JP2012059044A - Maintenance support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance support device which allows a maintenance worker to determine whether there is another component whose simultaneous replacement is desirable, together with a component which he/she is urged to replace.SOLUTION: When determining that the replacement timing for either of various components, or maintenance support objects, mounted in a copy machine comes, the maintenance support device displays a message to urge a user or the maintenance worker to replace it, as well as a residual life list screen presenting information on residual life of each of multiple components whose replacement timings have not come yet to the maintenance worker, on an operation display part 3.

Description

  The present invention provides a maintenance support for providing maintenance request information to a maintenance worker for each of various components mounted on the maintenance object, thereby supporting maintenance of the maintenance object. It relates to the device.

  Conventionally, in various machines and devices on the market, when a failure occurs, depending on the content of the failure, it may be disabled for a considerable period of time until the completion of repair, which may inconvenience the user. . For this reason, there is known a maintenance support device that supports a user or a service person to perform appropriate maintenance that causes as little failure as possible.

  For example, in the field of image forming apparatuses, the user and service personnel are urged to replace each component mounted on the image forming apparatus, which is a maintenance target, by grasping the arrival of the replacement time as follows. Maintenance support devices are known. That is, for each of the various components, the cumulative operating time (number of printed sheets) is individually counted, and it is understood that the replacement time has arrived based on the count value exceeding a predetermined threshold.

  Further, for example, a maintenance support device described in Patent Document 1 is also known that predicts whether or not a failure will occur soon for each of the various parts and more accurately captures the arrival of the replacement time. Yes. Whether or not a failure will occur soon is predicted based on an abnormal index value such as Mahalanobis distance obtained by multivariate analysis using various sensing data and control parameters acquired from the image forming apparatus.

  However, in the conventional maintenance support device, even if a part is about to be replaced, the user or service person is not prompted to replace it until the replacement period is actually reached. For this reason, immediately after prompting the user to replace a part and prompting the user to perform the replacement work, the user or service person is encouraged to replace another part that can be replaced in the same replacement work process as that part. There were times when it took me twice.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and the purpose of the present invention is to determine whether or not there is another part for which simultaneous replacement with the part is desired when replacement of the part is prompted. To provide a maintenance support device that can be judged by a maintenance worker such as a service person.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides useful judgment information, which is useful information for judging whether or not the replacement time has arrived for each of the various parts mounted on the maintenance object. , An information acquisition unit that acquires from the maintenance object, and an index value calculator that calculates a replacement index value indicating the necessity of replacement based on the acquisition result of the determination useful information by the information acquisition unit for each of the various components Means, a determination means for determining whether or not the replacement time has arrived based on a calculation result by the index value calculation means for each of the various components, and a part for which the replacement time has been determined by the determination means Information providing means for providing replacement request information, which is information prompting the user or maintenance worker to replace, and providing the replacement request information provides the maintenance request. In a maintenance support device that supports maintenance of an object, a process of providing information on the replacement index value for each of a plurality of parts that have not yet been replaced in addition to the replacement request information to a user or a maintenance worker The information providing means is configured to implement the above.
Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the maintenance support device according to claim 1, inquiring whether or not the replacement work has been completed for the maintenance worker only for the parts determined to have been replaced by the determination means. Receiving means for accepting replacement work end information from a maintenance worker user while performing the above, and determining whether the part corresponding to the replacement work end information is useful based on reception of the replacement work end information by the accepting means An information initialization means for initializing information is provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance support device of the second aspect, among the plurality of parts that have not been determined to have been replaced by the determination means, at the same time as the parts that have been determined to have been replaced When there is a part to be replaced, there is provided an input means for allowing the maintenance worker user to input the information of the part as additional replacement part information, and in addition to the part determined to be replaced by the determination means. The receiving unit is configured to receive the replacement work end information for parts corresponding to the additional replacement part information input to the input unit.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance support device of the second or third aspect, when the replacement work end information is received by the receiving means, a part corresponding to the replacement work end information is automatically ordered. An ordering means is provided.
Further, the invention of claim 5 is the maintenance support apparatus of claim 2, 3 or 4, and is arranged under the user, and includes at least the information acquisition means, the reception means, and the input means. Remote communication between a terminal device and a host device which is disposed at a location remote from the user and includes at least the index value calculation means, the determination means, and the information providing means A communication means is provided.

  In these inventions, when providing the maintenance worker with replacement request information for parts for which the replacement time has arrived, each of a plurality of other parts for which the replacement time has not arrived is replaced by providing information on replacement index values. Inform the maintenance workers of the remaining period until the time comes. Then, the maintenance worker can determine whether it is better to replace them simultaneously based on the remaining period.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a copier that is a maintenance support target of a maintenance support apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating a printer unit of the copier. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of a tandem part in the printer unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of an electric circuit of the copier. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for prompting replacement in an operation display unit of a conventional image forming apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the menu screen in the operation display part. The schematic diagram which shows the count value list screen in the operation display part. The schematic diagram for demonstrating count value clear operation on the count value list screen. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen for prompting replacement in the operation display unit of the copier according to the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the remaining life list screen in the operation display part. The schematic diagram for demonstrating replacement part addition operation on the same remaining life list screen. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the count value list screen in the operation display part. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an order form for ordering paper faxed by the copier. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the ordering character image synthesize | combined with the image of the ordering form. The schematic diagram which shows an example of the ordering paper. Configuration diagram showing a copier equipped with a part of the maintenance support device according to the modification and a monitoring device functioning as a part of the maintenance support device The block diagram which shows the software circuit implement | achieved by the failure prediction software installed in the monitoring apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a maintenance support apparatus that supports maintenance of an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a copying machine) that is an image forming apparatus will be described.
First, a basic configuration of a copier that is a maintenance target of the maintenance support apparatus according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a copier that is a maintenance support target of a maintenance support apparatus. The copier includes an image forming unit including a printer unit 100 and a paper feeding unit 200, a scanner unit 300, and a document conveying unit 400. The scanner unit 300 is mounted on the printer unit 100, and a document transport unit 400 including an automatic document transport device (ADF) is mounted on the scanner unit 300.

  The scanner unit 300 reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass 32 by the reading sensor 36 and sends the read image information to a control unit (not shown). Based on the image information received from the scanner unit 300, the control unit controls lasers and LEDs (not shown) disposed in the exposure device 21 of the printer unit 100 to provide four drum-shaped photoconductors 40K, Y, and M. , C is irradiated with laser writing light L. By this irradiation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C, and this latent image is developed into a toner image through a predetermined development process. Note that the subscripts K, Y, M, and C added after the reference numerals indicate specifications for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.

  In addition to the exposure device 21, the printer unit 100 includes primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C, a secondary transfer device 22, a fixing device 25, a paper discharge device, a toner supply device (not shown), a toner supply device, and the like. Yes.

