JP2016095445A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to check the current state of an air cleaner from a distant place, and perform setting of the air cleaner and change the settings.SOLUTION: There is provided a system in which at least an image forming apparatus 100 and an air cleaner 200 can communicate with each other via communication means (I/F parts) 19 and 29, where the air cleaner 200 transmits internal management information to the image forming apparatus 100, and the image forming apparatus 100 creates the received internal management information on the air cleaner 200 as a management screen page and displays the page on display means (display part) 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including communication means capable of bidirectional communication between an air cleaner and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming system in which an air cleaner is integrally mounted on an image forming apparatus has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a recording sheet, and an air that is integrally attached to the image forming apparatus via a support member and is supported above the image forming apparatus by the support member. The apparatus includes a cleaner and control means for displaying the state of the image forming apparatus on a display unit of the air cleaner. That is, the state of the image forming apparatus is displayed on the display unit of the air cleaner.

JP 2011-27930 A

  By the way, in order to obtain the information (maintenance information etc.) of the air cleaner, the conventional air cleaner has to check the information displayed on the operation panel of the air cleaner body. For this reason, it has been difficult to check for errors that occur suddenly (maintenance, etc.) and the current indoor conditions (cleanness, etc.) in a timely manner, and to always maintain the optimum state. In addition, in order for the user to change the setting according to the current situation in the room, it is necessary to go to the air purifier main body and change the current operation.

  In addition, since the operation panel of the air purifier is simplified, it is not possible to display all the information at once, and it is necessary to perform operations such as switching the display. There was also.

  The present invention was devised to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system capable of confirming the state of the current air cleaner from a remote location. . Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system that can always set or change the air cleaner to an optimum state.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention displays communication means capable of communicating with an air cleaner via a communication line, and internal management information of the air cleaner received via the communication means. It is characterized by comprising display means and page creation means for creating information to be displayed on the display means as a management screen page.

  The image forming system of the present invention is an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an air cleaner, and the image forming apparatus includes a communication unit capable of communicating with the air cleaner via a communication line; Display means for displaying internal management information of the air cleaner received via the communication means, and page creation means for creating information to be displayed on the display means as a management screen page, The image forming apparatus includes communication means capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus via a communication line, and transmits internal management information to the image forming apparatus via the communication means.

  In addition, according to the image forming system of the present invention, the operation screen information included in the internal management information is displayed on the management screen page.

  Further, according to the image forming system of the present invention, the operation status information includes information such as the temperature, humidity, and air volume of the surrounding environment.

  According to the image forming system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is configured to transmit maintenance instruction information input based on the maintenance information displayed on the management screen page to the service providing apparatus via the communication network. Yes. According to this configuration, the maintenance instruction information can be directly transmitted from the management screen page of the image forming apparatus to the service providing apparatus.

  The image forming system according to the present invention further includes a terminal device that can acquire the management screen page of the image forming apparatus via a communication network. According to this configuration, by connecting the terminal device, the management screen page can be confirmed in the terminal device even when the terminal device is far away from the air cleaner or the image forming apparatus.

  Further, according to the image forming system of the present invention, the terminal device is configured to transmit the maintenance instruction information input based on the maintenance information displayed on the management screen page to the service providing device via the communication network. . According to this configuration, the maintenance instruction information can be directly transmitted from the management screen page of the terminal device to the service providing device.

  Further, according to the image forming system of the present invention, it is possible to change the operation setting of the air purifier linked with the power on / off of the image forming apparatus from the management screen page. Specifically, a configuration in which the power of the air cleaner is turned on in conjunction with the power on of the image forming apparatus, a configuration in which the power of the air cleaner is turned off in conjunction with the power off of the image forming apparatus, and the power of the image forming apparatus The timer function for operating the air cleaner for a certain period of time after being linked to the off state can be used.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the internal management information of the air cleaner such as maintenance information and operation status information can be displayed on the management screen page, the current state of the air cleaner can be confirmed from a remote location. it can. Further, since it is displayed on the management screen page, all of the internal management information can be displayed at once.

