JP2020157486A - Image recorder and image recorder failure prediction system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image recorder which can improve security, and an image recorder failure prediction system.SOLUTION: An image recorder comprises one or more drive parts which contribute to image recording, and a controller. The controller has: an inspection determination part which determines the necessity of inspection of the drive part; a sound collection notification part which performs notification for promoting collection of operation sound of the image recorder by an external terminal, when there is a specific drive part which has been determined by the inspection determination part to require inspection; and an execution part which executes an inspection mode including processing for driving the specific drive part, after notification by the sound collection notification part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording device such as an inkjet printer and a failure prediction system for predicting a failure of the image recording device.

In the past, a serviceman with specialized knowledge went to the user and inspected the serviceman to detect or predict the failure of the printer. In this case, it is necessary to dispatch a serviceman to inspect the printer to identify the location of the failure and the cause of the failure, and then dispatch a serviceman again for repair, but it takes a long time to complete the repair. The printer cannot be used for a long time. Therefore, various failure detection methods that do not require inspection by a service person have been proposed.

For example, a sensor for fault detection is provided inside the printer, and the driving status is detected by the sensor, or the number of prints and the number of paper feeds are counted and the data is transmitted to the management server for the management. Data analysis is performed on the server to detect a failure. By doing so, it is not necessary to dispatch a service person for inspection, and the repair time can be shortened.

Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a method using sound as another method for detecting a failure of a printer. Specifically, the microphone installed inside the printer collects the sound when the printer is driven, and the sound collection result is transmitted to the management server for analysis to detect the abnormality of the printer. Such a failure detection method does not require an expensive sensor and does not require a sensor to be provided in each drive unit, so that a failure can be detected with a simple configuration.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-054558

However, in the method of Patent Document 1, since the serviceman does not have to go to the user to analyze the location of the failure and the cause of the failure, the time required to complete the repair can be shortened, but a sound collecting microphone is installed inside the printer. Since it is installed, there is a risk that even the sound outside the printer will be collected. For example, when a printer is installed in an office, highly confidential conversations may be collected and the contents may be sent to the management server. That is, from the viewpoint of security, it is not desirable to have a configuration in which sound is automatically collected by a microphone installed inside the printer.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device and a failure prediction system for the image recording device, which can improve security.

The image recording device of the present invention is an image recording device including one or more drive units and a controller that contribute to image recording, and the controller determines whether or not inspection of the drive unit is necessary. When there is a determination unit and a specific drive unit determined by the inspection determination unit to be inspected, a sound collection notification unit that prompts the external terminal to collect the operating sound of the image recording device. It also has an execution unit that executes an inspection mode including a process of driving the specific driving unit after the notification by the sound collecting notification unit.

According to the present invention, when there is a specific drive unit determined to require inspection, the sound collection notification unit notifies the user to collect the operating sound of the image recording device by the external terminal. Therefore, the user can collect sound in a security-safe environment. As a result, security can be improved.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording device and a failure prediction system for an image recording device, which can quickly determine the presence or absence of an abnormality and improve security.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the failure prediction system of the image recording apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the image recording apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image recording apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional configuration of the controller of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the CPU in the failure prediction system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the determination bit for determining whether or not the inspection is executed. (A) is a diagram showing a display example of a synchronization instruction on an external terminal, and (b) is a diagram showing a display example of an inspection instruction on an external terminal. It is a figure which shows the display example of the sound collection instruction in an external terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine about the execution process of the inspection mode of FIG. It is a flowchart continuous with the flowchart of FIG.

Hereinafter, the image recording device and the failure prediction system of the image recording device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image recording device and its failure prediction system described below are only one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and additions, deletions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the failure prediction system 1 of the image recording device according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an image recording device 2 such as an inkjet printer and an external terminal 3 such as a smartphone owned by the user. The external terminal 3 is provided with a sound collecting function in advance, and transmits sound collecting data collected by using the sound collecting function to the image recording device 2 in a state of being synchronized with the image recording device 2. It is a terminal that can be used.

Next, the image recording device 2 will be described. Hereinafter, an inkjet printer will be described as an example of the image recording device 2, but the form of the image recording device 2 is not limited to this, and may be other printers such as a laser printer and a thermal (heat sensitive) printer. You may.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording device 2 includes a reading unit 10 arranged at the upper part, a printing mechanism 50 arranged at the lower part, and a controller 6 (see FIG. 3). In the image recording device 2, the printing mechanism 50 is configured to print the image data generated by reading by the reading unit 10 on the sheet (print medium) K.