  The paper feeding unit 200 includes an automatic paper feeding unit disposed below the printer unit 100 and a manual feeding unit disposed on a side surface of the printer unit 100. The automatic paper feed unit separates the two paper feed cassettes 44 arranged in multiple stages in the paper bank 43, the paper feed roller 42 that feeds transfer paper as a recording medium from the paper feed cassette, and the fed transfer paper. A separation roller 45 and the like are sent to the paper feed path 46. Further, it also includes a transport roller 47 that transports the transfer paper to the paper feed path 48 of the printer unit 100. On the other hand, the manual feed section includes a manual feed tray 51 and a separation roller 52 that separates transfer sheets on the manual feed tray 51 one by one toward the manual feed path 53.

  A registration roller pair 49 is disposed near the end of the paper feed path 48 of the printer unit 100. The registration roller pair 49 is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 10 serving as an intermediate transfer body and the secondary transfer device 22 at a predetermined timing after receiving the transfer paper sent from the paper feed cassette 44 or the manual feed tray 51. To the secondary transfer nip.

  In the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, the operator sets a document on the document table 30 of the document transport unit 400 when copying a color image. Alternatively, after the document conveying unit 400 is opened and a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner unit 300, the document conveying unit 400 is closed and the document is pressed. Then, a start switch (not shown) is pressed. Then, when an original is set on the original conveying unit 400, after the original is conveyed onto the contact glass 32, immediately after the original is set on the contact glass 32, the scanner unit 300 is driven. Start. Then, the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel, and the light emitted from the light source of the first traveling body 33 is reflected by the document surface and then travels toward the second traveling body 34. Further, after being reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body 34, it reaches the reading sensor 36 via the imaging lens 35 and is read as image information.

  When the image information is read in this way, the printer unit 100 rotates the other two support rollers while rotating one of the support rollers 14, 15, and 16 with a drive motor (not shown). Then, the intermediate transfer belt 10 stretched around these rollers is moved endlessly. Further, laser writing as described above and a development process described later are performed. Then, while rotating the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C, monochrome images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are formed on them. These are four-color superposed toners that are sequentially superposed and electrostatically transferred at the primary transfer nips for K, Y, M, and C where the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C and the intermediate transfer belt 10 abut. Become a statue. Toner images are formed on the photoreceptors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C.

  On the other hand, the paper feed unit 200 operates any one of the three paper feed rollers to feed the transfer paper having a size corresponding to the image information, and feeds the transfer paper to the paper feed path of the printer unit 100. Lead to 48. After the transfer paper that has entered the paper feed path 48 is sandwiched between the registration roller pair 49 and temporarily stopped, the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer roller 23 of the secondary transfer device 22 come into contact with each other at the appropriate timing. To the secondary transfer nip, which is a part. Then, in the secondary transfer nip, the four-color superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the transfer paper are brought into close contact in synchronization. Then, the four-color superimposed toner image is secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper due to the influence of the transfer electric field formed at the nip, the nip pressure, etc., and becomes a full color image combined with the white color of the paper.

  The transfer paper that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is fed into the fixing device 25 by the endless movement of the transport belt 24 of the secondary transfer device 22. Then, after the full color image is fixed by the action of the pressure applied by the pressure roller 27 of the fixing device 25 and the heating by the heating belt, the paper discharge tray 57 provided on the side surface of the printer unit 100 via the discharge roller 56. Discharged to the top.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating the printer unit 100. The printer unit 100 includes a belt unit, four process units 18K, Y, M, and C that form toner images of respective colors, a secondary transfer device 22, a belt cleaning device 17, a fixing device 25, and the like.

  The belt unit moves the intermediate transfer belt 10 stretched around a plurality of rollers endlessly while contacting the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C. In the primary transfer nip for K, Y, M, and C where the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C are brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is driven by the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C. Is pressed from the back side toward the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C. A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C by a power source (not shown). As a result, a primary transfer electric field for electrostatically moving the toner images on the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C toward the intermediate transfer belt 10 is formed in the primary transfer nips for K, Y, M, and C. Has been. Between each primary transfer roller 62K, Y, M, and C, a conductive roller 74 that is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is disposed. In these conductive rollers 74, the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C is applied to adjacent process units via the intermediate resistance base layer 11 on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 10. It prevents the flow.

  The process unit (18K, Y, M, C) supports the photosensitive member (40K, Y, M, C) and several other devices as a single unit on a common support. The unit 100 is detachable. Taking the black process unit 18K as an example, this has a developing unit 61K as developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 40K into a black toner image in addition to the photosensitive member 40K. ing. Further, it also has a photoreceptor cleaning device 63K that cleans transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after passing through the primary transfer nip. Further, there are a static elimination device (not shown) that neutralizes the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after cleaning, a charging device (not shown) that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after static elimination, and the like. The process units 18Y, M, and C for other colors have almost the same configuration except that the color of the toner to be handled is different. The copying machine has a so-called tandem configuration in which these four process units 18K, Y, M, and C are arranged so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 10 along the endless movement direction.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of the tandem unit 20 including the four process units 18K, Y, M, and C. Since the four process units 18K, Y, M, and C have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be used are different, K, Y, M, and C attached to the respective reference numerals in FIG. The subscript is omitted. As shown in the figure, the process unit 18 includes a charging device 60 as a charging unit, a developing device 61, a primary transfer roller 62 as a primary transfer unit, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, a charge eliminating device around the photoconductor 40. A device 64 or the like is provided.

  As the photosensitive member 40, a drum-shaped member is used in which a photosensitive organic layer is applied to a base tube made of aluminum or the like to form a photosensitive layer. However, an endless belt may be used. In addition, as the charging device 60, a charging device to which a charging roller to which a charging bias is applied is rotated while being in contact with the photoreceptor 40 is used. A scorotron charger or the like that performs a non-contact charging process on the photoreceptor 40 may be used.

  The developing device 61 develops a latent image using a two-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner. An agitating unit 66 that conveys the two-component developer accommodated in the inside while stirring and supplies the developer sleeve 65 to the developing sleeve 65; , C, a developing unit 67 for transferring to C.

  The stirring unit 66 is provided at a position lower than the developing unit 67, and includes two screws 68 arranged in parallel to each other, a partition plate provided between the screws, and a toner provided on the bottom surface of the developing case 70. It has a density sensor 71 and the like.

  The developing unit 67 includes a developing sleeve 65 that faces the photosensitive member 40 through the opening of the developing case 70, a magnet roller 72 that is non-rotatably provided inside the developing sleeve 65, a doctor blade 73 that approaches the developing sleeve 65, and the like. ing. The distance at the closest portion between the doctor blade 73 and the developing sleeve 65 is set to about 500 [μm]. The developing sleeve 65 has a non-magnetic rotatable sleeve shape. In addition, the magnet roller 72 that is prevented from being rotated around the developing sleeve 65 has, for example, five magnetic poles N1, S1, N2, S2, and S3 in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 65 from the position of the doctor blade 73. ing. Each of these magnetic poles applies a magnetic force to the two-component developer on the sleeve at a predetermined position in the rotation direction. As a result, the two-component developer sent from the stirring unit 66 is attracted and carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 65, and a magnetic brush is formed along the magnetic field lines on the sleeve surface.

