation of the corresponding function or the execution of forced continuation. The print control unit 1 outputs failure information from the post-processing apparatus B to the error display control unit 13 as described later.

  The print control unit 1 also has a function of outputting a post-processing instruction signal to the post-processing apparatus B based on the print data, and controlling the execution of post-processing such as stapling and punching as described later.

Next, the post-processing apparatus B connected to the image forming apparatus A will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing apparatus B includes a staple processing unit 17, a punch processing unit 19, a post-processing control unit 21, and the like connected to the print control unit 1 of the image forming apparatus A. . Although the post-processing apparatus B has other configurations, it is not a main part of the present invention, so that the description and illustration are omitted.

  The staple processing unit 17 is a mechanism for performing staple processing by pinning the paper carried from the image forming apparatus A with a pin for each set based on post-processing instruction information from the image forming apparatus A under the control of the post-processing control unit 21. It is determined whether or not stapling is possible for the sheet to be conveyed, and when stapling cannot be performed due to a reason such as a large number of sheets for each copy, the stapling process cannot be performed via the post-processing control unit 21. The print control unit 1 has a function of outputting failure information to that effect.

  The punching processing unit 19 performs punching processing for punching holes in the paper for each unit carried in from the image forming apparatus A based on the postprocessing instruction information from the image forming apparatus A under the control of the postprocessing control unit 21. It is a mechanism section that is executed every time, has a punch scrap box (not shown), determines whether or not the punch scrap box is full, and if it is full and causes a punch operation fault, this fault information is post-process controlled. A function of outputting to the print control unit 1 via the unit 21.

  The post-processing control unit 21 includes a CPU and a storage unit (none of which is shown) that stores an operation program of the CPU. Based on post-processing instruction information from the print control unit 1, the post-processing control unit 21 and the punch processing unit 17 In addition to controlling execution of the staple processing and punch processing for the processing section 19, the processing section 19 has a function of outputting fault information from the staple processing section 17 and punch processing section 19 to the print control section 1.

  The post-processing control unit 21 has a function of controlling cancellation of the corresponding function or execution of forced continuation based on the failure cancellation instruction from the print control unit 1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B described above.

  In FIG. 2, in addition to a plurality of paper feed stages 23a and 23b, a sheet fed primary from these paper feed stages 23a and 23b is secondarily fed to the lower part of the main body case 15 of the image forming apparatus A. A transfer fixing unit 25 for transferring and fixing print data to form an image is disposed on the transport unit, and the printing unit 11 described above is disposed.

  The reversing and conveying unit 27 has a function of reversing the front and back of a sheet having an image transferred and fixed on one side for double-sided printing and returning it to the transfer and fixing unit 25, and forms the printing unit 11.

  A paper discharge port 29 through which the paper printed by the printing unit 11 is discharged is formed on the upper side surface of the main body case 15.

  The image reading unit 3 and the operation panel unit 9 described above are arranged on the upper part of the main body case 15, and the print control unit 1, the communication unit 5, the storage unit 7, and the error display control unit 13 are appropriately arranged inside the main body case 15. Electronic circuits are formed and arranged at various positions.

  The post-processing device B connected to the image forming apparatus A has a carry-in port 33 aligned with the paper discharge port 29 at the upper part of the main body case 31 of the post-process device B, and the conveyance formed from the carry-in port 33. The staple processing unit 17 and the punch processing unit 19 described above are arranged in the path.

  The staple processing unit 17 is for stapling the paper for each copy, and the punch processing unit 19 is for punching the paper for each copy.

  Note that reference numeral 35 in FIG. 1 conveys sheets of paper that have been carried in from the carry-in port 33 to the staple processing unit 17 and the punch processing unit 19, and switches and conveys the paper after the processing to the paper discharge tray 37. It is a lever to do.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus A according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, management data having specific error information indicating a specific failure and general error information indicating other general failures is stored in the storage unit 7 in advance, for example, a general error A case will be described in which default settings are made so that information is displayed in descending order of priority.

  The user inputs user information such as user identification information from the operation panel unit 9, and selects and inputs error information (specific error information and general error information) to be displayed on the operation panel unit 9 for each user from the management data. (Selective input processing).

  In the image forming apparatus A, when a printing operation is instructed from the operation panel unit 9 and the operation starts, the printing unit 11 feeds the paper, transfers and fixes the print data, and sends it from the paper discharge port 29 to the post-processing device B. In the post-processing apparatus B, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 37 without being processed as it is or after being stapled or punched.

  If any failure occurs during the printing operation of the image forming apparatus A by a certain user, the print control unit 1 outputs the corresponding failure information to the error display control unit 13, and the error display control unit 13 causes the failure to occur. The error information list is controlled to be created for each user (error information creation process) in descending order of priority set as default, and the error information list is displayed on the operation panel unit 9 (error information display process). For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, an error information list is displayed on the operation panel unit 9.