The scanning unit 10 includes a scanner unit 11 and an automatic document feeder (ADF (Auto Document Feeder)) 12. The scanner unit 11 is a flatbed scanner. The scanner unit 11 has a scanner main body 15 including a document base 13, a document cover 14, and an optical image sensor 16. The image sensor 16 moves relative to the document on the platen 13 and optically reads the image formed on the document. Further, the ADF 12 includes a transport system drive unit 19 including one or a plurality of transport rollers 18 that transport the document along the transport path H2 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

The printing mechanism 50 moves the sheet K along the paper feed tray 51, the discharge tray 52, the platen 53, the carriage 54 configured to be movable while holding the discharge head 55, and the transport path H1 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. A transport system drive unit 56 for transport is provided. The sheet K fed from the paper feed tray 51 is conveyed along the transfer path H1 by the transfer system drive unit 56, an image is printed, and then the sheet K is conveyed to the discharge tray 52. .. The transport system drive unit 56 will be described later.

The platen 53 is formed in a plate shape and is arranged above the paper feed tray 51. The carriage 54 is arranged above the platen 53 while holding the ejection head 55 that ejects ink from the nozzles. Further, the discharge tray 52 is arranged in front of the platen 53. The transport path H1 is a path from the paper feed tray 51 to the discharge tray 52.

Here, the transport system drive unit 56 that transports the sheet K along the transport path H1 includes a paper feed roller 61, a resist roller 62, a transport roller 63, and a paper discharge roller 64. These paper feed rollers 61, registration rollers 62, transfer rollers 63, and paper discharge rollers 64 are connected to clutches and transfer motors 33 (FIG. 3), which are not shown, respectively, and rotate by obtaining driving force from the motors. It has become like. The transport system drive unit 56 may include not only the transport roller 63 but also one or more other transport rollers.

The paper feed roller 61 is arranged in the vicinity of the paper feed tray 51, picks up the sheet K housed in the paper feed tray 51, and sends it out to the registration roller 62. The resist roller 62 is arranged on the upstream side of the discharge head 55 in the transport direction of the sheet K, and feeds the sheet K to the platen 53. Further, the transfer roller 63 and the paper ejection roller 64 are arranged on the downstream side of the ejection head 55 in the conveying direction of the sheet K, and the sheet K on which the image is printed by the ejection head 55 is sent out to the paper ejection tray 52.

The image recording device 2 is provided with jam detecting means arranged along the transport paths H1 and H2. Specifically, the image recording device 2 is provided with an ADF sensor 17, a rear end sensor 65, a pre-registration sensor 66, a post-registration sensor 67, and a paper ejection sensor 68 as jam detecting means. The ADF sensor 17 is provided in the reading unit 10, detects jams in the document transport path H2, and transmits the detection signal to the controller 6. Further, the rear end sensor 65 is provided in the printing mechanism 50, detects jam in the vicinity of the paper feed roller 61 in the transport path H1 of the sheet K, and transmits the detection signal to the controller 6. The pre-registration sensor 66 is provided in the printing mechanism 50, detects jam on the upstream side of the resist roller 62 in the transport path H1, and transmits the detection signal to the controller 6. The post-registration sensor 67 is provided in the printing mechanism 50, detects jams on the downstream side of the resist roller 62 in the transport path H1, and transmits the detection signal to the controller 6. The paper ejection sensor 68 is provided in the printing mechanism 50, detects jams in the vicinity of the paper ejection roller 64 in the transport path H1, and transmits the detection signal to the controller 6.

Next, each function of the image recording device 2 will be described with reference to the block diagram. As shown in FIG. 3, the image recording device 2 includes an operation key 4, a display unit 5, and a controller 6, as well as an element constituting the printing mechanism 50 and an element constituting the reading unit 10.

Specifically, the printing mechanism 50 further includes motor driver ICs 30 and 31, head driver IC 32, conveyor motor 33, carriage motor 34, and communication unit 35. Further, the reading unit 10 further includes a motor driver IC 36 and a transfer motor 37.

The communication unit 35 is configured to be able to communicate with the external terminal 3 by wireless communication or wired communication. Specifically, the communication unit 35 is, for example, wireless communication compliant with NFC (Near Field Communication) standard, wireless communication compliant with Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, or wireless compliant with Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard. Can communicate. Further, the communication unit 35 can perform wired communication with the external terminal 3 by, for example, interconnecting with a USB cable.