  The magnetic brush is regulated to an appropriate layer thickness when passing through the position facing the doctor blade 73 as the developing sleeve 65 rotates, and then conveyed to the developing area facing the photoreceptor 40. Then, due to the potential difference between the developing bias applied to the developing sleeve 65 and the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 40, it is transferred onto the electrostatic latent image and contributes to development. Further, as the developing sleeve 65 rotates, the developing sleeve 65 returns to the developing portion 67 again, and after being separated from the sleeve surface due to the influence of the repulsive magnetic field between the magnetic poles of the magnet roller 72, the developing sleeve 65 is returned to the stirring portion 66. In the stirring unit 66, an appropriate amount of toner is supplied to the two-component developer based on the detection result by the toner density sensor 71. The developing device 61 may employ a one-component developer that does not include a magnetic carrier, instead of the one that uses a two-component developer.

  As the photoconductor cleaning device 63, a system in which a cleaning blade 75 made of polyurethane rubber is pressed against the photoconductor 40 is used, but another system may be used. In order to improve the cleaning property, in this example, a cleaning device 63 having a contact conductive fur brush 76 whose outer peripheral surface is in contact with the photoreceptor 40 is rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A metal electric field roller 77 for applying a bias to the fur brush 76 is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the tip of the scraper 78 is pressed against the electric field roller 77. The toner removed from the electric field roller 77 by the scraper 78 falls on the collection screw 79 and is collected.

  The photoconductor cleaning device 63 having such a configuration removes residual toner on the photoconductor 40 with a fur brush 76 that rotates in the counter direction with respect to the photoconductor 40. The toner adhering to the fur brush 76 is removed by the electric field roller 77 to which a bias that rotates in contact with the fur brush 76 in the counter direction is applied. The toner adhering to the electric field roller 77 is cleaned by the scraper 78. The toner recovered by the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is brought to one side of the photoconductor cleaning device 63 by the recovery screw 79 and returned to the developing device 61 by the toner recycling device 80 for reuse.

  The static eliminator 64 includes a static elimination lamp or the like, and removes the surface potential of the photoreceptor 40 by irradiating light. The surface of the photoreceptor 40 thus neutralized is uniformly charged by the charging device 60 and then subjected to optical writing processing.

  A secondary transfer device 22 is provided below the belt unit in the figure. In the secondary transfer device 22, a secondary transfer belt 24 is stretched between two rollers 23 and moved endlessly. One of the two rollers 23 is a secondary transfer roller to which a secondary transfer bias is applied by a power source (not shown), and the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer belt 24 are between the roller 16 of the belt unit. Is sandwiched. Thus, a secondary transfer nip is formed in which both belts move in the same direction at the contact portion while contacting. On the transfer paper fed from the registration roller pair 49 to the secondary transfer nip, the four-color superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is secondarily transferred collectively under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and the nip pressure, so that full color is obtained. An image is formed. The transfer sheet that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 10 and is conveyed to the fixing device 25 along with the endless movement of the belt while being held on the surface of the secondary transfer belt 24. Instead of the secondary transfer roller, secondary transfer may be performed by a transfer charger or the like.

  The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip approaches a support position by the support roller 15. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is sandwiched between a belt cleaning device 17 that contacts the front surface (loop outer surface) and a support roller 15 that contacts the back surface. Then, after the transfer residual toner adhering to the front surface is removed by the belt cleaning device 17, it sequentially enters the primary transfer nip for K, Y, M, and C, and the next four-color toner The images are superimposed.

  The belt cleaning device 17 has two fur brushes 90 and 91. By rotating a plurality of raised brushes in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10 in a counter direction with respect to the flocking direction, the transfer residual toner on the belt is mechanically scraped off. In addition, a cleaning bias is applied by a power source (not shown) to electrostatically attract and recover the scraped transfer residual toner.

  With respect to the fur brushes 90 and 91, the metal rollers 92 and 93 are rotating in the forward or reverse direction while being in contact with each other. Among these metal rollers 92 and 93, a negative polarity voltage is applied to the metal roller 92 located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the power source 94. Further, a positive polarity voltage is applied to the metal roller 93 located on the downstream side by the power source 95. The tips of the blades 96 and 97 are in contact with the metal rollers 92 and 93, respectively. In such a configuration, the upstream fur brush 90 first cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 with the endless movement of the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. At this time, for example, when −400 [V] is applied to the fur brush 90 while −700 [V] is applied to the metal roller 92, first, the positive polarity toner on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is moved to the fur brush 90 side. Electrostatic transfer to The toner transferred to the fur brush side is further transferred from the fur brush 90 to the metal roller 92 due to a potential difference, and is scraped off by the blade 96.

  As described above, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is removed by the fur brush 90, but a lot of toner still remains on the intermediate transfer belt 10. These toners are negatively charged by a negative polarity bias applied to the fur brush 90. This is considered to be charged by charge injection or discharge. Next, by using the fur brush 91 on the downstream side to apply a positive polarity bias and perform cleaning, the toner can be removed. The removed toner is transferred from the fur brush 91 to the metal roller 93 due to a potential difference and scraped off by the blade 97. The toner scraped off by the blades 96 and 97 is collected in a tank (not shown).

  Most of the toner is removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 after being cleaned by the fur brush 91, but a little toner is still left. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is charged with a positive polarity by a positive polarity bias applied to the fur brush 91 as described above. Then, it is transferred to the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C by the transfer electric field applied at the primary transfer position, and is collected by the photoconductor cleaning device 63.

  In general, the registration roller pair 49 is often used while being grounded. However, a bias can be applied to remove the paper dust of the transfer paper P.

  Under the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25, a transfer paper reversing device 28 (see FIG. 1) is provided so as to extend in parallel with the tandem portion 20 described above. As a result, the transfer paper that has undergone the image fixing process on one side is switched by the switching claw to the transfer paper path to the transfer paper reversing device side, where it is reversed and enters the secondary transfer transfer nip again. Then, after the secondary transfer process and the fixing process of the image are performed on the other side, the sheet is discharged onto a discharge tray.

  In the copying machine configured as described above, each process unit 18K, Y, M, C, secondary transfer device 22, exposure device 21 and the like constitute image forming means for forming an image on transfer paper as a recording medium. .

  Some of the components of the copying machine function as information acquisition means of the maintenance support apparatus according to the embodiment. This information acquisition means includes the control unit 1, various sensors 2, the operation display unit 3 and the like shown in FIG. The control unit 1 is a control unit that controls the entire copying machine, and includes a ROM 1c that is an information storage unit that stores a control program, a RAM 1b that is an information storage unit that stores calculation data and control parameters, and a CPU 1a that is a calculation unit. It has a nonvolatile RAM 1d as information storage means. The operation display unit 3 includes a display unit 3a composed of a liquid crystal display for displaying character information and the like, an operation unit 3b that receives input information from an operator through a numeric keypad and the like, and sends the input information to the control unit 1c. .