  Further, according to the image forming system of the present invention, the internal management information of the air cleaner such as maintenance information and operation status information can be displayed on the management screen page, so that the current state of the air cleaner can be confirmed from a remote location. And the air cleaner can always be set and changed to the optimum operating state.

1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system including an air cleaner and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the operation panel of an air cleaner. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a management screen page. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a management screen page. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing according to the first embodiment; 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process according to the third embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a management screen page. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a process according to the fourth embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system including an air cleaner and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the image forming system according to the embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 and the air purifier 200 are connected via a communication cable 1 such as RS-232C, and the image forming apparatus 100 further includes the Internet, an intranet, or the like. The communication network N can be connected to a terminal device 300 such as a personal computer and a service providing device 400 installed in a service center or the like. Note that the communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and the air purifier 200 may be wireless communication using a wireless communication module instead of wired communication.

<Description of Image Forming Apparatus 100>
The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 10, an image input unit 11, an image processing unit 12, an image output unit 13, a communication unit 14, an operation panel 15, a display unit 16, a storage unit 17, a page creation unit 18, and an I / F unit. 19 and the like, and a digital multi-function peripheral is configured as a whole.

  The image input unit 11 performs optical reading of document image data. Further, the image input unit 11 includes an optical unit having a light source that irradiates light to a reading document, for example, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). Further, the image input unit 11 forms a reflected light image from the original set at a predetermined reading position on the image sensor, and outputs RGB (Red / Green / Blue) analog electric signals. The analog electrical signal output from the image input unit 11 is input to the image processing unit 12.

  The image processing unit 12 generates digital image data based on the analog electrical signal input through the image input unit 11 or reads out the image data stored in the storage unit 17 according to the type of each image. Then, output image data is generated.

  The image output unit 13 forms an image on a recording sheet such as a recording sheet or an OHP film based on the image data output from the image processing unit 12 and outputs the image. Therefore, the image output unit 13 generates a latent image on the photosensitive drum by emitting a laser beam in accordance with the photosensitive drum, a charger for charging the photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential, and image data received from the outside. Laser writing device to be generated, developing device for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum and developing it, transfer for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum onto the recording sheet And the like (not shown), and a desired image is formed on the recording sheet by electrophotography. In addition to image formation by an electrophotographic method using a laser writing apparatus, an image formation may be performed by an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a sublimation method, or the like.

  The communication unit 14 includes a network card, a modem, and the like that transmit image data processed by the image processing unit 12 to the outside.

  The operation panel 15 includes function buttons such as “copy” and “print” related to important functions of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “multifunction machine”) 100, a numeric keypad, an enter key for confirming received instructions, and the like. ing.

  The storage unit 17 is configured by a nonvolatile storage medium such as flash memory, EEPROM, HDD, MRAM (magnetoresistance memory), FeRAM (ferroelectric memory), or OUM, for example. The storage unit 17 stores, for example, information related to recording paper (hereinafter referred to as recording paper information) stored in each tray provided in the apparatus. The recording sheet information includes, for example, the presence / absence of a B5 recording sheet, the presence / absence of an A4 recording sheet, the presence / absence of a B4 recording sheet, and the presence / absence of an A3 recording sheet. In addition to the internal management information of the multifunction peripheral 100, the storage unit 17 also stores internal management information (information including temperature, humidity, maintenance information, etc., which will be described later) transmitted through the communication cable 1. ing.

  The display unit 16 includes, for example, an LCD or an EL (Electroluminescence) panel, and displays an image to be output (printed) on a predetermined recording sheet via the image output unit 13. Further, the display unit 16 displays information to be notified to the user, such as the status of the multifunction peripheral 100, the status of job processing, confirmation of the image of the original read by the image input unit 11 and the operation content of the operation panel 15. .