The controller 6 has a CPU 20, a ROM 21, a RAM 22, an EEPROM 23, an HDD 24, and an ASIC 25. The CPU 20 is electrically connected to the ROM 21, RAM 22, EEPROM 23, HDD 24, and ASIC 25, and controls the drivers ICs 30 to 32, 36 and the display unit 5. Further, the CPU 20 executes various functions by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 21. The CPU 20 may be mounted on the controller 6 as one processor, or may be mounted as a plurality of processors that cooperate with each other.

The ROM 21 stores a reading control program for the CPU 20 to cause the reading unit 10 to execute the image scanning process (scanning process) of the original, and a print control program for the CPU 20 to cause the printing mechanism 50 to execute the printing process. ing.

The calculation result of the CPU 20 is stored in the RAM 22. The EEPROM 23 stores various initial setting information input by the user and cumulative values of the number of printed sheets and the number of read sheets, which will be described later. Specific information, the number of occurrences of each jam in the transport paths H1 and H2, normal data for determining an abnormality, and the like are stored in the HDD 24. This specific information is highly confidential information that is not preferable to be leaked to the outside. For example, information about a user, job data including a user ID received from the outside by the image recording device 2 and specifying a source, and job data. This is information including user usage history information including a user ID, secure job data including a password and data related to a secure job, FAX transmission history, print history, FAX data, cloud setting data, and the like.

Motor driver ICs 30, 31, 36 and head driver IC 32 are connected to the ASIC 25. When the CPU 20 receives, for example, a print job from the user, the CPU 20 outputs a print command to the ASIC 25 based on the print control program. The ASIC 25 drives each driver IC 30 to 32 based on the print command. For example, the CPU 20 drives the transfer motor 33 by the motor driver IC 30. As a result, the sheet K is transported along the transport path H1. Further, the CPU 20 drives the carriage motor 34 by the motor driver IC 31. As a result, the carriage 54 moves. Further, the CPU 20 ejects ink from the ejection head 55 attached to the carriage 54 by the head driver IC 32 and prints the image data on the sheet K. As a result, the printing process is performed. When the CPU 20 receives a read job from the user, the CPU 20 outputs a read command to the ASIC 25 based on the read control program. The ASIC 25 drives the motor driver IC 36 based on the reading command. The CPU 20 drives the transfer motor 37 by the motor driver IC 36. As a result, the document is conveyed along the transfer path H2.

Subsequently, the functional configuration of the CPU 20 of the controller 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 20 has an inspection determination unit 70, a sound collection notification unit 71, an inspection notification unit 72, an abnormality determination unit 73, a determination unit 74, an execution unit 75, a special inspection execution unit 76, as functional configurations. And has a data receiving unit 77. When the CPU 20 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 21, the inspection determination unit 70, the sound collection notification unit 71, the inspection notification unit 72, the abnormality determination unit 73, the determination unit 74, the execution unit 75, and the special inspection execution unit 76 and the data receiving unit 77 are functionally realized.

The inspection determination unit 70 determines the necessity of inspection of the drive unit in the image recording device 2. Specifically, the inspection determination unit 70 sets the drive unit in at least one of the case where the number of occurrences of a predetermined event reaches the corresponding predetermined value and the case where the life estimation time is reached for a certain drive unit. Judge that inspection is necessary as a specific drive unit. Details will be described with reference to the flowchart described later.

In the present embodiment, the drive unit includes all drive units that contribute to image recording (image formation). For example, the drive unit includes the above-mentioned transport system drive unit 56, a transport motor 33 which is a drive source of the transport system drive unit 56, a transport system drive unit 19, and a transport motor 37 which is a drive source of the transport system drive unit 19. , And a drive unit for moving the image sensor 16. Hereinafter, the transfer system drive unit 56 and the transfer motor 33 are collectively referred to as a main transfer drive unit, the transfer system drive unit 19 and the transfer motor 37 are collectively referred to as an ADF transfer drive unit, and the drive unit of the image sensor 16 is referred to as an FB drive unit. ..

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned predetermined event is, for example, a jam. In this case, the inspection determination unit 70 determines that an inspection is necessary when the number of times of jam occurrence in the specific drive unit reaches the corresponding predetermined value.