  The information acquisition means including the control unit 1 and the like is determination useful information that is useful information for determining whether or not the replacement time has arrived for each of various components such as a photoconductor and a charging device constituting the copying machine. To get. Examples of useful determination information include sensing information, control parameter information, input information, and image reading information. Hereinafter, these pieces of information will be described in detail.

(A) Sensing information As sensing information, it is considered as a target for acquiring drive relations, various characteristics of recording media, developer characteristics, photoreceptor characteristics, various electrophotographic process states, environmental conditions, various characteristics of recorded matter, and the like. . The outline of the sensing information is as follows.

(A-1) Driving information • The rotational speed of the photosensitive drum is detected by an encoder, the current value of the driving motor is read, and the temperature of the driving motor is read.
Similarly, the drive state of a cylindrical or belt-like rotating part such as a fixing roller, a paper transport roller, or a drive roller is detected.
-Detect sound generated by driving with a microphone installed inside or outside the device.

(A-2) Paper transport status-The position of the leading or trailing edge of the transported paper is read by a transmission or reflection type optical sensor or contact type sensor to detect that a paper jam has occurred. Reads deviations in the passage timing of the leading and trailing edges of the paper and fluctuations in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.
Similarly, the paper moving speed is obtained based on the detection timing between a plurality of sensors.
The slip between the paper supply roller and the paper during paper supply is obtained by comparing the measured value of the rotation speed of the roller with the amount of movement of the paper.

(A-3) Various characteristics of a recording medium such as paper This information greatly affects the image quality and stability of sheet conveyance. There are the following methods for acquiring information on this paper type.
-The thickness of the paper should be equal to the amount of movement of the member pushed up when the paper is sandwiched between two rollers and the relative positional displacement of the rollers is detected by an optical sensor or the paper enters. Find by detecting.
-The surface roughness of the paper is such that a guide or the like is brought into contact with the surface of the paper before transfer, and vibrations or sliding noises caused by the contact are detected.
-For the gloss of paper, a light beam with a specified opening angle is incident at a specified incident angle, and a light beam with a specified opening angle reflected in the specular reflection direction is measured by a sensor.
The paper rigidity is obtained by detecting the amount of deformation (curvature) of the pressed paper.
The judgment as to whether or not the paper is recycled is made by irradiating the paper with ultraviolet rays and detecting its transmittance.
The determination as to whether the paper is a backing paper is performed by irradiating light from a linear light source such as an LED array and detecting the light reflected from the transfer surface with a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD.
Whether or not the sheet is for OHP is determined by irradiating the paper with light and detecting regular reflection light having a different angle from the transmitted light.
• The amount of water contained in the paper is determined by measuring the absorption of infrared or μ-wave light.
-The amount of curl is detected by an optical sensor, contact sensor, etc.
-The electrical resistance of the paper is measured directly by contacting a pair of electrodes (such as paper feed rollers) with the recording paper, or by measuring the surface potential of the photoconductor or intermediate transfer body after paper transfer, and recording from that value. Estimate the resistance of the paper.

(A-4) Developer characteristics The characteristics of the developer (toner and carrier) in the apparatus influence the basic function of the electrophotographic process. Therefore, it becomes an important factor for the operation and output of the system. Obtaining developer information is extremely important. Examples of the developer characteristics include the following items.
-For toner, list charge amount and distribution, fluidity, cohesion, bulk density, electrical resistance, amount of external additive, consumption or remaining amount, fluidity, toner concentration (mixing ratio of toner and carrier) Can do.
-As for carriers, magnetic properties, coat film thickness, spent amount, etc. can be mentioned.
It is usually difficult to detect such information alone in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it may be detected as a comprehensive characteristic of the developer. The overall characteristics of this developer can be measured, for example, as follows.
A test latent image is formed on the photoconductor, developed under predetermined development conditions, and the reflection density (light reflectance) of the formed toner image is measured.
A pair of electrodes is provided in the developing device, and the relationship between applied voltage and current is measured (resistance, dielectric constant, etc.).
-Install a coil in the developing device and measure the voltage-current characteristics (inductance).
-A level sensor is provided in the developing device to detect the developer capacity. The level sensor includes an optical type and a capacitance type.

(A-5) Photoreceptor characteristics The photoreceptor characteristics are closely related to the function of the electrophotographic process as well as the developer characteristics. Information on the photoconductor characteristics includes photoconductor film thickness, surface characteristics (friction coefficient, unevenness), surface potential (before and after each process), surface energy, scattered light, temperature, color, surface position (flare), linear velocity , Potential decay rate, electrical resistance, capacitance, surface moisture content and the like. Among these, the following information can be detected in the image forming apparatus.
・ Detect the current flowing from the charging member to the photoconductor, and simultaneously compare the change in capacitance with the change in film thickness with the voltage-current characteristics with respect to the voltage applied to the charging member and the preset dielectric thickness of the photoconductor. Thus, the film thickness is obtained.
-The surface potential and temperature can be determined by a conventionally known sensor.
-The linear velocity is detected by an encoder attached to the photoconductor rotating shaft.
-Scattered light from the surface of the photoreceptor is detected by an optical sensor.

(A-6) Electrophotographic Process State As is well known, toner image formation by electrophotography is performed by uniformly charging a photoreceptor, forming a latent image (image exposure) by laser light, etc., and charged toner (colored particles). Development by transfer, transfer of toner image onto transfer material (in the case of color, overlay on the recording medium that is the intermediate transfer body or final transfer material, or over development on the photoreceptor during development), toner on the recording medium This is done in the order of image fixing. Various information at each of these stages greatly affects the output of images and other systems. Obtaining these is important in evaluating the stability of the system. Specific examples of the information acquisition of the electrophotographic process state include the following.
The charging potential and the exposure portion potential are detected by a conventionally known surface potential sensor.
The gap between the charging member and the photosensitive member in non-contact charging is detected by measuring the amount of light that has passed through the gap.
・ Electromagnetic waves from electrification are captured by a broadband antenna.
・ Sound generated by charging.
-Exposure intensity.
-Exposure light wavelength.

Examples of the method for acquiring various states of the toner image include the following.
The pile height (the height of the toner image) is obtained by measuring the depth from the vertical direction with a displacement sensor and the light shielding length from the horizontal direction with a linear sensor of parallel light.
The toner charge amount is measured by a potential sensor that measures the potential of the electrostatic latent image on the solid part and the potential when the latent image is developed, and the ratio to the adhesion amount converted from the reflection density sensor at the same location. Ask for.
The dot fluctuation or dust is detected by detecting the dot pattern image with an infrared light area sensor on the photosensitive member and with an area sensor having a wavelength corresponding to each color on the intermediate transfer member, and performing appropriate processing.
The offset amount (after fixing) is obtained by reading the corresponding locations on the recording paper and the fixing roller with optical sensors and comparing them.
An optical sensor is installed after the transfer process (on the PD and on the belt), and the transfer remaining amount is determined based on the amount of reflected light from the transfer residual pattern after the transfer of the specific pattern.
-Detect color unevenness during overlay with a full-color sensor that detects the recording paper after fixing.

