JP2019159788A - Portable terminal, program, image forming device, and operation confirmation method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a portable terminal, a program, an image forming device, and an operation confirmation method in which there is no need to add and install a device such as a sound collection device to the image forming device or an optionally connected accessory device and a component for checking the operation can be changed at any time after design.SOLUTION: A service person visiting a customer brings an image forming device 1 into a state where wireless connection with a portable terminal 204 is feasible. Therefore, the service person performs a special operation determined in advance to place the image forming device 1 in a special mode for performing maintenance work. Using the portable terminal 204, operations of the image forming device and the accessory device are confirmed in this special mode. In the special mode, first, a screen for performing a wireless connection with the mobile terminal is displayed on an operation unit of the image forming device 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  According to the present invention, an operation check of parts of an image forming apparatus or an accessory device connected to the image forming apparatus is performed by a portable terminal.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, a technique for storing an operation sound of a printing unit and identifying a source of an abnormal operation sound when an abnormal operation sound is generated has been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 proposes a technique for checking the operation of an image forming apparatus by mounting a sound collecting device in the image forming apparatus and determining operation sound during normal operation and operation sound during abnormality. .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-131997

However, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to mount a sound collecting device at an optimal place in the image forming apparatus. Further, when an accessory device is connected as an option to the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to mount a sound collecting device on each of the image forming apparatus and the accessory device. For this reason, the additional cost was required.
In addition, in order to mount a sound collecting device in an image forming apparatus or an accessory device, it is necessary to specify a component for which an operation sound is to be confirmed at the time of designing hardware. For this reason, after designing the hardware, the degree of freedom to change the parts to be checked for operation sound is limited.

  The present invention is a portable terminal having a function of connecting to an image forming apparatus wirelessly or by wire, and is included in a part included in the main body of the image forming apparatus or an apparatus detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It has an acquisition means which acquires information required in order to check the operation of parts, and an issue means which issues the operation command for checking the operation of the parts.

There is no need to add a device such as a sound collecting device to the image forming device or an accessory device connected as an option, and the parts for checking the operation can be changed at any time after design. .
As a result, it is possible to check the operation of the image forming apparatus at a low cost and with a high degree of freedom.

2 is a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the whole system of a maintenance service. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a portable terminal. 4 is an example of a display screen on an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. It is a flow of processing performed by a maintenance application. It is a flowchart of parts check. It is an example of the screen displayed on a portable terminal in the case of a maintenance work. It is an example of the screen displayed on a portable terminal in the case of operation check. It is an example of maintenance information. 7 is an example of a screen displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus when performing a part check.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 2, a scanning unit 3, a printing unit 4, and a controller 100. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to be able to communicate with an external device via a network 5 or an external memory 6.
Here, the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to an unillustrated accessory device (for example, a finisher). In the present invention, the accessory device refers to a device, a part, or the like that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

The operation unit 2 includes a liquid crystal display unit having a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like. When the user operates the operation unit 2, a signal is input to the controller 100.
The scanning unit 3 reads an image on the placed document, generates an image signal, and transmits the image signal to the controller 100.
The printing unit 4 forms an image on a recording medium based on an input from the controller 100.
The network 5 is connected to external devices such as user terminals and servers, for example.
The external memory 6 is a USB memory, for example, and can exchange data with the controller 100.

The controller 100 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a counter 104, a sensor 105, and an HDD 106, and controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. In addition, the controller 100 performs network I / F 107, scan unit I / F 108, print unit I / F 109, external memory I / F in order to exchange data with devices included in the image forming apparatus 1 and external devices. F110 is provided.
These components included in the controller 100 are communicably connected by a system bus 111.

  The CPU 101 executes various controls such as outputting an image signal to the printing unit 4 and receiving an image signal from the scanner unit 11 based on a control program stored in the ROM 103 or the HDD 106. In addition, the CPU 101 receives signals from the counter 104, the sensor 105, and the like according to information necessary for various controls.

The RAM 102 is used as a temporary storage area such as a main memory or work area of the CPU 101.
The ROM 103 stores a program for the CPU 101 to perform various processes.
The HDD 106 stores various data and files, various information tables, programs for the CPU to execute various processes, and the like.