  In the display unit 16, a touch panel 161 is provided on the front side of a display screen on which an image is displayed. The touch panel 161 can detect a predetermined position on the display screen of the display unit 16 by a touch operation in which the user touches with a fingertip. The touch panel 161 detects, for example, a change in pressure caused by a touch operation of the user's fingertip or an electric signal due to static electricity to detect coordinates on the display screen of the display unit 16 corresponding to the contact position of the user's fingertip. Then, a signal specifying the coordinates is generated. The touch panel 161 is not limited to this, and may be configured to use a pointing device (for example, a stylus pen).

  The I / F unit 19 is connected to the external terminal device 300, the service providing device 400, and the like via the communication network N.

  The page creation unit 18 creates information to be displayed on the display unit 16 as a management screen page (specifically, a web page that is information such as a document or image published on the web). The created management screen page is also transmitted to the terminal device 300 through the I / F unit 19 and the communication network N in response to a request from the terminal device 300. The information created as the management screen page includes not only the internal management information of the multifunction peripheral 100 but also the internal management information of the air purifier 200 transmitted through the communication cable 1 and stored in the storage unit 17.

  The control unit 10 appropriately controls each of the above hardware, and executes a job related to a service to be provided to the user.

  Note that the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a plurality of trays (not shown) in which recording papers of a plurality of types of sizes are stored. For example, B5 recording paper, A4 recording paper, B4 recording paper, and A3 recording paper are stored in the plurality of trays.

<Description of the air purifier 200>
The air purifier 200 is an air purifier with a humidifying function in this embodiment, and includes a control unit 20 that controls each unit, an operation panel 21, a maintenance counter unit 22, a blower 23, an ion generator 24, a humidifier 25, Hardware such as a timer unit 26, a storage unit 27, a sensor unit 28, and an I / F unit 29 is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation panel 21.

  The operation panel 21 includes operation buttons and the like arranged on the surface of the housing, and accepts setting operations and driving instructions by the user. The operation panel 21 is provided with a display lamp. Each of the automatic operation button 21a, the speed suction operation button 21b, the air cleaning on button 21c, the humidified air cleaning on button 21d, the air volume switching button 21e, the off timer button 21g, etc. According to the operation, the lamp that displays the automatic automatic operation mode, the lamp that displays the speed suction operation mode, the lamp that displays the air cleaning operation mode, the lamp that displays the humidified air cleaning operation mode, the air volume mode “Silent”, “Medium” ”,“ Strong ”,“ automatic ”lamps, lamps indicating the operation state of the off-timer button 21g, and the like are lit (or turned off).

  The operation panel 21 also has a filter replacement lamp 21h for indicating that it is time to replace the filter, and a unit replacement lamp 21i for indicating that it is time to replace units such as the blower 23, the ion generator 24, and the humidifier 25. Further, a display window 21j made of an LCD or the like for numerically displaying the temperature and humidity of the outside air, the set time of the off timer, and the like are also provided.

  An operation on the operation panel 21 is received by the control unit 20. Specifically, the start of automatic operation of the air purifier 200 is accepted by the control unit 20 by operation of the automatic automatic operation button 21a, and the speed suction operation in which the air volume is increased by a certain time by operation of the speed suction operation button 21b. The start is received by the control unit 20, and the operation stop of the air purifier 200 is received by the control unit 20 by operating the stop button 21f. In addition, selection of an air cleaning operation mode in which air is purified without being humidified by the operation of the air cleaning on button 21c is accepted by the control unit 20, and humidified air that is air purified while being humidified by operation of the humidifying air cleaning on button 21d. The selection of the clean operation mode is accepted by the control unit 20, and the setting of the off timer time is accepted by the control unit 20 by operating the off timer button 21g.

  Further, every time the air volume switching button 21e is operated, “silent”, “medium”, “strong” which are air volume modes for manually setting the air volume, and “auto” which is an air volume mode for automatically setting the air volume. The switching of the four air volume modes is accepted by the control unit 20 in this order, for example.

  The filter replacement lamp 21h lights up when the filter needs to be cleaned. After cleaning, the user turns off the light by performing a predetermined key operation (not shown) (for example, pressing and holding A button and B button (not shown) simultaneously for 3 seconds).