(A-7) The characteristics, image density, and color of the formed toner image are optically detected. Either reflected light or transmitted light may be used. What is necessary is just to select a light projection wavelength according to a color. In order to obtain density and single color information, it may be on a photoconductor or an intermediate transfer body, but it is necessary on paper to measure a color combination such as color unevenness.
For gradation, the reflection density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive member or the toner image transferred to the transfer member is detected by an optical sensor for each gradation level.
Sharpness is obtained by reading an image in which a line repetition pattern is developed or transferred using a monocular sensor having a small spot diameter or a high-resolution line sensor.
The graininess (roughness) is obtained by reading a halftone image and calculating a noise component by the same method as the sharpness detection.
The registration skew is obtained from the difference between the registration roller ON timing and the detection timing of both sensors by providing optical sensors at both ends in the main scanning direction after registration.
Color misregistration is detected by a monocular small-diameter spot sensor or high-resolution line sensor at the edge portion of the superimposed image on the intermediate transfer member or recording paper.
Banding (density unevenness in the feed direction) measures density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction with a small-diameter spot sensor or high-resolution line sensor on the recording paper, and measures the signal amount of a specific frequency.
Glossiness (unevenness) is provided so that a recording paper on which a uniform image is formed is detected by a regular reflection optical sensor.
・ Fog is a method of reading the image background with an optical sensor that detects a relatively wide area on the photoconductor, intermediate transfer member, or recording paper, or image information for each area of the background with a high-resolution area sensor. And the number of toner particles contained in the image is counted.

(A-8) The physical characteristics of the printed matter of the image forming apparatus, the image flow, the image blur, etc. are obtained by detecting the toner image on the photosensitive member, the intermediate transfer member, or the recording paper by the area sensor. Is determined by image processing.
The toner dust stain is obtained by taking an image on a recording sheet with a high resolution line sensor or an area sensor and calculating the amount of toner scattered around the pattern portion.
The trailing edge blank and the solid cross blank are detected by a high resolution line sensor on the photosensitive member, the intermediate transfer member, or the recording paper.
• Curling, undulation and crease of the recording paper are detected by a displacement sensor. In order to detect a fold, it is effective to install a sensor near the both ends of the recording paper.
-For the dirt and scratches on the edge surface, the area sensor is used to capture and analyze the edge surface when paper discharge has accumulated to some extent by the area sensor installed vertically on the paper discharge tray.

(A-9) For detection of environmental conditions and temperature, a thermocouple system that takes out a thermoelectromotive force generated at a contact point between dissimilar metals or between a metal and a semiconductor as a signal, and the resistivity of the metal or semiconductor varies depending on the temperature. Resistivity change element using this, pyroelectric element that generates a potential on the surface due to bias in the arrangement of charges in the crystal due to the rise in temperature in certain crystals, and magnetic characteristics depending on temperature It is possible to employ a thermomagnetic effect element or the like that detects the change of.
-For humidity detection, there are an optical measurement method for measuring light absorption of H ₂ O or OH group, a humidity sensor for measuring a change in electric resistance value of a material due to adsorption of water vapor, and the like.
・ Various gases are basically detected by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of the oxide semiconductor accompanying gas adsorption.
Although there are optical measurement methods and the like for detection of airflow (direction, flow velocity, gas type), an air bridge type flow sensor that can be made smaller in consideration of mounting on a system is particularly useful.
-There are methods for detecting pressure and pressure, such as using a pressure sensitive material and measuring the mechanical displacement of the membrane. A similar method is used for vibration detection.

(B) Control Parameter Information Since the operation of the image forming apparatus is determined by the control unit, it is effective to directly use the input / output parameters of the control unit.

(B-1) Image Forming Parameters Direct parameters output by the control unit through image processing for image formation include the following examples.
A process condition setting value by the control unit, such as a charging potential, a developing bias value, a fixing temperature setting value, and the like.
-Similarly, setting values for various image processing parameters such as halftone processing and color correction.
Various parameters set by the control unit for the operation of the apparatus, for example, paper conveyance timing, execution time of the preparation mode before image formation, and the like.

(B-2) User operation history / frequency of various operations selected by the user such as the number of colors, number of sheets, image quality instruction, etc./frequency of the paper size selected by the user.

(B-3) Power consumption / Total power consumption or its distribution, change amount (differentiation), cumulative value (integration), etc. for the whole period or for a specific period (one day, one week, one month, etc.).

(B-4) Consumables consumption information-Amount of toner, photoconductor, paper used or distribution, change amount (differentiation), cumulative value of whole period or specific period unit (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.) Integration) etc.

(B-5) Failure occurrence information ・ Frequency or distribution of failure occurrence (by type), change amount (differentiation), cumulative value (integration) of whole period or specific period unit (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.) Such.

(B-6) The accumulated operation time information / control unit 1 measures the accumulated operation time for each component such as the process unit, the intermediate transfer belt 10, various rollers, the belt cleaning device 17, and the fixing device 25, and is non-volatile. It is stored in the RAM 1d. The process units 18K, Y, C, and M of each color are attached to and detached from the copying machine main body in the state of the process unit, but the developing unit and the charging device are removed from the copying machine main body. And a photosensitive unit that holds other parts. The parts can be replaced not in the entire process unit but in the form of a developing unit, a charging device, and a photosensitive unit. For this reason, the accumulated operation time is measured separately for the developing unit, the charging device, and the photosensitive unit, not for the entire process unit. As the accumulated operation time, the accumulated number of printed sheets is counted. Every time the operation for one print is performed, the count value of the cumulative number of prints is incremented by one.

(C) Input image information The following information can be acquired from image information sent directly as data from a host computer or image information obtained after image processing is performed by reading a document image from a scanner.
The cumulative number of colored pixels is obtained by counting image data for each GRB signal for each pixel.
The original image can be separated into characters, halftone dots, photographs, and backgrounds by the method described in Japanese Patent No. 2621879, for example, and the ratio of the character part, halftone part, etc. can be obtained. Similarly, the ratio of color characters can be obtained.
The toner consumption distribution in the main scanning direction can be obtained by counting the cumulative value of the colored pixels for each area divided in the main scanning direction.
The image size is obtained from the distribution of colored pixels in the image size signal or image data generated by the control unit.
-Character type (size, font) is obtained from character attribute data.

Next, a specific method for acquiring various information in the copying machine will be described.
(1) Temperature This copying machine includes a temperature sensor that acquires temperature information using a variable resistance element that is simple in principle and structure and that can be miniaturized.

(2) Humidity A humidity sensor that can be miniaturized is useful. The basic principle is that when water vapor is adsorbed on moisture-sensitive ceramics, the ionic conduction is increased by the adsorbed water and the electrical resistance of the ceramics is reduced. The material of the moisture-sensitive ceramics is a porous material, and generally alumina-based, apatite-based, ZrO ₂ -MgO-based, etc. are used.

(3) Vibration The vibration sensor is basically the same as a sensor that measures atmospheric pressure and pressure, and a silicon-based sensor that can be miniaturized is particularly useful in consideration of mounting in a system. It is possible to measure the movement of a vibrator fabricated on a thin silicon diaphragm by measuring the change in capacitance between the opposing electrodes provided facing the vibrator, or by using the piezoresistance effect of the Si diaphragm itself. it can.