The counter 104 receives a signal from a circuit (not shown) for measuring the number of operations, and manages and stores the counted up value.
The sensor 105 detects a state in the image forming apparatus such as temperature. Then, the CPU 101 transmits a signal obtained by the detection to the CPU 101 as necessary when the CPU 101 executes various processes.
Although not shown, the scanning unit 3 and the printing unit 4 also have sensors and counters, respectively. The CPU 101 can receive signals from these sensors and counters via the scanner unit I / F 108 and the printing unit I / F 109, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the entire maintenance service system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When an abnormal operation occurs in the image forming apparatus 1 of the customer, the customer notifies the server 202 at the service base of the sales company to request that the image forming apparatus 1 be repaired.

If the image forming apparatus has a remote monitoring service function, the image forming apparatus itself detects an abnormal state. Then, the image forming apparatus notifies the server at the service base of the sales company that an abnormality has occurred along with an ID for identifying the type of the abnormal state.
Here, in the remote monitoring service function, the image forming apparatus owned by the customer and the server of the sales company are connected via a network. When any abnormality occurs in the customer's image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus notifies the server of the abnormality. Upon receiving the notification, the sales company promptly responds to the service person.

  Note that the notification method is not limited to when an abnormality occurs, and the server may periodically notify the status information of the image forming apparatus. Further, the server may monitor the state of the image forming apparatus and detect an abnormality, out of toner, or the like. Alternatively, the customer may notify using the repair request function of the image forming apparatus 1.

The service base of the sales company that has received the report instructs the service person 203 to visit the customer. Upon receipt of the instruction, the service person 203 visits the customer who made the report while holding the portable terminal 204 to repair the image forming apparatus 1 of the customer.
Alternatively, the service person may visit the customer regularly to perform maintenance / management work on the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile terminal 204 shown in FIG.
The portable terminal 204 includes a controller unit 302.
In the controller unit 302, the CPU 303 is a central processing unit that controls the entire portable terminal.
The RAM 304 is a work memory for temporarily storing data used for calculation by the CPU 303.
The ROM 307 stores programs and various data used by the CPU 303.

The panel controller 305 performs display on the touch panel of the mobile terminal 204 and input from the touch panel.
The camera 306 performs shooting using the camera.
The wireless network I / F 309 is an interface for communicating with the network 5 via a wireless access point.

The position detection device 308 uses a GPS receiver or the like to specify the current location of the mobile terminal.
The sound collector 310 is a so-called microphone and can collect ambient sounds.
The vibration sensor 311 can detect the vibration of the mobile terminal 204 in the XYZ axis directions.
Each of these blocks is connected through a system bus 312.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of maintenance work using a maintenance application operating on the mobile terminal.
First, in step S <b> 501, the service person 203 visiting the customer places the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where wireless connection with the portable terminal 204 is possible.
For this reason, the service person 203 performs a special operation determined in advance on the image forming apparatus 1 that is the object of maintenance to place the image forming apparatus 1 in a special mode for performing maintenance work.

The special mode is a user interface (so-called service mode) for the service person for the service person to perform various adjustments and maintenance work (operation check). In this embodiment, using the portable terminal 204, the operation check is performed on the image forming apparatus main body and the accessory apparatus in this special mode.
In the special mode, first, a screen 401 for wireless connection with a portable terminal as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1.

Next, in S <b> 502, the service person 203 sets the wireless LAN of the mobile terminal 204.
Therefore, the service person 203 activates a maintenance application on the portable terminal 204. The maintenance application is an application program for confirming the operation of the image processing apparatus main body and the accessory apparatus.

Then, the service person 203 inputs the SSID information and the KEY information 403 displayed on the screen 401 of the operation unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 to the portable terminal 204. Alternatively, the QR code (registered trademark) 404 displayed on the operation unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 is photographed using the camera 306 of the portable terminal, and the photographed QR code is analyzed to obtain the SSID and KEY information. derive.
Then, the service person 203 presses the connection button 402 displayed on the operation unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. As a result, a wireless LAN is set for the portable terminal 204 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be connected.

In step S <b> 503, the portable terminal 204 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a wireless LAN.
As a result, a command can be transmitted and received between the portable terminal 204 and the image forming apparatus 1. Note that transmission / reception of commands between the portable terminal 204 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be performed by wire.
Thereafter, the application is activated on the portable terminal 204, and the application issues a command to the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the portable terminal 204. As a result, the portable terminal 204 acquires basic information (model name, software version, information on the connected accessory device, etc.) of the image forming apparatus 1.