  The unit replacement lamp 21i lights up when the unit needs to be replaced. After replacement, the replacement is automatically detected and turned off. However, instead of being automatically turned off, it may be turned off by a predetermined button combination operation after replacement, as in the case of the filter replacement lamp 21h. However, unit replacement is not performed by the user but by a service person.

  Either the temperature or the humidity can be displayed on the display window 21j by switching the screen. When setting the off timer, the set time of the off timer is displayed in preference to the temperature and humidity. Of course, even if the set time of the off timer is displayed, it is possible to switch and display the temperature and humidity by a user operation.

  The maintenance counter unit 22 counts the cumulative value of the number of times the serviceman has maintained the air cleaner 200.

  The timer unit 26 measures, for example, the driving time of the air purifier 200 in the indoor cleaning mode, the setting time of the off timer by the operation of the off timer button 21g, and the like.

  The storage unit 27 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The storage unit 27 stores an operation program and setting conditions of the air purifier 200 and temporarily stores calculations by the control unit 20.

  The sensor unit 28 includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a dust sensor, and an odor sensor. The temperature sensor detects the outside air temperature (air purifier ambient temperature), the humidity sensor detects the outside air humidity (air purifier ambient humidity), and the dust sensor is the air between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. Detect dust and particles floating inside. The odor sensor detects an odor component by utilizing a change in resistance value due to gas adsorbed on the surface of the metal oxide semiconductor.

  The I / F unit 29 is connected to the multifunction peripheral 100 via the communication cable 1.

  The control unit 20 appropriately controls the above hardware and executes an air cleaning operation to be provided to the user. In addition, the control unit 20 stores internal management information including setting contents and operating conditions by operation of the operation panel 21, filter replacement instructions, maintenance instructions for the blower 23, the ion generator 24, and the humidifier 25. / F unit 29 and the communication cable 1 to transmit to the multifunction device 100. The blower 23 is provided with a deodorizing filter and a dust collecting filter, and the humidifier 25 is provided with a humidifying filter.

  As described above, in the image forming system of the present embodiment, the internal management information transmitted from the air purifier 200 can be received by the multifunction device 100 and displayed on the management screen page created inside the multifunction device 100. It has become.

  Here, the internal management information of the air cleaner 200 may be configured to be periodically transmitted from the air cleaner 200 side to the multifunction device 100 side, or a request signal is periodically transmitted from the multifunction device 100, and the request is transmitted. It is good also as a structure which transmits internal management information from the air cleaner 200 side according to a signal.

  3 and 4 show an example of a management screen page created by the multifunction device 100. FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a top page of the management screen page, which displays basic information about the multifunction peripheral 100.

  FIG. 4 is a management screen page of the air cleaner when the “use state of air cleaner” button 41 is operated from the top page. On this management screen page, almost all of the internal management information of the air purifier 200 is displayed in a list. Specifically, an air purifier use status column 42, an air purifier operation column 43, and an air purifier setting column 44 are displayed in a list.

  The air cleaner use status column 42 is further classified into an operation information item column 42a, an indoor temperature / humidity item column 42b, a maintenance status item column 42c, and a clean monitor status item column 42d. That is, the current usage status of the air cleaner 200 is displayed in the air cleaner usage status column 42 in almost real time (or updated every predetermined time). Thereby, even when the user is in a place away from the air purifier 200, he / she looks at the management screen page displayed on the multifunction device 100 or from the multifunction device 100 displayed on the terminal device 300. The current usage status of the air purifier 200 can be confirmed by looking at the acquired air purifier management screen page.

  Further, in the operation field 43 of the air purifier, operation buttons having substantially the same contents as the contents displayed on the operation panel 21 of the air purifier 200 are displayed. By directly operating the operation button in the operation column 43, the operation signal is transmitted to the air cleaner 200, and the air cleaner 200 can be remotely operated. That is, even when the user is away from the air cleaner 200, the user can use the air cleaner management screen page displayed on the multifunction device 100 or the multifunction device 100 displayed on the terminal device 300. By directly operating the operation buttons on the acquired air purifier management screen page, the current operating status of the air purifier 200 installed at a remote location can be directly changed.