(4) Toner density (for 4 colors)
The toner density is detected for each color. A conventionally known toner density sensor can be used. For example, the toner concentration can be detected by a sensing system that measures changes in the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device as described in JP-A-6-289717.

(5) Photoconductor uniform charging potential (for 4 colors)
A uniform charged potential is detected for each color photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C). A known surface potential sensor that detects the surface potential of an object can be used.

(6) Potential after photoconductor exposure (for 4 colors)
The surface potential of the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) after optical writing is detected in the same manner as in (5).

(7) Colored area ratio (4 colors)
From the input image information, the coloring area ratio is obtained for each color from the ratio of the cumulative value of pixels to be colored and the cumulative value of all pixels, and this is used.

(8) Amount of developed toner (for four colors)
The toner adhesion amount per unit area in each color toner image developed on the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) is obtained based on the light reflectance by the reflective photosensor. The reflection type photosensor irradiates an object with LED light and detects the reflected light with a light receiving element. Since a correlation is established between the toner adhesion amount and the light reflectance, the toner adhesion amount can be obtained based on the light reflectance.

(9) Inclination of paper leading edge position An optical sensor that detects transfer paper at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction anywhere in the paper feed path from the paper feed roller of the paper feed unit (200) to the secondary transfer nip. A pair is installed to detect both ends near the leading edge of the transferred transfer paper. For both light sensors, the time to pass is measured with reference to the time when the drive signal of the paper feed roller is transmitted, and the inclination of the transfer paper with respect to the feed direction is obtained based on the time deviation.

(10) Paper discharge timing The transfer paper after passing through the pair of discharge rollers (56 in FIG. 1) is detected by an optical sensor. In this case as well, the measurement is performed with reference to the time when the paper feed roller drive signal is transmitted.

(11) Photoconductor total current (for four colors)
A current flowing from the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) to the ground is detected. Such a current can be detected by providing a current measuring means between the substrate of the photoreceptor and the ground terminal.

(12) Photoconductor driving power (for four colors)
Driving power (current × voltage) consumed by the driving source (motor) of the photosensitive member during driving is detected by an ammeter, a voltmeter, or the like.

  The control unit 1 periodically samples the various pieces of determination useful information as described above and stores them in the nonvolatile RAM 1d. And based on the various useful judgment information memorize | stored in the non-volatile RAM 1d, the determination process which determines whether replacement | exchange time came about various parts was implemented, and it determined with replacement | exchange time having come. In this case, a message for prompting replacement of the part is displayed on the operation display unit 3.

  As for the determination as to whether or not the replacement time has come, two types of determinations are performed: periodic maintenance determination and failure prediction determination. The periodic maintenance determination is a determination method in which the replacement time comes when the cumulative number of printed sheets as the cumulative operation time reaches a predetermined upper limit number. For each of the various parts, the cumulative number of prints as a replacement index value is calculated, and a value obtained by subtracting the cumulative number of prints from the upper limit number is obtained as the remaining life number. When the remaining life number becomes zero, the replacement time has come. Instead of determining whether or not the remaining life number is zero, it may be determined whether or not the cumulative number of prints is the upper limit number.

  The failure prediction determination is to calculate a prediction index value for predicting whether or not each component is likely to cause a failure by performing multivariate analysis of a plurality of determination useful information. This is a method for determining whether or not the replacement time has arrived based on the calculation result. As the prediction index value, the Mahalanobis distance can be exemplified as in the printer described in Patent Document 1. For each of the various components, a plurality of pieces of judgment useful information suitable for judging the deterioration are sampled, and the Mahalanobis distance is obtained using a combination of the judgment useful information. By checking whether or not the result is larger than the threshold value, it is possible to determine whether or not the failure is likely to occur soon. Further, the prediction index value may be obtained as follows. That is, for each kind of useful information for judgment and data obtained by normalizing them, a weak discrimination (“1” when normal, “−1” when normal) is performed. A value obtained by multiplying the result by a weighting value obtained by a supervised learning algorithm called a boosting method is obtained for each component. And the value which totaled the result of those weak discrimination | determination is made into a prediction index value.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for prompting replacement in the operation display unit 3 of the conventional image forming apparatus. The operation display unit 3 includes a touch display unit 3a including a touch panel and a key operation unit 3b including a numeric keypad. In the conventional image forming apparatus, when it is determined in the regular maintenance determination or failure prediction determination that, for example, the replacement time has come for the K photoconductor, a message prompting replacement of the K photoconductor is operated as shown in the figure. It was displayed on the display unit 3. When the user following this message replaces the K photoconductor, the user performs an operation for resetting the accumulated number of prints up to that point to zero. Specifically, a menu screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed by pressing the menu key of the key operation unit 3b. Then, among the plurality of buttons displayed on the menu screen, the count clear button is tapped (touched) with a finger as indicated by an arrow in the figure. Thus, when the count value list screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the touch display unit 3a, the screen is scrolled as necessary so that the count value of the K photoconductor is displayed on the screen. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, a clear button corresponding to the count value (cumulative print count value) of the K photoconductor is tapped with a finger to reset the count value to zero.

  In such a conventional image forming apparatus, when the replacement of the K photoconductor is urged as shown in FIG. 5, for example, even if the replacement timing of the K charging device is approaching, the user Couldn't know that. For this reason, when the K process unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, only the photosensitive member of the process unit is replaced. Then, a message prompting replacement of the charging device for K is displayed after a very short time. Then, in order to replace the charging device, the same work as the previous time of attaching and detaching the K process unit was forced.

  Further, when resetting the count value, as shown in FIG. 7, the count value must be reset while searching for the one corresponding to the replacement part from the count values displayed on the screen. This operation was very complicated. Furthermore, the count value of a part other than the replaced part may be erroneously reset.

Next, a characteristic configuration of the copier according to the embodiment will be described.
In the present copying machine, as described above, whether or not the replacement time has arrived for each of the various parts is determined in two ways: periodic maintenance determination and failure prediction determination. When the determination result that the replacement time has come according to any one of the determination methods is obtained, the control unit 1 causes the operation display unit 3 to display a message for prompting replacement of the part.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a screen for prompting replacement in the operation display unit 3 of the copying machine according to the embodiment. When it is determined that the replacement time has come for the K photoconductor, the control unit 1 displays a message indicating that the life of the K photoconductor has expired, as in the past. At the same time, a message prompting the user to confirm whether there is any part that should be replaced at the same time as the K photoconductor is also displayed. When the user taps the OK button on the screen, as shown in FIG. 10, a list of remaining lifetimes as replacement index values for parts other than the K photoconductor is displayed on the touch display unit 3a. The user determines whether it is better to replace various parts other than the K photoconductor on the basis of the remaining life displayed on the screen. In the figure, an example is shown in which the arrival of the replacement time for the K photoconductor is detected by the periodic maintenance determination, so the remaining life of the K photoconductor is zero. The user can easily determine from the viewpoint of cost effectiveness whether or not it is better to replace each of the various components at the same time based on the remaining life displayed on the screen. For parts that are determined to be replaced at the same time, tapping the “Replace at the same time” button displayed next to the remaining lifetime indicates to the control unit 1 that they will be replaced at the same time. Recognize. In the illustrated example, there is almost no remaining life of the charging device for K, so it can be easily recognized that it is better to replace them simultaneously. Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the user has selected “simultaneous replacement” for the charging device for K.

