JP2016201757A - Air cleaner control system and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner management system for cleaning the air at a more appropriate timing.SOLUTION: An air cleaner management system 1 includes a multifunction machine 2, and an air cleaner 3 capable of operating based on the operation setting information received from the multifunction machine 2. The air cleaner 3 has a dust sensor 37, and transmits the sensor information of the dust sensor 37 to the multifunction machine 2. The multifunction machine 2 has a storage section 22 for accumulating the sensor information received from the air cleaner 3, and storing the operation setting information to be transmitted to the multifunction machine 2, and changes the operation setting information stored in the storage section 22, based on the sensor information accumulated in the storage section 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner control system, and more particularly to an air cleaner control system and an image processing apparatus using an image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function.

  In many offices, image processing apparatuses such as printers and scanners are installed. In recent years, air purifiers have been widely used in offices for the purpose of purifying air in response to an increase in health consciousness. An image processing apparatus having an air cleaning function has also come out (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an image processing apparatus including an image forming unit and an air cleaning operation unit. In the image processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power ON of the air cleaning operation unit is turned on. This is performed prior to turning on the power of the forming unit. Further, in the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 2, the air cleaning function is based on the operation mode of the image forming function so that the built-in air cleaning function can be effectively used without the power consumption exceeding a predetermined value. The operation control is performed.

JP 2011-3378 A JP 2011-121272 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 may delay the purification of air when air contamination occurs due to a function other than the image forming function. Further, the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 does not correspond to such a delay in air purification.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an air purifier management system and an image processing apparatus that purify air at a more appropriate timing.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means of the present invention includes an image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function, and a sensor for acquiring environment information, and is received from the image processing apparatus. An air purifier operable on the basis of the operation setting information, and the air purifier transmits an acquisition result of the sensor to the image processing device, and the image processing device receives from the air purifier. It has a storage unit for storing the operation setting information to be transmitted to the air cleaner while accumulating the received acquisition results of the sensor, and storing the operation setting information stored in the storage unit in the storage unit The change is made based on the acquired result.

  According to a second technical means of the present invention, in the first technical means, the environmental information is information on dust, odor or humidity.

  According to a third technical means of the present invention, in the first or second technical means, the image processing apparatus displays the acquisition result and / or the operation setting information stored / stored in the storage unit. It has the part.

  According to a fourth technical means of the present invention, in any one of the first to third technical means, the air purifier includes a plurality of air cleaners, and the image processing apparatus stores operation setting information of the plurality of air purifiers. It memorize | stores in a memory | storage part and transmits to each said air cleaner.

  A fifth technical means of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function, and has a sensor for acquiring environmental information, based on operation setting information received from the image processing apparatus. The operation setting stored in the storage unit is stored in the storage unit, the storage unit storing operation setting information received from the operable air purifier and accumulating the acquisition result of the sensor and transmitted to the air purifier. The information is changed based on the acquisition result accumulated in the storage unit.

  According to the present invention, air can be purified at a more appropriate timing.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the air cleaner control system of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table in which operation setting information stored in a storage unit of the multifunction peripheral of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table in which an average dust density stored in a storage unit of the multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1 is recorded. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing for changing operation setting information by the multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1; 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of dust sensor information acquisition processing in the multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining an example of the determination process of the operation setting of the air cleaner in the multifunction device of FIG. It is a figure explaining the other example of the determination process of the operation setting of the air cleaner in the multifunctional machine of FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an air cleaner control system and an image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following inventions, the same reference numerals are used in different drawings, and the description thereof is omitted.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an air cleaner control system of the present invention.
The air cleaner control system 1 in FIG. 1 includes a multifunction device 2 and an air cleaner 3. The MFP 2 and the air purifier 3 are connected by wire using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. However, wireless connection may be used.

  The MFP 2 is configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile communication function, a data filing function, and a scan function in addition to a printer function and a copy function. It is an example. The air cleaner 3 has an air cleaning function.

The air cleaner 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, an operation unit 33, an MFP I / F 34, a filter 35, a fan 36, and a dust sensor 37.
The control unit 31 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and controls the entire air purifier 3 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 32.
The storage unit 32 includes various recording media such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores programs and data for realizing the functions of the air purifier 3.