  FIG. 4 shows the error information in the management data shown in FIG. 3. In the expression area 9a, “staple processing impossible” is “this size cannot be stapled”, and “punch waste box full” is “punch waste box is full”. In the expression area 9b, the expression "Non-double-sided printing error" is expressed as an expression area 9c "This size cannot be printed on both sides", and "Insufficient memory during printing" is expressed as "Insufficient memory capacity during printing". A list is displayed in 9d. In this example, specific error information indicating a specific failure is not selected and is not displayed.

  In FIG. 4A, by selecting and inputting the ascending order button 9e on the operation panel unit 9, an error information list in which error information is arranged in ascending order of priority is created and controlled. As shown in FIG. An error information list in which error information is arranged is switched and displayed on the operation panel unit 9.

  4A and 4B, the error information is selected by touch-selecting the expression areas 9a to 9d under the control of the error display control unit 13.

  For example, when the “This size cannot be stapled” expression area 9a in FIG. 4 is selected and input, a selection screen for determining whether or not the failure relating to the error that cannot be stapled is displayed on the operation panel unit 9 as shown in FIG. When the cancel button 9g is touch-inputted (release input process), the error display control unit 13 performs forcible release control (release control process) on the failure of the corresponding location via the print control unit 1, while “punch scraps”. The screen is switched to the screen of FIG. 6 relating to the expression area 9b.

  In FIG. 6, when the cancel button 9g is touch-inputted, the error display control unit 13 forcibly cancels the failure at the corresponding location via the print control unit 1, while the "This size cannot be printed on both sides" expression area 9c. The screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the cancel button 9g is touch-inputted, the error display control unit 13 forcibly cancels the failure at the corresponding location via the print control unit 1, while switching to the subsequent error cancel display screen.

  In FIG. 5, if all cancel buttons 9 h are touch-inputted, error information of priority after “staple processing is not possible”, that is, “punch waste box full”, “double-sided printing impossible error”, and “memory shortage during printing”. All the obstacles are released.

  In FIG. 6, if all cancel buttons 9 h are touch-inputted, all faults related to error information of low priority after “punch scrap box full” are canceled.

  If the error information list is selected and set to display in ascending order, touching the all cancel button 9h in FIG. 5 to FIG. All such obstacles are released.

  These processes correspond to the error processing method of the present invention.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus A according to the present invention, the printing unit 11 that prints the print data on the printing paper, and the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B that can be generated in association with the printing operation of the printing unit 11 A storage unit 7 for storing management data for managing general error information indicating general faults other than specific error information indicating specific faults that are essential operation faults among prioritized faults with priorities; An operation panel unit (display unit) 9 for displaying error information related to the failure that has occurred, input of user information related to the user, selection input of error information in the management data, selection input of ascending or descending order related to the priority order, And an operation panel unit (input unit) 9 that receives a cancellation input for selecting general error information for canceling the failure, and error information selected by the operation panel unit (input unit) 9. The error information list related to the failure caused by the operation of the device is created and controlled in ascending or descending order for each user information, and the error information list is displayed on the operation panel unit (display unit) 9 and is controlled by the release input. And an error display control unit 13 for canceling and controlling the corresponding failure state in the apparatus.

  Therefore, when a failure occurs during the operation of the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B, the error information list of general error information indicating a general failure is displayed in ascending or descending order for each user who uses the image forming apparatus A. In addition, the error information can be displayed in ascending and descending order, and the operability is improved.If the error information is selected, the failure associated with the error information can be canceled and the cancellation operation can be simplified easily. The operability is improved.

  And, since it is possible to release the failure state related to the low priority after the general error information selected in the error information list displayed in descending order, after dealing with the general failure with high priority, General obstacles related to low priority can be cleared at once.

  For example, in FIG. 4A, when the error information “staple processing is impossible” is displayed due to a paper size or orientation failure, a general failure related to a low priority order that can be ignored after resetting the paper size and orientation. Can be released at once.

  In addition, since it is possible to cancel the failure status related to the high priority after the general error information selected in the error information list displayed in ascending order, after canceling the general failure with low priority, A high general fault remains, it becomes easy to see a general fault with a high priority, and it becomes easy to deal with the cancellation of the fault. Suitable for display on a display unit having a small display area.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the configuration for selecting the necessity of canceling the failure state for individual general error information and controlling the release, and the order after each general error information are canceled at once. Although the structure to control was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this.

  In other words, the error display control unit 13 can be configured to collectively control the failure state of all the general error information by one release input from the operation panel unit 9. The part 9 may be provided with an all cancel button 9h, and the error display control part 13 may be provided with a fault canceling function for the corresponding part of the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B based thereon.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the failure state of all general error information is collectively canceled by one input process, the failure state of the general error related to the general error information is canceled and operated at once by the release input. It is possible to further improve the property.