Further, in order to reach the above-mentioned life estimation time, the number of times the printing mechanism 50 is driven (the number of prints) reaches the corresponding predetermined value, the number of times the ADF 12 is driven (the number of scans) reaches the corresponding predetermined value, and the scanner The number of flatbed scans by the unit 11 reaches the corresponding predetermined value, the drive time of the printing mechanism 50 reaches the corresponding predetermined time, the drive time of the ADF 12 reaches the corresponding predetermined time, and the scanner unit 11 It includes reaching the corresponding predetermined time of driving time.

The determination unit 74 determines the inspection mode corresponding to the specific drive unit when there is a specific drive unit determined by the inspection determination unit 70 to require inspection. The inspection mode is an operation mode for driving a specific drive unit determined to require inspection. For example, when it is necessary to inspect the ADF transfer drive unit, the transfer motor 37 is driven in the inspection mode. Details will be described later using a flowchart.

The inspection notification unit 72 notifies the user to establish a communication connection between the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 via the communication unit 35, that is, to synchronize the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3, and then notifies the user. When synchronization is performed by the user, the user is notified to instruct the execution of the inspection mode determined by the determination unit 74. In this case, the inspection notification unit 72 notifies, for example, on an application pre-installed on the external terminal 3 owned by the user. Based on his / her selection, the user gives an instruction to execute the inspection mode to the image recording device 2 on the application of the external terminal 3, or gives an instruction not to execute the inspection mode.

When the external terminal 3 receives an instruction to execute the inspection mode, the sound collecting notification unit 71 notifies the user to collect the operating sound of the image recording device 2 by the external terminal 3. In this case, the sound collecting notification unit 71 may perform notification using the display unit 5, may perform notification by lighting or blinking an LED (not shown) provided in the image recording device 2, or may perform notification externally. The notification may be performed on the application pre-installed on the terminal 3, or the notification may be performed by sending an e-mail to the address registered in the external terminal 3. That is, the notification method is not limited to the above method as long as the user can recognize the notification.

The execution unit 75 executes an inspection mode including a process of driving a specific drive unit after the sound collection notification unit 71 notifies the sound. The user collects the operating sound of the image recording device 2 by using the sound collecting function of the external terminal 3 for at least a part of the period during which the inspection mode is executed.

The user transmits the sound collection data generated by the external terminal 3 to the image recording device 2 by wireless communication or wired communication. The data receiving unit 77 receives the above sound collecting data from the user's external terminal 3.

The abnormality determination unit 73 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the specific drive unit from the sound collection data received by the data receiving unit 77. In this case, the abnormality determination unit 73 compares the sound pressure level based on the sound collection data and the intensity at each frequency using the FFT analysis with the normal data stored in the HDD 24, thereby driving the specific drive. Determine if there is any abnormality in the part.

Based on an instruction from the external terminal 3, the special inspection execution unit 76 executes a special inspection mode targeting a plurality of predetermined drive units involved in processing that can be executed by the image recording device 2. This special inspection mode is a user-initiated operation different from the normal inspection mode, such as driving a plurality of predetermined drive units in order and determining the presence or absence of an abnormality in the drive unit from the sound collection data during driving of each drive unit. The mode.

Next, the operation of the CPU 20 in the failure prediction system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the CPU 20 accepts a print job or a read job (step S1). Subsequently, the CPU 20 executes a print process based on the print job or a read process based on the read job (step S2).

Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the printing process or the reading process is completed (step S3). When the print process or the read process is completed (YES in step S3), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative total (step S4). In this case, for example, the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative number of printed sheets in the case of printing processing by the main transport drive unit, and counts up the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets in the case of reading processing by the ADF transport drive unit. In the case of reading processing by the FB drive unit, the cumulative value of the number of read sheets is counted up. The accumulated value counted up is stored in the EEPROM 23. On the other hand, when the printing process or the reading process is not completed (NO in step S3), the process proceeds to the process of step S21 (see FIG. 10) described later.

After the process of step S4, the CPU 20 performs a cumulative determination process (step S5). In this case, the CPU 20 determines whether or not there is a drive unit that needs to be inspected by using the determination bit as shown in FIG. The determination bit is prepared for each of the main transport drive unit, the ADF transport drive unit, and the FB drive unit. “BIT1” in FIG. 6 is a life determination flag, which is 1 when the above-mentioned life estimation time is reached, and changes from 1 to 0 when a specific drive unit that has reached the life estimation time is replaced by, for example, a serviceman. It will be reset.