  In the air cleaner setting field 44, it is possible to set the operation of the air cleaner 200 to be interlocked when the power of the multi-function device 100 is turned on / off. From the screen page, the operation setting and setting change of the air purifier 200 can be directly performed. That is, even when the user is away from the air purifier 200, the air purifier management screen page displayed on the multifunction peripheral 100 or the air purifier displayed on the terminal device 300. By appropriately changing the setting in the air cleaner setting field 44 on the management screen page, it is possible to directly change the current operation setting of the air cleaner 200 installed at a remote location.

  Next, various embodiments for managing the air cleaner 200 using the image forming system having the above-described configuration will be described. However, in the following first to fourth embodiments, a process for managing the air cleaner 200 in the terminal device 300 instead of from the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described.

<Example 1>
The first embodiment is an embodiment related to the remote operation of the air cleaner 200.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing according to the first embodiment.

  The user of the terminal device 300 requests the multifunction device 100 to transmit a management screen page (step S1), and the multifunction device 100 transmits the management screen page to the terminal device 300 in response to this request.

  The terminal device 300 displays the received management screen page (step S2).

  The user performs processing such as confirmation and change of the air purifier 200 while viewing the displayed management screen page. Specifically, the terminal device 300 monitors whether any button in the operation field 43 of the air purifier on the management screen page has been operated (step S3).

  For example, the management screen page displays operation information of the air purifier 200 and information on indoor temperature and humidity. Therefore, when the user who sees the information determines that the room temperature is high, for example, the user operates the “air volume switching” of the air cleaner 200 displayed in the operation field 43 of the air cleaner on the management screen page. Then, for example, the air volume is switched from “automatic” to “strong” (Yes in step S3).

  Since this operation signal is transmitted to the air cleaner 200 via the multi-function device 100 (step S4), the air cleaner 200 switches the air volume of the blower 23 to “strong” according to this operation signal (step S5).

  When it is determined that the humidity in the room is low when the humidifying function is off, the humidifying function is turned on by operating the “humidifying function ON” displayed in the operation field 43 of the air purifier on the management screen page. Is switched from OFF to ON (Yes in step S3).

  Since this operation signal is transmitted to the air cleaner 200 via the multi-function device 100 (step S4), the air cleaner 200 switches the humidifier 25 from OFF to ON according to this operation signal (step S5).

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if the user does not go to the air cleaner 200, that is, even if the user is far away from the multifunction device 100 or the air cleaner 200, the management displayed on the terminal device 300 is performed. The air cleaner 200 can always be set to the optimum operating state simply by checking the screen page and operating on the management screen page.

<Example 2>
The second embodiment is an embodiment relating to a display process of internal management information transmitted from the air purifier 200.

  In the terminal device 300, internal management information transmitted in real time or periodically from the air purifier 200 via the multifunction device 100 is stored in a storage unit (not shown).

  In this case, the stored internal management information may be displayed on the management screen page shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 as the current air cleaner status while being updated in real time or periodically. Regarding the temperature and humidity, it is possible to grasp changes in temperature and humidity over time by accumulating received data.

  Therefore, in the terminal device 300, not only the management screen page updated in real time or periodically as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, but also the temperature change and humidity change in the room from 9 am to 5 pm, for example. Can be displayed as a graph (line graph, bar graph, etc.).

  As a result, the user sees the graph, for example, when the room temperature is highest or the humidity is low in the office where the air purifier 200 is installed. Can be easily grasped. Then, by grasping such a change tendency of temperature and humidity, for example, when the temperature is high, the air volume of the blower 23 is increased by one step, or when the humidity is low, the humidifier 25 in the off state is turned on. It is possible to perform operations such as “on” from the management screen page.

  Thereby, even if it is far away from the MFP 100 or the air purifier 200, it is only necessary to check the graph of the management screen page displayed on the terminal device 300 and perform an operation suitable for each on the management screen page. The air cleaner 200 can always be set to the optimum operating state.

<Example 3>
The third embodiment is an embodiment relating to maintenance processing of the air cleaner 200.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing according to the third embodiment.