  The operation unit 33 includes an input unit 33a and a display unit 33b. The input unit 33a has a touch panel and hard keys that accept input from the user. The touch panel is disposed so as to overlap the display unit 33b, and detects a user operation on the display surface of the display unit 33b. The hard key includes a power key for turning on / off the air cleaner 3. The display unit 33b is a liquid crystal panel, for example.

  The MFP I / F 34 is connected to a USB cable connected to the multifunction device 2. The air cleaner 3 can communicate with the multifunction device 2 via the MFP I / F 34 and can operate in accordance with an instruction from the multifunction device 2.

The filter 35 is, for example, a known activated carbon filter including activated carbon, and adsorbs suspended matters in the air passing through the filter 35 to purify the air. For example, dust, mold, etc. in the air are adsorbed and removed. Further, chemical substances such as silicon and ozone discharged from the multifunction machine 2 can be adsorbed and removed.
The fan 36 is rotationally driven by a motor, generates an air flow, sucks air from a suction port (not shown), passes through the filter 35, and then blows out from a blower outlet (not shown).

  The dust sensor 37 is for detecting dust in the air, and has a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by dust in the air and reaches the light receiving element. The light receiving element generates a voltage proportional to the amount of light received. Therefore, the dust density in the air can be known by monitoring the output voltage of the light receiving element.

  The multifunction machine 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an operation unit 23, a communication unit 24, an air purifier I / F 25, an image reading unit 26, and an image forming unit 27.

  The control unit 21 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and controls the entire MFP 2 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 22. The control unit 21 includes a timer 21a that measures elapsed time and a clock unit 21b that measures the current time including the day of the week and the date and time.

  The storage unit 22 includes various recording media such as a ROM, a RAM, and an HDD, a program that realizes various functions of the multifunction device 2, print data transmitted from an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer), and an image reading unit 26. The image data read by is stored. Furthermore, the storage unit 22 stores an operation setting table and an average density table, which will be described later.

  The operation unit 23 includes an input unit 23a and a display unit 23b. The input unit 23a has a touch panel and hard keys that accept input from the user. The touch panel is disposed so as to overlap the display unit 23b, and detects a user operation on the display surface of the display unit 23b. The hard key includes a power key for turning on / off the air cleaner 3 and a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies. The display unit 23b is a liquid crystal panel, for example.

The communication unit 24 is connected to a network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network) by wire and communicates with an external device via the network N. The communication unit 24 may be connected to the network N by radio.
The air cleaner I / F 25 is connected to a USB cable connected to the air cleaner 3, and the multifunction device 2 and the air cleaner 3 can communicate with each other via the MFP I / F 34.

  The image reading unit 26 optically reads a document set on a document table (not shown) and outputs it as image data. The image reading unit 26 is, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document, an optical system such as a lens or a mirror that forms reflected light from the document on a line image, and an image that receives the reflected light from the document and reads the document image. A sensor and a conversion unit that digitally converts an analog image signal output from the image sensor can be provided.

  The image forming unit 27 has a function of forming (printing) image data on recording paper. For example, the image forming unit 27 includes a paper conveyance device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, a fixing device, and the like, and is configured to perform image formation by an electrophotographic process. Is done. The image formation by the image forming unit 27 may be another method.

  In the air purifier system 1 including the above devices, the air purifier 3 operates based on the operation setting information received from the multifunction device 2. In the multifunction machine 2, the operation setting information to be transmitted to the air cleaner 3 is stored in the storage unit 22 in the form of a table, for example.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table in which operation setting information stored in the storage unit 22 of the multifunction device 2 is recorded.
In the operation setting table T1 of FIG. 2, operation setting information related to the air volume mode transmitted to the air purifier 2 every hour is recorded for one week. The operation setting table T1 is set to a “strong” mode or a “medium” mode with a strong air cleaning function except on the 8:00 and 19:00 hours on weekdays, and has an air cleaning function on Saturdays. A weak “weak” mode is set, and Sunday indicates an “OFF” mode in which the air purifying function is not operated.
The air cleaner 3 controls the operation of the fan 36 based on the received operation setting information. For example, the air cleaner 3 operates the fan 36 at high / medium / low rotation speeds in the “strong” / “medium” / “weak” mode, respectively.