Further, "BIT0" in the figure is a user setting period determination flag, and becomes 1 when the time set by the user is reached. The user-set period determination flag is a flag for determining that a re-inspection is required for a specific drive unit that has been inspected once, and the drive count and drive time of each drive unit that can be set by the user. And so on. The image recording device 2 is configured so that the cycle in which the inspection is executed once and then the inspection is executed again can be set for each drive unit at a period desired by the user. For example, a user who wants to inspect every 500 prints on the main transport drive unit sets 500 prints as a cycle of inspection execution on the main transport drive unit. In this case, the CPU 20 sets "BIT0" to 1 on condition that the cumulative value of the number of printed sheets counted up reaches 500 sheets set by the user. The set value corresponding to the user setting period determination flag can be set in a range of values smaller than the number of drives and the drive time corresponding to the estimated life of each drive unit.

In the determination bit, when both "BIT1" and "BIT0" are 0, it is set not to inspect, and when "BIT1" is 0 and "BIT0" is 1, it is set not to inspect. When "BIT1" is 1 and "BIT0" is 0, it is set not to inspect. On the other hand, when both "BIT1" and "BIT0" are 1, it is set to be inspected. As described above, the set value corresponding to the user setting period determination flag can be set in a range of values smaller than the number of drives and the drive time corresponding to the estimated life of each drive unit. The timing at which the inspection is determined to be necessary for the first time is when "BIT1" becomes 1, that is, when the number of drives of each drive unit and the drive time reach the values corresponding to the estimated lifespan period.

The CPU 20 determines whether or not there is a drive unit that needs to be inspected based on the cumulative determination process in step S5 (step S6). For example, when it is necessary to inspect the ADF transport drive unit, that is, when both "BIT1" and "BIT0" are 1 in the determination bit related to the ADF transport drive unit (YES in step S6), the CPU 20 determines the inspection mode. Later (step S7), for example, a notification prompting the user to synchronize the image recording device 2 with the external terminal 3 (establishment of a communication connection) as shown in FIG. 7 (a), and an inspection as shown in FIG. 7 (b). Notify the user to give an instruction to execute the mode (step S8). The synchronization between the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 is performed by one-touch pairing using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) using NFC, or directly by Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). It is done by pairing or a USB cable. On the other hand, if there is no drive unit that needs to be inspected (NO in step S6), the process returns to step S1.

After that, when the user instructs the execution of the inspection on the application (YES in step S9), the CPU 20 causes the user to collect the operating sound of the image recording device 2 by the external terminal 3, for example, as shown in FIG. (Step S10). On the other hand, when the user gives an instruction not to execute the inspection (NO in step S9), the CPU 20 resets the user setting period determination flag "BIT0" to 0 (step S11), and returns to the process of step S1. ..

Then, after the process of step S10, the CPU 20 executes, for example, an inspection mode for the ADF transport drive unit (step S12). Hereinafter, the inspection mode of the ADF transport drive unit will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an execution process of the inspection mode of the ADF transport drive unit. As shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 20 rotationally drives the transfer motor 37 of the ADF 12 without feeding the paper (step S41). During this time, the user collects the operating sound of the image recording device 2 by using the sound collecting function of the external terminal 3, and the sound collecting data generated by the external terminal 3 is imaged by using the above-mentioned one-touch pairing or the like. It is transmitted to the recording device 2.

Next, the CPU 20 receives sound collection data from the user's external terminal 3 (step S42). Then, the CPU 20 compares the received sound collection data with the normal data by the above method (step S43). Then, when the CPU 20 determines that there is an abnormality as a result of comparing the sound collection data with the normal data (YES in step S44), the CPU 20 transmits information on the failure estimation location (that is, ADF12) to the customer center (step S45). ..

On the other hand, when the CPU 20 determines that there is no abnormality as a result of comparing the sound collection data with the normal data (NO in step S44), the CPU 20 rotationally drives the transfer motor 37 of the ADF 12 with paper feed (step). S46). Specifically, the CPU 20 notifies the user to set the document in the ADF 12, and rotationally drives the transfer motor 37 on condition that the set document is detected by an optical sensor (not shown) or the like. During this time, the user collects the operating sound of the image recording device 2 by using the sound collecting function of the external terminal 3, and collects the sound collected data generated by the external terminal 3 by using the above-mentioned one-touch pairing or the like. Send to 2. When actually transporting the document, the transport motor 37 is rotationally driven with a larger torque than when the document is not transported. When the degree of failure is minor, the effect of the failure does not appear in the drive sound in the rotary drive with a low torque that does not convey the document, and there is a possibility that the abnormality cannot be detected accurately. In the present embodiment, by having the user collect the driving sound of the transport motor 37 when actually transporting the document, it is possible to accurately detect the abnormality of the ADF 12 even if it is a minor failure.