  When the user finishes the confirmation work on the screen display shown in FIG. 10, the user presses the OK key of the key operation unit 3b. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 1 causes the touch display unit 3a to display a list of condition values as replacement index values for parts other than the K photoconductor. The condition value is a prediction index value itself as a replacement index value calculated by the above-described failure prediction determination, or a value obtained by converting the prediction index value into a format that is easy for the user to understand. For example, it is assumed that the total value of the weak discrimination values described above is adopted as the prediction index value. When the prediction index value has a positive polarity, the larger the number, the better the condition of the component. In the case of negative polarity, it indicates that a failure will occur soon, and that the larger the number, the higher the possibility of failure. For this reason, it is determined that the time when the predicted index value has changed from the positive polarity to the negative polarity is the replacement time. The figure shows an example in which such a prediction index value is adopted and the value is displayed as it is as a condition value. The user can easily determine whether it is better to replace each of the various components at the same time from the viewpoint of cost effectiveness based on the condition values displayed on the screen. For example, since the condition value (predictive index value) is 1 for the K photoconductor and the K charging device, it can be seen that the condition is very bad. However, since those parts have already been decided to be replaced, the “simultaneous replacement” button for those parts is not displayed. Among other components, the charging device for Y and the photoreceptor for Y have a positive value and a relatively large value, so that they are in good condition and need not be replaced. Further, since the condition value of the charging device for C is “2”, it can be understood that the condition of the charging device for C is getting worse. Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the user selects “simultaneous replacement” for the C charging device based on the condition value.

  When the user replaces the K photoconductor, the K charging device, and the C charging device, the count value list screen is displayed on the touch display unit 3a by the same menu operation as the conventional one. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a count value list screen in the copier according to the embodiment. In the count value list screen, as can be seen from the comparison with FIG. 7 described above, the following points are different from the conventional one. That is, among all the parts, the count value is cleared only for the parts that are determined to be replaced in the regular maintenance judgment or failure prediction judgment and the parts that are selected by the user to be replaced at the same time. The clear button is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an erroneous operation of erroneously resetting the count value of parts that have not been replaced.

  In addition to resetting the count value to zero for the part to which the clear button is touched, the control unit 1 is unique to only the part among the plurality of determination useful information stored in the nonvolatile RAM 1d. Is erased from the nonvolatile RAM 1d. The control unit 1 stores an automatic order execution flag as a control parameter in the nonvolatile RAM 1d. The automatic order execution flag can be set on or off by displaying various setting screens launched from the menu screen by the user. A user who desires automatic ordering of the replaced part sets the automatic order execution flag to ON. The control unit 1 executes a process of automatically placing an order for a part for which the user who has completed the replacement operation has pressed the clear button with a predetermined ordering party. Specifically, in the non-volatile RAM 1d, parts ordering form image information and ordering character image information for each of various parts are stored in advance.

  The part order form image information is information for displaying an order form form image as shown in FIG. 13, for example, and is constructed in a bitmap format. It includes character image information such as a character image indicating the name of the supplier of the ordering party, a character image indicating the name and contact information of the user who is the orderer, and a character image for requesting the shipment of parts. Further, the ordering character image information is character image information indicating a part name, a model number, and the like as shown in FIG. 14, for example.

  When the control unit 1 finishes displaying the count value list screen based on the key operation by the user, the control unit 1 combines the part ordering form image shown in FIG. 13 and the ordering character image of the part whose count value is cleared. Build image information. An example is information for displaying a composite image as shown in FIG. Then, this composite image information is fax-transmitted via the modem 500 to the telephone number of the ordering party registered in advance. By this FAX transmission, the replaced parts are automatically ordered.

  The copying machine having the above configuration is equipped with a maintenance support device including the control unit 1 and the like. In this maintenance support apparatus, the control unit 1 calculates an accumulated print number (count value) or a predicted index value as a replacement index value indicating the necessity of replacement for each of various components based on the determination useful information. It functions as a calculation means. In addition, each of the various parts also functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not the replacement time has arrived based on the count value or the predicted index value. In addition, the combination of the control unit 1 and the operation display unit 3 provides replacement request information (indicating that it should be replaced), which is information prompting the user to replace a component that has been determined to have been replaced. Functions as an information provision means. Also, it functions as a reception unit that accepts the tap operation of the clear button, which is the replacement work end information from the user, while inquiring the user whether or not the replacement work has been completed for the parts determined to have been replaced. is doing. Furthermore, the control unit 1 also functions as an information initialization unit that initializes a count value that is useful determination information of a part corresponding to the replacement work end information and an ordering unit that automatically orders a part corresponding to the replacement work end information. is doing.

  FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing a copier equipped with a part of the maintenance support device according to the modification and a monitoring device functioning as a part of the maintenance support device. A plurality of copying machines shown in the figure are placed under different users. In the maintenance support device according to the modification, the control unit, various sensors, the operation display unit, and the like mounted on each copying machine accept information acquisition means for acquiring useful judgment information and replacement work end information (counter clear). It functions as a receiving unit, an information initialization unit that clears (initializes) the count value, and the like. Also provided is an index value calculation means for calculating a count value as an exchange index value, a determination means for determining whether or not an exchange time has arrived based on the count value, and exchange request information which is information prompting the user to exchange It also functions as information providing means. Further, the modem of each copying machine functions as a communication unit that communicates with a monitoring device 900 described later via a telephone line.

  Each of the plurality of copying machines calculates the remaining life based on the count value for various parts in the same manner as the copying machine according to the embodiment, and periodically determines whether the replacement time has been reached based on the result Perform maintenance judgment. When it is determined in the regular maintenance determination that the replacement time has been reached for a certain part, a message for prompting replacement of the part is displayed on the operation display unit 3. Further, similarly to the copying machine according to the embodiment, a list of remaining lifetimes for other parts, a button for whether to replace at the same time, or a count value is reset based on a user operation.

  The plurality of copying machines are connected to the monitoring apparatus 900 via telephone lines. This monitoring apparatus 900 is placed under a management contractor who has a maintenance management contract for each copying machine with each user. It functions as index value calculation means for calculating a prediction index value as an exchange index value, determination means for determining whether or not the exchange time has arrived based on the prediction index value, and the like. In the maintenance support device according to the modification, the failure prediction determination is performed not by the control unit of the copying machine but by the monitoring device 900 and the result is transmitted to each copying machine via a telephone line. .

  Further, when the count value of a part is reset, each of the plurality of copying machines transmits information indicating that the part has been reset to the monitoring apparatus 900 via a telephone line instead of performing automatic ordering for the part. The monitoring apparatus 900 that has received the information automatically orders parts corresponding to the information by e-mail instead of the user based on customer information data registered in advance.