  The user of the terminal device 300 requests the multifunction device 100 to transmit a management screen page (step S11), and the multifunction device 100 transmits the management screen page to the terminal device 300 in response to this request.

  The terminal device 300 displays the received management screen page (step S12).

  The user performs processing such as confirmation of maintenance of the air purifier 200 while viewing the displayed management screen page. Specifically, the terminal device 300 monitors whether an arbitrary button in the maintenance status item field 42d of the management screen page has been operated (step S13).

  FIG. 7 shows a display example of the maintenance status item column 42c.

  For example, when an arbitrary filter replacement time is approaching, a message such as “Please replace the dust collecting filter” is displayed in the maintenance status item column 42c. In this example, a “replacement” button 42c1 for requesting a replacement instruction is displayed next to the display, so that the user only has to operate the “replacement” button 42c1 ( (Yes in step S13).

  Thereby, the exchange request signal for the dust collecting filter is transmitted to the service providing apparatus 400 via the communication network N (step S14), and the reception process is performed in the service providing apparatus 400 (step S15).

  As a result, the service person goes to the dust filter replacement process at a later date, so that the dust filter can be quickly replaced before the dust filter life is reached. Further, the user's hand is not bothered for replacement.

  By the way, checking the presence or absence of maintenance while looking at the management screen page can be considered not only by the user of the multifunction machine 100 but also by a service person such as a maintenance service company.

  Usually, a large-sized (commercial) multifunction machine used in an office or the like has a maintenance contract with a maintenance service company or the like. For this reason, a service person of a maintenance service company, for example, visits the contract company periodically once a month to perform maintenance work on the installed multifunction peripheral. In this case, conventionally, the service person looks at the management screen page of the multifunction device 100 and performs maintenance of only the multifunction device 100. In the present invention, however, the internal management of the air purifier 200 is displayed on this management screen page. Since information is also displayed, for example, when the management screen page shown in FIG. 7 is displayed at this time, the dust collection filter of the air purifier 200 can also be replaced. That is, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that maintenance of the air purifier 200 can be performed together with regular maintenance of the multifunction peripheral 100.

  In the third embodiment, the case where the filter is replaced is described as an example. However, for example, the malfunction (abnormality) of the blower 23, the ion generator 24, the humidifier 25, etc. is displayed in the item column 42d of the maintenance status. In such a case, it is possible to directly request the service providing apparatus 400 for repair by operating a button for requesting repair displayed next to the button.

<Example 4>
The fourth embodiment is an embodiment relating to the setting of the interlocking operation between the multifunction peripheral 100 and the air purifier 200.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation according to the fourth embodiment.

  The user of the terminal device 300 requests the multifunction device 100 to transmit a management screen page (step S21), and the multifunction device 100 transmits the management screen page to the terminal device 300 in response to this request.

  The terminal device 300 displays the received management screen page (step S22).

  The user performs processing such as confirmation of maintenance of the air purifier 200 while viewing the displayed management screen page. Specifically, the terminal device 300 monitors whether or not any setting has been made in the air purifier setting field 44 of the management screen page (step S23).

  If any setting is made (Yes in step S23), the setting information signal is transmitted to the air purifier 200 via the multi-function device 100 (step S24). Then, the control operation of the air purifier 200 is set according to the setting information signal (step S25).

  For example, in the management screen page shown in FIG. 4, check the “Start interlocking operation” check window in the air purifier setting field 44 and check the “Auto-automatic operation” check window. When the lower registration button 45 is operated, the control signal is transmitted to the air cleaner 200 via the multi-function device 100. In the air cleaner 200, the operation control of the air cleaner 200 is set so as to start the operation in conjunction with the power-on of the multifunction device 100. As a result, when the power of the multi-function device 100 is turned on, the power of the air cleaner 200 is also turned on in conjunction with this, and the air cleaner 200 is automatically operated automatically.