  In addition, the multifunction machine 2 acquires the dust density acquisition result of the dust sensor 37 of the air cleaner 3, that is, sensor information from the air cleaner 3 and accumulates it in the storage unit 22. The sensor information is, for example, information indicating the output level of the dust sensor 37, and in the following example, indicates any one of “1” to “3”. The output level of the dust sensor 37 is a value indicating that the larger the value, the greater the amount of dust in the air. The multi-function device 2 calculates the average output level of the dust sensor 37, that is, the average dust density for each hour at a predetermined timing, and stores it in the form of a table, for example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table in which the average dust density stored in the storage unit 22 of the multifunction device 2 is recorded.
In the average density table T2 of FIG. 3, the average dust density for each hour up to 7 days before and rounded off is recorded. The average density table T2 has a high average dust density from 13:00 pm to 17:00 pm on February 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18, which are weekdays. The average dust density during the day on the 13th is moderate, indicating that the average dust density on February 14th, which is Sunday, is low.
The calculation timing of the average dust density every hour may be every other hour or may be performed once a day.

  In the multifunction device 2, the operation setting information stored in the storage unit 22 is changed based on the dust density acquisition result in the dust sensor 37 accumulated in the storage unit 22. For example, in the multifunction machine 2, the operation setting table T1 stored in the storage unit 22 is changed based on the average density table T2. Specifically, for example, assuming that February 18 is a Thursday, the multifunction device 2 has February 18 described in the average density table T2 when the current date changes to February 19. The average dust density information of the day and the operation setting information relating to the air volume mode on Thursday described in the operation setting table T1, that is, the operation setting information transmitted to the air purifier 3 on Thursday, February 25 of the following week are changed. In other words, the operation setting information on Thursday, February 25 is determined based on the average dust density information on February 18 and the operation setting information when the average dust density information is obtained. Note that the timing for changing the operation setting information is not limited to the above example. For example, the operation setting information transmitted on Thursday may be changed to Wednesday of the previous day.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for more specifically explaining an example of the processing for changing the operation setting information by the multifunction device 2.
For example, the operation setting information related to the air volume mode from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock on a certain day is all set to the “OFF” mode as shown in FIG. 4A, and the air purifier 3 follows the operation setting information. It is assumed that the average dust density acquired when operating is as high as “3” only at 9 o'clock as shown in FIG. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the multifunction device 2 changes only the operation setting information at 9 o'clock and sets it to the “strong” mode.

If the average dust density acquired when operating in accordance with the operation setting information in FIG. 4C the next week does not change from that in FIG. 4B as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 (E), the operation setting information at 8 o'clock is changed to the “medium” mode while the operation setting information at 9 o'clock is maintained in the “strong” mode.
Further, the next week, the average dust density obtained when operating according to the operation setting information of FIG. 4 (E) changed as compared to FIG. 4 (D) as shown in FIG. If the average dust density is “1” instead of “1”, the MFP 2 sets the operation setting information at 9 o'clock in “strong” mode, for example, as shown in FIG. The operation setting information at 7 o'clock is changed to “weak” while maintaining the operation setting information at “medium” mode, or the operation setting information at 9 o'clock is set to “strong” as shown in FIG. While maintaining the mode, the operation setting information at 8 o'clock is also changed to the “strong” mode.

  The change as shown in FIG. 4 is, for example, stored in advance as to how to change the operation setting information for the next week in accordance with the combination of the temporal change in the average dust density and the operation setting information at that time. Done based on information. In this case, when the combination is not stored in advance, the action setting information can be maintained.

  By setting it as the above structures, the air cleaner control system 1 can perform air purification according to the anticipated degree of air pollution.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of information acquisition processing of the dust sensor 37 in the multifunction device 2.
When the multifunction device 2 starts the sensor information acquisition process of the dust sensor 37 by turning on the power of the multifunction device 2 or the like, as shown in FIG. (Step S1), a sensor state inquiry command is issued to the air purifier 3 (Step S2). The fixed time is, for example, 5 minutes. The multifunction device 2 waits for a response from the multifunction device 2 in response to the command (step S3). When the multifunction device 2 receives sensor information of the dust sensor 37 from the air cleaner 3 as a response to the command, the multifunction device 2 stores it in the storage unit 22 together with the current time. (Step S4). Sensor information with time information is hereinafter referred to as a sensor information log. Then, the process is returned to step S <b> 1 and the above process is repeated, whereby the sensor information log of the dust sensor 37 is accumulated in the storage unit 22. The storage unit 22 stores, for example, sensor information logs for one week.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for determining the operation setting of the air cleaner 3 in the multifunction machine 2. In the following description, the operation setting table T1 in FIG. 2 and the average density table T2 in FIG. 3 are stored in the storage unit 22 of the multifunction machine 2, and the average dust density information and the operation setting information at that time are stored. It is assumed that new operation setting information suitable for the combination is stored.
The multifunction device 2 performs the following operation setting determination process for the air purifier 3 every day, for example, when the date changes.