  Each of the plurality of copying machines communicates with the monitoring apparatus 900 via a telephone line at a predetermined periodic timing such as once a day. Then, various useful determination information stored in the nonvolatile RAM 1d is sent to the monitoring device 900. Further, condition values for various components calculated by the monitoring device 900 are received and stored in the nonvolatile RAM 1d. When the list of condition values shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, each condition value stored in the nonvolatile RAM 1d is used.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a software circuit 910 that is realized by failure prediction software installed in the monitoring apparatus 900. The software circuit 910 functions as a failure prediction device. Useful determination information sent from each copying machine placed under the user via a telephone line is received by the monitoring data notification receiving unit 912 via a modem 911 as a communication means. Then, the data feature amount calculation unit 913 performs a feature amount conversion process such as normalization as necessary, and then sends the result to a dedicated weak decision unit (for example, 915 to 917) to determine whether it is normal. Weak discrimination is performed. For each weak discrimination, a unique weight value is transmitted from the discrimination reference database. This weighting value is calculated by machine learning using the boosting method. Each weak discriminating unit outputs a result obtained by multiplying the result of weak discrimination by a weighting value to the prediction index value calculating unit 918. The prediction index value calculation unit 918 calculates the prediction index value by accumulating the discrimination values sent from the plurality of weak discrimination units for each of various components, and then transmits the result to the alarm transmission unit 920. When there is a negative polarity among the predicted index values sent from the predicted index value calculation unit 918, the alarm transmission unit 920 informs that the replacement time has arrived for the part corresponding to the predicted index value. The alarm signal is transmitted to the copying machine of the user who owns the part via the modem 911. The copier that has received this alarm signal displays a message prompting replacement of the part. Note that the alarm transmission unit 920 also serves to transmit the current prediction index values of various parts to the copying machine when the copying machine makes regular communication.

  In such a configuration, the failure prediction determination that requires complicated calculation is performed by the monitoring device 900 instead of the control unit of each copying machine, so that the calculation load of the control unit of each copying machine can be reduced. .

  As described above, in the maintenance support device according to the embodiment, in addition to a message (replacement request information) that prompts the user to replace a part, a remaining replacement index value is provided for each of the plurality of parts that have not yet been replaced. A combination of the control unit 1 and the operation display unit 3 serving as information providing means is configured to display the lifetime and the condition value and provide the information to the user. In such a configuration, as described above, the remaining life until the replacement time arrives can be grasped by the user based on the remaining life and the condition value, and it can be determined whether it is better to replace them simultaneously. .

  Further, in the maintenance support device according to the embodiment, whether or not the replacement work has been completed for the user only for the parts determined to have been replaced by the control unit 1 serving as a determination unit and the parts that are simultaneously replaced. The combination of the control unit 1 and the operation display unit 3 as receiving means is configured so as to display a screen for receiving replacement work end information from the user while making an inquiry. Then, based on the receipt of the replacement work end information, the control unit 1 as information initialization means is configured to reset the count value (determination useful information) of the part corresponding to the replacement work end information. ing. In such a configuration, as described above, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an erroneous operation of erroneously resetting the count value of parts that have not been replaced.

  In addition, in the maintenance support device according to the embodiment, when there is a part that is replaced at the same time as the part that has been determined that the replacement time has arrived among the plurality of parts that have not been determined to have been replaced, The control unit 1 and the operation display unit 3 function as input means for allowing the user to input the above information as simultaneous replacement information as additional replacement part information. Then, in addition to the parts determined to have arrived at the replacement time, the control section 1 and the operation display section which are reception means so as to receive replacement work end information (count reset command) for parts corresponding to the simultaneous replacement information. 3 is constituted. In such a configuration, it is possible to grasp the end of the replacement work not only for the parts that have been determined to be replaced, but also for the parts that have been determined to be replaced simultaneously by the user.

  In the maintenance support device according to the embodiment, when the replacement work end information is received, the control unit 1 functions as an ordering unit that automatically orders a part corresponding to the replacement work end information. This eliminates the trouble of ordering parts by the user.

  In the maintenance support device according to the embodiment, the control unit 1, various sensors 2, and the operation display unit that are arranged under the user and include at least an information acquisition unit, a reception unit, and an input unit. Remotely between a terminal device composed of 3 etc. and a monitoring device 900 which is arranged at a location distant from the user and includes at least index value calculation means, determination means, and information providing means Communication means (modem) for realizing communication is provided. In such a configuration, the failure prediction determination that requires complicated calculation is performed by the monitoring device 900 instead of the control unit of each copying machine, so that the calculation load of the control unit of each copying machine can be reduced.

1: Control unit 2: Various sensors 3: Operation display unit 100: Printer unit 200: Paper feeding unit b
300: Scanner unit 400: Document transport unit 500: Modem 900: Monitoring device

JP 2008-8996 A

Claims (5)

Information acquisition means for acquiring determination useful information, which is useful information for determining whether or not the replacement time has arrived, for each of the various components mounted on the maintenance object, and the various Index value calculation means for calculating an exchange index value indicating the necessity of replacement based on the acquisition result of the determination useful information by the information acquisition means, and the index value calculation means for each of the various parts. This is information for urging the user or maintenance worker to replace the determination means for determining whether or not the replacement time has arrived based on the calculation result of the above and the parts determined to have arrived by the determination means. An information providing means for providing replacement request information, and a maintenance support device that supports maintenance of the maintenance object by providing the replacement request information.
In addition to the replacement request information, in addition to the replacement request information, the information providing unit is configured to perform a process of providing information on the replacement index value for each of a plurality of parts that have not yet been replaced. A maintenance support device characterized by comprising. The maintenance support device according to claim 1,
Accepting means for receiving replacement work end information from the maintenance worker while inquiring whether the replacement work has been completed for the maintenance worker only for the parts determined to have been replaced by the determination means; Maintenance comprising: information initialization means for initializing the determination useful information of a part corresponding to the replacement work end information based on the replacement work end information being received by the receiving means. Support device. The maintenance support device according to claim 2,
When there is a part to be replaced at the same time as a part determined to have a replacement time among a plurality of parts that have not been determined to have been replaced by the determination unit, information on the part is used as additional replacement part information. In addition to providing the input means for the maintenance worker to input, in addition to the parts determined to have been replaced by the determination means, for the parts corresponding to the additional replacement parts information input to the input means, A maintenance support apparatus, wherein the accepting unit is configured to accept the replacement work end information. The maintenance support device according to claim 2 or 3,
A maintenance support apparatus, comprising: an ordering unit that automatically orders a part corresponding to the replacement work end information when the replacement work end information is received by the receiving unit. The maintenance support device according to claim 2, 3 or 4,
A terminal device provided at a user, and at least provided with a terminal provided with the information acquisition unit, the reception unit, and the input unit; A maintenance support apparatus comprising a communication means for realizing remote communication with a host machine provided with an index value calculation means, the determination means, and the information providing means.

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