In S504, maintenance work for the image forming apparatus 1 is performed.
Here, the maintenance application running on the portable terminal 204 performs maintenance work on the image forming apparatus 1 based on the basic information of the image forming apparatus 1 acquired in S503.
The maintenance work includes various operation confirmations such as setting value change, adjustment, and counter confirmation for the image forming apparatus 1, and operation confirmation for an accessory device connected as an option to the image forming apparatus 1. It is. Hereinafter, this maintenance work is sometimes referred to as parts check. In the present invention, a part refers to a minimum unit in an image forming apparatus main body or an accessory apparatus that is a target of operation confirmation performed by a maintenance application. For example, motors, solenoids, fans, power supply fans, waste heat fans, etc. correspond to the parts.

When the maintenance work is finished, the application on the portable terminal 204 is finished in S505.
In step S506, the service person 203 restarts the image forming apparatus. As a result, the image forming apparatus exits from the special mode and operates in the normal mode.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part check process executed by the maintenance application.

First, in S601, the main menu of the maintenance application is displayed on the screen of the portable terminal 204.
The screen shown in FIG. 7A is a main menu of the maintenance application, and a list of maintenance work is displayed.

In S602, in order to select a part to be checked, the service person selects a part check on the screen shown in FIG.
Then, the screen transitions to a parts check menu shown in FIG.

In the part check menu of FIG. 7B, a list of image forming apparatus main bodies and accessory devices to be maintained is displayed. As for the accessory device, only the accessory device that is actually connected is displayed as a part check option from the basic information of the image forming device acquired by the portable terminal.
Here, the image forming apparatus main body or accessory device to be maintained by the service person is selected. When the main body or one accessory device (for example, finisher) is selected, for example, as shown in FIG. 7C, the types of parts (for example, clutch, fan, motor, solenoid) existing in the selected accessory device ) Is displayed.

  In the screen of FIG. 7C, for example, when a serviceman selects a fan, as shown in FIG. 7D, specific parts of the fan existing in the selected accessory device (for example, a power supply fan, waste heat) Fan) is displayed.

The maintenance application holds, for example, maintenance information as shown in FIG. 9 as information used for part checking of each part constituting the image forming apparatus main body and the accessory device.
Here, the maintenance information is a summary of information necessary for confirming the operation of each part. In the example of FIG. 9, a part of maintenance information about parts included in the finisher is extracted and shown. Here, the maintenance information is made up of an operation command 903, a confirmation method 904, option information 905 regarding the confirmation method, coordinates 906 indicating an optimal arrangement position of the mobile terminal for performing the operation confirmation, and the like for each part 902. The
The service person can acquire maintenance information as shown in FIG. 9 by performing an operation according to the screens shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, in S603, the maintenance application arranges the mobile device when performing the operation check and the optimal method for checking the operation of the selected part from the maintenance information acquired in S601. The optimum position coordinate information is extracted.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the maintenance application displays the optimum position coordinates as a bitmap on the panel controller 305 of the portable terminal 204 together with the extracted confirmation method.

On the screen shown in FIG. 8A, the part name is highlighted in a column 801 indicating the selected part, and the extracted confirmation method is displayed in a column 802 indicating the confirmation method. In a field 803 where an illustration of the image forming apparatus is displayed, a position 804 where the portable device is to be placed is illustrated.
In this example, it is shown that a waste heat fan is selected as a part whose operation is to be confirmed, and the operation state of the waste heat fan is confirmed by sound.

As another method for displaying the confirmation method, for example, if visual confirmation is possible, “visually” is displayed in the column 802 indicating the confirmation method. In addition, if the confirmation by the vibration detection is possible, “vibration” is displayed.
Further, in order to represent the position where the portable device is to be arranged, an illustration of the image forming apparatus and the accessory device that is actually connected is displayed in a column 803. Then, the position where the portable device is to be arranged is calculated from the information of the position coordinates 906 acquired by the maintenance application and displayed as a circle symbol 804 on the illustration in the field 803.
Here, when the service person presses the start button 805, the confirmation measurement application displayed in the confirmation method column 802 is activated.

If the confirmation method is “visually” in S604, the process proceeds to S605.
In step S605, the maintenance application executes the operation command 903 indicated in the acquired maintenance information.
Here, the operation command refers to an operation for confirming the operation of a part or a series of such operations. Specifically, there are commands issued to switch the operation mode of parts. For example, a part such as a fan has operation modes such as stop, half speed, and full speed, and is a command for switching the operation mode between them.
In this embodiment, a protocol for checking the operation of the parts is determined in time series.
In S606, the service person confirms the operation visually.
In step S <b> 607, the service person inputs the operation confirmation result to the panel controller 305.
Then, in S613, a result as shown in FIG. 8B is displayed.