  In the operation setting determination process of FIG. 6, the multifunction machine 2 changes the date on February 19 and finishes calculating the average dust density information for February 18 which is the previous day. The pattern of the average dust density information, that is, the hourly average dust density information is extracted from the average density table T2, and the pattern of the operation setting information relating to the air volume mode on Thursday to which February 18 belongs, that is, the operation setting information for each hour. Are extracted from the operation setting table T1 (step S11). Then, it is determined whether a new operation setting information pattern suitable for the combination of the extracted average dust density information and operation setting information pattern is stored in the storage unit 22 (step S12).

  If stored (in the case of YES), the multifunction device 2 rewrites the operation setting information pattern on Thursday of the operation setting table T1 to the stored new operation setting information pattern (step S13). If the new operation setting information pattern is not stored, the processing ends without changing the operation setting information.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another example of the process for determining the operation setting of the air cleaner 3 in the multifunction machine 2.
In the first embodiment, the multifunction device 2 has determined the pattern of the operation setting information of the air cleaner 3 according to the pattern of the average dust density information, but in the second embodiment, in the past same time zone. The multifunction device 2 changes / determines the operation setting information of the air cleaner 3 in the time zone according to the average dust density.

  The operation setting determination process in FIG. 7 is performed, for example, every hour, and in this process, the multifunction device 2 first acquires the current time (step S21). Then, for example, the multifunction device 2 acquires the sensor information log of the dust sensor 37 for one hour from the storage unit 22 in the time zone that is the same time as the current time of the same day of the week, for example, seven days ago (step S22). The average value of the sensor information log of the dust sensor 37, that is, the average dust density is calculated (step S23). Thereafter, the MFP 2 determines whether or not the calculated average dust density is higher than a reference value (step S24).

When not high (in the case of NO), the multi function device 2 determines whether or not the calculated average dust density is lower than the reference value (step S25).
When not low (in the case of NO), the multifunction machine 2 extracts the operation setting information related to the air volume mode of the day of the week and the time zone to which the current time belongs described in the operation setting table T1 of FIG. (Step S26).

  On the other hand, in step S24, when the average dust density is higher than the reference value (in the case of YES), the multifunction device 2 is described in the operation setting table T1 so as to increase the air volume of the day of the week and the time zone to which the current time belongs. The operation setting information for the time zone is rewritten (step S27), and the rewritten operation setting information is transmitted to the air purifier 3 in the subsequent step S26. If the set value of the air volume is the upper limit in step S27, the process proceeds directly to step S26.

  In step S25, when the average dust density is lower than the reference value (in the case of YES), the multifunction device 2 is described in the operation setting table T1 so as to reduce the air volume of the day of the week and the time zone to which the current time belongs. The operation setting information of the time zone is rewritten (step S28), and the rewritten operation setting information is transmitted to the air cleaner 3 in the subsequent step S26. If the set value of the air volume is the lower limit in step S28, the process proceeds directly to step S26.

By setting it as the above structures, the air cleaner control system 1 can perform air purification according to the anticipated degree of air pollution.
In addition, it is preferable to memorize | store the average dust density calculated in step S24 in the form rounded off like the average density table T2 of FIG. 3, for example.

  By storing the operation setting table T1 of FIG. 2 and the average density table T2 of FIG. 3 as in the first and second embodiments, the multi-function device 2 can display these tables on the display unit 23b. . This table may be displayed on a display unit of an external device such as a PC connected to the multifunction device 2. Also, the dust density information may not be displayed as a table in the form of the average dust density, but may be displayed as it is, for example, every 5 minutes accumulated in the storage unit 22.

  In the above example, there is one air purifier 3 connected to the multifunction device 2, but a plurality of air purifiers are connected, and the operation setting information of each air purifier is average density as described above. You may make it change based on a table.

Further, in the above example, the operation setting of the air cleaner 2 is determined with reference to the average dust density of the same day of the week before, but the determination method is not limited to this, for example, for two weeks. Alternatively, sensor information on the same day of the week may be referred to.
In the above example, the operation setting is determined in units of one hour, but may be determined in shorter units such as 30 minutes, or may be determined in longer units such as two hours. Good.