Next, the CPU 20 receives sound collection data from the user's external terminal 3 (step S47). Then, the CPU 20 compares the received sound collection data with the normal data (step S48). Then, when the CPU 20 determines that there is an abnormality as a result of comparing the sound collection data with the normal data (YES in step S49), the CPU 20 transmits information on the failure estimation location (that is, ADF12) to the customer center (step S45). , Reset the user setting period determination flag "BIT0" to 0 (step S50). On the other hand, when the CPU 20 determines that there is no abnormality as a result of comparing the sound collection data with the normal data (NO in step S49), the CPU 20 determines that there is no abnormality in the ADF 12, and is a user setting period determination flag. The "BIT0" is reset to 0 (step S50), and the execution of the inspection mode ends.

Next, returning to FIG. 5, when the printing process or the reading process is not completed (NO in step S3), the jam position is specified as shown in the subsequent processes. The details will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 20 first determines whether or not the current job is related to the driving operation of the ADF 12 (step S21). In this case, the CPU 20 makes a determination based on a signal from a sensor or the like provided in the ADF 12 for detecting the presence of the document.

When the current job is related to the driving operation of the ADF 12 (YES in step S21), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the jam is detected by the ADF sensor 17 (step S22). In the case of jam detection by the ADF sensor 17 (YES in step S22), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (step S23). When the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (YES in step S23), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative value of the number of jam detections by the ADF sensor 17 (step S24). After that, the process returns to the process of step S1 of FIG.

On the other hand, if the current job is not related to the driving operation of the ADF 12 (NO in step S21) and is not jam detection by the ADF sensor 17 (NO in step S22), is the CPU 20 jam detection by the rear end sensor 65? Whether or not it is determined (step S25).

In the case of jam detection by the rear end sensor 65 (YES in step S25), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (step S26). When the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (YES in step S26), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative value of the number of jam detections by the rear end sensor 65 (step S24). After that, the process returns to the process of step S1.

On the other hand, if the jam is not detected by the rear end sensor 65 (NO in step S25), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the jam is detected by the pre-checkout sensor 66 (step S27). When the jam is detected by the pre-checkout sensor 66 (YES in step S27), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (step S28). When the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (YES in step S28), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative value of the number of jam detections by the pre-checkout sensor 66 (step S24). After that, the process returns to the process of step S1.

On the other hand, when the jam is not detected by the pre-checkout sensor 66 (NO in step S27), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the jam is detected by the post-checkout sensor 67 (step S29). In the case of jam detection by the post-checkout sensor 67 (YES in step S29), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (step S30). When the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (YES in step S30), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative value of the number of jam detections by the sensor 67 after registration (step S24). After that, the process returns to the process of step S1.

On the other hand, if the jam is not detected by the post-checkout sensor 67 (NO in step S29), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the cumulative value of jam detection by the paper ejection sensor 68 is less than a predetermined value (step S31). When the cumulative value of jam detection is less than a predetermined value (YES in step S31), the CPU 20 counts up the cumulative value of the number of jam detections detected by the paper ejection sensor 68 (step S24). After that, the process returns to the process of step S1.

On the other hand, when the cumulative value of jam detection by the ADF sensor 17 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (NO in step S23), and when the cumulative value of jam detection by the rear end sensor 65 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (NO in step S26). ), When the cumulative value of jam detection by the pre-registration sensor 66 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (NO in step S28), and when the cumulative value of jam detection by the post-registration sensor 67 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (NO in step S30). When the cumulative value of jam detection by the output sensor 68 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (NO in step S31), the CPU 20 determines the inspection mode for the drive unit corresponding to the jam occurrence position, and then the inspection mode. Notifies the user to give an instruction to execute (step S32). After that, the process returns to the processes of steps S10 and S12 of FIG. In this case, the process of step S12 is not limited to the inspection mode of the ADF transport drive unit described above, and the inspection mode for the drive unit corresponding to the jam occurrence position is executed. When the inspection mode for the drive unit corresponding to the jam occurrence position is executed, instead of step S50 in FIG. 9, the cumulative jam detection corresponding to the sensor determined to have the jam detection number equal to or higher than the predetermined value is accumulated. Reset the value to 0.