  The image forming apparatus A of the present invention can be implemented not only for errors related to failures in the image forming apparatus itself but also for failures in a post-processing apparatus B or an apparatus (not shown) connected to the image forming apparatus A from the outside.

  The management data in the present invention is a failure that may occur in connection with the printing operation of the printing unit 11, but these are not limited to the image forming apparatus A, and are not limited to the image forming apparatus A such as the post-processing apparatus B. Even a device connected to the printer includes any failure that occurs in connection with the printing operation of the printing unit 11.

  Further, the specific error information indicating the specific failure that becomes a failure of the essential operation in the apparatus is a failure that disables the original basic operation of the image forming apparatus A itself, such as a paper jam or out of toner. A general failure is a failure other than the specific failure such that single-sided printing is possible but double-sided printing is impossible, and the device itself can operate.

  Moreover, the specific failure information in the present invention can change the specific failure into a general failure when paper removal or toner replenishment is performed, and can also perform forced release control. The print control unit 1 and the error display control unit 13 may be formed correspondingly.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the input unit that receives the selection input of error information in the management data and the release input for selecting general error information and canceling the failure corresponding thereto is displayed on the operation panel unit 9. Without being limited, selection from the information processing apparatus is also possible via an external network.

  In the image forming apparatus A of the present invention, the print medium is not limited to paper, and can be implemented with various sheet media such as a synthetic resin sheet.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus A of the present invention can be implemented in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.

  Furthermore, the error processing method according to the present invention has the same effect as the image forming apparatus A of the present invention.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention together with an image forming system. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the image forming system of FIG. It is a figure explaining the management data in this invention. It is a figure explaining the error information list in this invention. It is a figure explaining selection input of failure cancellation of error information in the present invention. It is a figure explaining selection input of failure cancellation of error information in the present invention. It is a figure explaining selection input of failure cancellation of error information in the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print control part 3 Image reading part 5 Communication part 7 Storage part 9 Operation panel part (input part)
11 Printing unit 13 Error display control unit 15, 31 Main body case 17 Staple processing unit 19 Punch processing unit 21 Post-processing control unit 23 a, 23 b Paper feed stage 25 Transfer fixing unit 27 Reverse conveyance unit 29 Paper discharge port 33 Carriage port 35 Lever 37 Output tray A Image forming apparatus B Post-processing apparatus

Claims (10)

A printing unit for printing print data on a print medium;
General error information indicating general failure other than specific error information indicating specific failure that is a failure of essential operation in the device among failures that may occur in the device in relation to the printing operation of the printing unit. A storage unit for storing management data to be managed with a predetermined display priority order;
A display unit for displaying the error information related to a failure that has occurred in the device;
An input unit for receiving selection input in ascending order or descending order for the display priority order related to the error information;
Error display control for creating and controlling an error information list in the ascending order or descending order based on a selection input from the input unit, and controlling the display of the error information list on the display unit. And
An image forming apparatus comprising: The input unit has a function of accepting a release input for selecting the general error information and canceling a failure corresponding thereto, and the error display control unit is the general error information selected by the release input The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein release control of the failure state of the general failure is performed. The error display control unit, when the error information is displayed in descending order, cancels the failure state of the general failure according to a low priority after the general error information selected by the release input. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. The error display control unit, when the error information is displayed in ascending order, cancels the failure state of the general failure related to a high priority after the general error information selected by the release input. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 5. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the input unit receives input of user information relating to a user who uses the apparatus, and the error display control unit controls the creation of the error information list for each of the user information. apparatus. General error information indicating general failure other than specific error information indicating specific failure that is a failure of essential operation in the device among failures that may occur in the device in relation to the printing operation of the printing unit, Selective input processing for selectively inputting the error information from management data to be managed with a predetermined display priority, and
An order selection process for accepting selection input in ascending or descending order for the display priority order related to the error information;
An error information creation process for creating and controlling error information that is selected and input in the selection input process and that is related to a failure that has occurred due to the operation of the device in ascending or descending order based on the rank selection process;
An error information display process for controlling the display of the error information list on a display unit;
An error processing method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: Release input processing for receiving a release input for selecting the general error information and releasing the failure corresponding thereto, and release control of the failure state of the general failure related to the general error information selected by the release input An error processing method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a release control process. 8. The release control process, when the error information is displayed in descending order, performs release control of the failure state of the general failure related to a lower priority after the general error information selected by the release input. An error processing method of the image forming apparatus described. 8. The cancellation input process performs cancellation control of the failure state of the general failure related to a high priority after the general error information selected by the cancellation input when the error information is displayed in ascending order. An error processing method of the image forming apparatus described. The user information input process which receives the input of the user information which concerns on the user who uses the said apparatus, The said cancellation | release control process produces and controls the said error information list for every said user information. An error processing method for an image forming apparatus.

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