On the other hand, if the confirmation method is a means other than “visual” in S604, the process proceeds to S608.
As a confirmation method other than visual observation, for example, there is a method based on measurement of sound or vibration, and in that case, operation confirmation is performed by measuring physical quantities such as sound volume and vibration amount.
In step S <b> 608, the service person activates a measurement application for operation confirmation on the mobile terminal 204 and starts measurement.
In S609, the maintenance application executes the operation command 903 acquired in S602.

When the operation command sequence ends, in S610, the maintenance application collects the measurement data collected by the measurement application.
In step S611, the measurement application is terminated.

Thereafter, in S612, the maintenance application analyzes the measurement data.
For example, when an operation command for switching the operation mode such as fan stop, half speed, and full speed is issued to the waste heat fan, the sound generated from the waste heat fan varies in response to the operation command.
For this reason, the operation of the part is analyzed by synchronizing the timing at which the operation command is issued and the timing at which the fluctuation of the physical quantity (here, sound) generated from the part (here, waste heat fan) is measured. The state can be confirmed.

The viewpoint of analysis is not limited to whether the timing at which the operation command is issued matches the timing at which the measurement data fluctuates. As an example, issuance of an operation command and the amount of change in measurement data are synchronized (for example, is increased by issuing an operation command and decreased by stopping the operation command). In addition, there are cases where the location where the measurement data fluctuates matches the location specified by the coordinates 906 of the maintenance information.
In S613, the result as shown in FIG. 8B is displayed.
Here, it is shown that there was no abnormality in the waste heat fan.

Next, an operation performed by the operation unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 when executing a parts check will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 10A, the screen 1001 of the operation unit 2 indicates that the image forming apparatus is in the service maintenance mode and performs parts check.
A column 1002 displays an image forming apparatus main body and an accessory device that are maintenance targets. When many accessory devices are connected and cannot be displayed at the same time, the display can be switched by operating the scroll button 1004.
A column 1003 displays the types of parts.

  The button group 1005 is a button displayed in a matrix. By selecting and pressing one button from the button group 1005, it is possible to select a part of the image forming apparatus main body or the accessory apparatus. For example, a button 1006 represents a fan of the finisher, and when this button is pressed, the screen transitions to a screen 1011 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10B, information (name, part ID, confirmation method) regarding the parts of the selected accessory device is displayed in a table 1012.
In addition, as a confirmation method for each part, “visually” is displayed if the operation can be actually confirmed visually. In the case of parts that cannot be visually confirmed, other confirmation methods (for example, “sound”, “vibration”) are displayed.
In the example of FIG. 10B, a power supply fan and a heat exhaust fan are shown as parts existing in the fan of the finisher. Further, it is shown that the operation of the power supply fan can be confirmed visually, and that the exhaust heat fan cannot confirm the operation visually, but performs the operation confirmation by sound.

When a part is selected on the screen of FIG. 10B and the START button 1014 is pressed, the operation check of the selected part is started. When the START button 1014 is pressed again, the operation confirmation ends.
When there are many parts and not all can be displayed on the table 1012 at the same time, the scroll button 1013 can scroll the table.
Here, when the detail display button 1015 is pressed, the screen transitions to a screen 1020 in FIG.
In FIG. 10C, a field 1021 displays an illustration of the image forming apparatus indicating the position of the selected part.

Here, an example of operation confirmation when the confirmation method is based on measurement of “sound” will be described.
The maintenance application collects peripheral sounds for a certain period of time via the sound collection sensor 310 of the portable terminal 204, and creates a frequency distribution of the peripheral sound data. When there are a plurality of frequencies used for operation confirmation for parts recorded in the maintenance application in advance, the frequency with the smallest fluctuation of the outer peripheral sound in the steady state is used.

Then, collection of sound data at the designated predetermined frequency is started. The sound data is obtained by collecting sound volumes at a specified frequency in time series.
The operation command is issued according to a predetermined protocol. At this time, data indicating that an operation command has been issued is added to the collected sound data. As a result, the sound data stores the time-series fluctuation of the sound volume at the designated frequency and the timing at which the operation command is issued.

  In addition, in the case of a part that can be switched between operation modes such as the stop mode, the half-speed mode, and the full-speed mode, such as a fan, sound data collection is repeated while switching the operation mode in an order determined in advance by a protocol. When the operation command has been executed according to the protocol, the collection of the sound data is terminated, and the collected sound data is analyzed by the following method.