As described above, according to the image recording device 2 of the present embodiment, when there is a specific drive unit determined to require inspection, the external terminal 3 collects the operating sound of the image recording device 2. Since the sound collecting notification unit 71 notifies the user to perform the sound collection, the user can collect the sound in a security-safe environment. As a result, security can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the inspection notification unit 72 notifies the user to give an instruction to execute the inspection mode determined by the determination unit 74, the user should give an instruction to execute the inspection mode. Can be easily known.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the abnormality determination unit 73 determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the specific drive unit using the sound collecting data, it is possible to quickly determine the presence or absence of an abnormality in the image recording device 2.

Further, in the present embodiment, for a certain drive unit, the drive unit is specified when the number of occurrences of a predetermined event reaches the corresponding predetermined value and at least one of the cases where the life estimation time is reached. The inspection determination unit 70 determines that inspection is necessary as the drive unit. This clearly shows when the inspection is required.

Further, in the present embodiment, even if a certain drive unit has not reached the life estimation time, the inspection mode is executed when the number of occurrences of jam reaches a predetermined value. As a result, the range in which the inspection mode should be executed is widened, and the possibility of detecting a failure can be increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drive time (second specified value) or drive corresponding to the user-set period determination flag "BIT0", which can be set by the user, is set for the specific drive unit for which the inspection has been executed once. It is determined that inspection is necessary based on the number of times (third specified value). The set value corresponding to the user setting period determination flag "BIT0" can be set in a range of values smaller than the drive time and the number of drives corresponding to the life estimation time of each drive unit. As a result, it is possible to accelerate the inspection cycle from the next time onward for the drive unit that has once failed.

Further, in the present embodiment, after the inspection notification unit 72 notifies the user to synchronize the image recording device 2 with the external terminal 3, an instruction to execute the inspection mode is instructed when the synchronization is established. A notification is provided to urge the user to perform the above. As a result, the user can instruct the execution of the inspection mode as it is after performing the synchronous operation, which is convenient for the user.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 are synchronized with each other by using NFC. In this case, since the operating sound of the image recording device 2 can be collected by the external terminal 3 in a state where the external terminal 3 is as close as possible to the image recording device 2, the accuracy of sound collection can be improved. it can.

(Modification example)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example:

In the above embodiment, the mode of establishing the communication connection between the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 (synchronization between the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3) via the communication unit 35 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. As described below, the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 can be synchronized without using the communication unit 35. For example, the user is urged to execute failure detection by using the display of the image recording device 2. The user who visually recognizes the display launches a predetermined application on the external terminal 3. When the application is launched, the camera provided in the external terminal 3 is activated and is in a state of waiting for synchronization. On the other hand, an image for synchronization (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) is displayed on the display of the image recording device 2. The user reads the image for synchronization by the camera using the external terminal 3 in the synchronization waiting state. As a result, the microphone of the external terminal 3 is activated to start collecting sound. Then, the image recording device 2 may be triggered by the elapse of a predetermined time after displaying the image for synchronization, or an operation indicating the completion of synchronization by the user (for example, a button for completion of synchronization may be displayed on the image recording device 2). The inspection mode is executed when the image is displayed on the display and the user operates the button). In this way, the image recording device 2 and the external terminal 3 can be synchronized without using the communication unit 35.

Further, in the above embodiment, the main transport drive unit, the ADF transport drive unit, and the FB drive unit are mentioned as the drive units for determining whether or not inspection is necessary, but the drive is not limited to this, and the carriage 54 is driven. Other drive units such as the carriage motor 34, which is the source, may also be the target.

In the present invention, when the same inspection mode has been executed in the past, the inspection determination unit 70 has the first specification that the number of occurrences of a predetermined event is smaller than the corresponding predetermined value after the inspection mode is executed. It may be configured to determine that a new test is needed when the value is reached. In this case, for the drive unit that has once failed, the inspection cycle from the next time onward can be accelerated.

Further, in the present invention, the inspection determination unit 70 may be configured to determine the necessity of inspection of the drive unit each time the drive unit is driven.

Further, in the present invention, the controller 6 is a special inspection execution unit that executes a special inspection mode targeting a plurality of predetermined drive units related to processing that can be executed by the image recording device 2 based on an instruction from the external terminal 3. May further have. This special inspection mode is an operation mode in which a plurality of predetermined drive units are driven in order and the presence or absence of an abnormality in the drive unit is determined from the sound collection data during driving of each drive unit, and the user performs inspection at a desired timing. It is an operation mode corresponding to the inspection of the user side activation that can be executed.