Furthermore, the sensor information that is the environmental information of the present invention is not limited to that by the dust sensor 37 described above.
For example, an ion generator composed of a plurality of plasma clusters (registered trademark) and an odor sensor are provided in an air cleaner, and the number of plasma clusters operated by the ion generator is determined based on sensor information of the odor sensor. You may do it.
Moreover, a humidification unit and a humidity sensor may be provided in an air cleaner, and the rotational speed of the disk-shaped humidification filter which comprises a humidification unit may be determined based on the sensor information of a humidity sensor.

The reason why the air cleaner is controlled through the multifunction machine as described above is as follows (1) and (2).
(1) The control unit of the air cleaner is almost composed of a microcomputer, and it is difficult to control as described above in terms of the performance of the microcomputer.
(2) As described above, the multifunction machine has a performance capable of controlling the air purifier and is equipped with a general-purpose OS (Operating System), and the multifunction machine is often in a standby state. Therefore, resources can be used effectively by using a multifunction machine.

  The air cleaner management system of the present invention has an image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function, and a sensor for acquiring environmental information, and can operate based on operation setting information received from the image processing apparatus. An air cleaner, and the air cleaner transmits an acquisition result of the sensor to the image processing device, and the image processing device accumulates the acquisition result of the sensor received from the air cleaner and air. A storage unit that stores operation setting information to be transmitted to the cleaner is provided, and the operation setting information stored in the storage unit is changed based on the acquisition result accumulated in the storage unit. Thereby, air purification can be appropriately performed according to the expected degree of air contamination.

  The environmental information is, for example, information related to dust, smell or humidity.

  The image processing apparatus may include a display unit that displays the acquisition result and / or operation setting information stored / stored in the storage unit. Thereby, it is possible to confirm the acquisition result of the environmental information and the operation setting information in the sensor.

  The air purifier management system may include a plurality of air purifiers, and the image processing apparatus may store operation setting information of each of the plurality of air purifiers in the storage unit and transmit the information to each of the air purifiers.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function, and has a sensor for acquiring environmental information and can operate based on operation setting information received from the image processing apparatus. A storage unit that stores operation setting information that is received from a simple air purifier and that is acquired by the sensor and that is transmitted to the air purifier, and the operation setting information stored in the storage unit is stored in the storage unit. It changes based on the acquisition result accumulated in. Thereby, it is possible to cause the air purifier to appropriately perform air purification according to the expected degree of air contamination.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air cleaner control system, 2 ... Compound machine, 3 ... Air cleaner, 21 ... Control part, 21a ... Timer, 21b ... Clock part, 22 ... Memory | storage part, 23 ... Operation part, 23b ... Display part, 24 ... Communication unit 25 ... Air purifier I / F, 26 ... Image reading unit, 27 ... Image forming unit, 31 ... Control unit, 32 ... Storage unit, 33 ... Operation unit, 34 ... MFP I / F, 35 ... Filter, 36 ... Fan, 37 ... Dust sensor.

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function;
An air cleaner having a sensor for acquiring environmental information and operable based on operation setting information received from the image processing device,
The air cleaner transmits an acquisition result of the sensor to the image processing apparatus,
The image processing apparatus has a storage unit that stores operation setting information transmitted to the air cleaner while accumulating results obtained by the sensor received from the air cleaner, and stored in the storage unit. The air purifier control system, wherein the operation setting information is changed based on an acquisition result stored in the storage unit.   The air cleaner control system according to claim 1, wherein the environmental information is information on dust, odor, or humidity.   The air cleaner management according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays the acquisition result and / or the operation setting information accumulated / stored in the storage unit. system.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the air purifiers, wherein the image processing apparatus stores operation setting information of the plurality of air purifiers in the storage unit and transmits the information to the air purifiers. The air cleaner management system according to any one of the above. An image processing apparatus having an image forming function and / or an image reading function,
An operation of accumulating the acquisition result of the sensor and transmitting to the air purifier received from the air purifier having a sensor for acquiring environmental information and operable based on the operation setting information received from the image processing apparatus A storage unit for storing setting information;
An image processing apparatus, wherein the operation setting information stored in the storage unit is changed based on an acquisition result stored in the storage unit.

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