It is checked whether or not the operation command issuance timing included in the sound data is coincident with the collected frequency fluctuation timing.
If there is a change in sound after the operation command is issued and there is no change in sound while the operation command is not issued, it is determined that they match. As for the presence or absence of sound fluctuation, it is determined that there is no sound fluctuation if it is within the range of fluctuation amount of the peripheral sound data acquired in advance. On the other hand, if it is more than the fluctuation amount, it is determined that there is a fluctuation in sound.

  For parts having a plurality of operation modes, sound fluctuations are confirmed in each operation mode. For example, in the case of a fan, the operation sound should normally increase in the order of stop, half speed, and full speed.

Next, an example of operation confirmation when the confirmation means is based on measurement of “vibration” will be described.
The maintenance application collects and stores the steady-state vibrations for a certain period of time via the vibration sensor 311 of the portable terminal 204. Then, data recording by the vibration sensor 311 is started.
As in the case of the sound described above, issuance of motion commands and vibration data detected by the vibration sensor are collected in time series. The operation command is issued according to a predetermined protocol as in the case of confirmation by sound data. When the execution of the motion command is completed according to the protocol, the recording of the vibration sensor is terminated, and the vibration data detected by the vibration sensor is analyzed by the following method.

Check whether the issuance timing of the motion command included in the data detected by the vibration sensor and the occurrence timing of the vibration match.
The vibration sensor can collect vibration data in the XYZ axis directions. Therefore, it is possible to confirm the operation of the part by analyzing the fluctuation amount of the vibration amount generated by the part during the operation for each axis.

The operation can also be confirmed using the camera function of the mobile terminal.
For example, for parts whose colors change due to switching of operations, the camera function can check minute color variations that are difficult to compare visually. In this case, the color temperature, hue, brightness, and the like of the image acquired by the camera function may be extracted as the fluctuation amount, and the operation switching may be confirmed based on these.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the service person can check the operation of the image forming apparatus and its accessory device only by operating according to the instructions of the maintenance application. Furthermore, it is possible to confirm the operation of an accessory device mounted in a place where it cannot be visually confirmed.
As a result, the parts check, which is the maintenance work of the service person, can be executed efficiently.

(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.
Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. That is, all the configurations in which the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof are combined are also included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Operation part 204 Portable terminal

Claims (14)

A portable terminal having a function of connecting to an image forming apparatus wirelessly or by wire,
Obtaining means for obtaining information used for confirming the operation of a part included in a main body of the image forming apparatus or a part included in a device detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus;
Issued means for issuing an operation command for confirming the operation of the part.   The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operation command is included in the information acquired by the acquisition unit. There are multiple parts to check the operation,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information acquired by the acquisition means includes information on a method for performing an operation check for each part.   The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation command issued by the issuing means is a command for switching an operation mode of the part for performing operation confirmation.   5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an operation confirmation unit configured to confirm the operation of the part.   6. The portable terminal according to claim 5, wherein the operation confirmation unit confirms the operation of the part based on a change in physical quantity generated from the part.   The mobile terminal according to claim 6, further comprising a measuring unit that measures the physical quantity generated from the part.   The operation confirming means is based on a timing at which an operation command for switching the operation mode of the part is issued and a change in physical quantity generated from the part due to the operation command for switching the operation mode being issued. The mobile terminal according to claim 6 or 7, wherein operation check of the parts is performed. The physical quantity is a volume;
The method for checking the operation is based on sound measurement,
The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the operation of the part is confirmed based on a change in the volume at a predetermined frequency. The physical quantity is a vibration quantity,
The method for performing the operation check is based on vibration measurement,
The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the operation of the part is confirmed based on the fluctuation of the vibration amount.   The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein an operation check of the part is performed based on a fluctuation of each amount of vibration about each axis. A program that starts on a portable terminal having a function of connecting to an image forming apparatus wirelessly or by wire,
Obtaining information used to check the operation of a part included in the main body of the image forming apparatus or a part included in a device detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus;
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of issuing an operation command for confirming the operation of the part. An image forming apparatus,
A recording means for recording information used for confirming the operation of a part included in the main body or a part included in a device detachably attached to the main body;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transmission unit having a function of transmitting the information to a mobile terminal connected wirelessly or by wire. The image forming apparatus has a recording unit that records information used to check the operation of a part included in the main body of the image forming apparatus or a part included in the apparatus detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. And
The image forming apparatus transmitting the information to a mobile terminal connected wirelessly or wired;
A step of issuing an operation command for the mobile terminal to check the operation of the parts;
An operation confirmation method for an image forming apparatus main body or an apparatus detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.