Further, in the present invention, the sound collection data collected by the external terminal 3 may be transmitted to an external management server, and the management server may determine whether or not there is an abnormality in a specific drive unit. In this case, the sound collecting data may be transmitted by the image recording device 2 to the management server, or the sound collecting data may be transmitted directly from the external terminal 3 to the management server.

Further, in the above embodiment, the smartphone is mentioned as an example of the external terminal 3 in the failure prediction system 1 of the image recording device, but the external terminal 3 is not limited to this, and may be another device such as a tablet.

1 Image recording device failure prediction system 2 Image recording device 3 External terminal 6 Controller 19,56 Transport system drive unit (drive unit, transport unit)
33,37 Conveyor motor (drive unit)
35 Communication unit 70 Inspection judgment unit 71 Sound collection notification unit 72 Inspection notification unit 73 Abnormality judgment unit 74 Decision unit 75 Execution unit 76 Special inspection execution unit 77 Data reception unit

Claims (10)

One or more drive units that contribute to image recording,
An image recording device equipped with a controller.
The controller
An inspection judgment unit that determines the necessity of inspection of the drive unit,
When there is a specific drive unit determined by the inspection determination unit to be inspected, a sound collection notification unit that prompts the external terminal to collect the operating sound of the image recording device, and a sound collection notification unit.
An image recording device including an execution unit that executes an inspection mode including a process of driving the specific drive unit after notification by the sound collection notification unit. When there is a specific drive unit determined by the inspection determination unit to be inspected, a determination unit that determines an inspection mode corresponding to the specific drive unit, and a determination unit.
An inspection notification unit that notifies the user to instruct the execution of the inspection mode determined by the determination unit, and an inspection notification unit.
A data receiving unit that receives sound collection data generated by the external terminal,
The image recording device according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality determination unit for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality in the specific drive unit from the sound collecting data received by the data receiving unit. In the inspection determination unit, at least one of the number of times a predetermined event has occurred in the specific drive unit, the drive time of the specific drive unit, and the number of drives of the specific drive unit correspond to a predetermined value. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein it is determined that the inspection is necessary when the above is reached. When the inspection mode related to the inspection has been executed in the past, the inspection determination unit has a first definition in which the number of occurrences of the predetermined event is smaller than the predetermined value after the inspection mode is executed. When the value is reached, the drive time of the specific drive unit reaches the second specified value, which is smaller than the predetermined value, or the number of times the specific drive unit is driven is smaller than the predetermined value, the third specified value. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the above is reached, it is newly determined that the inspection is necessary. The drive unit includes a transport unit that transports the sheet, and the predetermined event is a jam in the transport unit.
The image recording device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the inspection determination unit determines that the inspection is necessary when the number of times the jam has occurred reaches the predetermined value. The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inspection determination unit determines whether or not inspection of the drive unit is necessary each time the drive unit is driven. The inspection notification unit notifies the user to execute the inspection mode when the communication connection is established after the notification prompting the establishment of the communication connection between the image recording device and the external terminal. The image recording device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, which provides a prompting notification. Communication connection with the external terminal is possible using communication by NFC, which is short-range wireless communication.
The execution unit according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the execution unit executes the inspection mode when an instruction to execute the inspection mode is given from the external terminal for which a communication connection has been established by the NFC. Image recording device. It further has a special inspection execution unit that executes a special inspection mode targeting a plurality of predetermined drive units related to processing that can be executed by the image recording device based on an instruction from the external terminal.
The special inspection mode is an operation mode in which a plurality of predetermined driving units are sequentially driven, and the presence or absence of an abnormality in the driving units is determined from the sound collecting data during driving of the driving units. The image recording apparatus according to any one of 8. With an external terminal that has a sound collecting function
An image recording device including one or a plurality of drive units that contribute to image recording, a communication unit capable of communicating with the external terminal, and a controller.
The controller
An inspection judgment unit that determines the necessity of inspection of the drive unit,
When there is a specific drive unit determined by the inspection determination unit to be inspected, the sound collection notification unit that notifies the user to collect the operating sound of the image recording device by the external terminal. ,
A failure prediction system for an image recording device, comprising an execution unit that executes the inspection mode including a process of driving the specific drive unit after notification by the sound collection notification unit.

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