  Also, check the “Start interlocked operation” check window in the air purifier setting field 44, check the “Auto-automatic operation” check window, and then “Stop operation in conjunction”. When the check button is checked, and “stop immediately” is selected and the lower registration button 45 is operated (FIG. 4 shows this check state), the control signal is sent to the multifunction device. It is transmitted to the air purifier 200 via 100. In the air cleaner 200, the operation control of the air cleaner 200 is set so that the operation starts in conjunction with the power-on of the multifunction device 100 and stops operating in conjunction with the power-off of the multifunction device 100. Thereby, in the air cleaner 200, when the power of the multifunction device 100 is turned on, the power of the air cleaner 200 is also turned on in conjunction with this, and the air cleaner 200 is automatically operated automatically. In addition, when the power of the multifunction device 100 is turned off, the power of the air cleaner 200 is immediately turned off in conjunction with this.

  Also, check the “Start linked operation” check window, check the “Automatic driving” check window, and check the “Stop linked operation” check window. And when “Stop by timer” is selected and the lower registration button 45 is operated, the control signal is transmitted to the air purifier 200 via the multifunction device 100. In the air cleaner 200, the operation starts in conjunction with the power on of the multifunction device 100. When the power of the multifunction device 100 is turned off, the operation continues for a certain time set by the timer, and then the power is turned off. Set the operation control to Thereby, in the air cleaner 200, when the power of the multifunction device 100 is turned on, the power of the air cleaner 200 is also turned on in conjunction with this, and the air cleaner 200 is automatically operated automatically. When the power of the multifunction device 100 is turned off, the operation is continued for a certain period of time, and the operation is stopped by turning off the power after the lapse of the certain time.

<Example 5>
Although the said Examples 1-4 were all Examples which manage the air cleaner 200 in the terminal device 300, as Example 4, it is also possible to manage the air cleaner 200 in the multi-function device 100. Also in this case, the user can operate the management screen page displayed on the display unit 16 of the multi-function device 100 to perform the same processing operation as in the first to fourth embodiments.

  It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and does not serve as a basis for limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted only by the above-described embodiment, but is defined based on the description of the scope of claims. Moreover, all the changes within the meaning and range equivalent to a claim are included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication cable 10 Control part 11 Image input part 12 Image processing part 13 Image output part 14 Communication part 15 Operation panel 16 Display part (display means)
17 storage unit 18 page creation unit 19 I / F unit (communication means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Control part 21 Operation panel 23 Blower 24 Ion generator 25 Humidifier 26 Timer part 27 Memory | storage part 28 Sensor part 29 I / F part (communication means)
100 Image forming device (multifunction machine)
200 air purifier 300 terminal device 400 service providing device N communication network

Claims (9)

A communication means capable of communicating with the air cleaner via a communication line;
Display means for displaying internal management information of the air purifier received via the communication means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: page creation means for creating information to be displayed on the display means as a management screen page. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus and an air cleaner,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Communication means capable of communicating with the air cleaner via a communication line;
Display means for displaying internal management information of the air purifier received via the communication means;
Page creation means for creating information to be displayed on the display means as a management screen page,
The air cleaner
An image forming system comprising: communication means capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus via a communication line; and transmitting internal management information to the image forming apparatus via the communication means. The image forming system according to claim 2,
The image forming system, wherein maintenance information of the image forming apparatus and maintenance information included in the internal management information are displayed on the management screen page. The image forming system according to claim 3,
The image forming system, wherein operation status information included in the internal management information is displayed on the management screen page. The image forming system according to claim 4,
The operation status information includes information such as temperature, humidity, and air volume of the surrounding environment. The image forming system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein:
The image forming apparatus transmits maintenance instruction information input based on maintenance information displayed on the management screen page to a service providing apparatus via a communication network. An image forming system according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
An image forming system, further comprising a terminal device capable of acquiring the management screen page of the image forming apparatus via a communication network. The image forming system according to claim 7,
The image forming system, wherein the terminal device transmits maintenance instruction information input based on the maintenance information displayed on the management screen page to the service providing device via the communication network. The image forming system according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
From the management screen page, it is possible to change the operation settings of the air cleaner linked to turning on and off the power of the image forming apparatus.

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