JP4528003B2 - Abnormal electric fan detection device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a detection device that monitors an abnormality of a plurality of electric fans that output a reference signal indicating the presence or absence of an abnormality and identifies which electric fan is abnormal, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  In recent years, electric and electronic devices tend to be small in size and consume high power, and often include a plurality of electric motor-driven fans, that is, electric fans, for heat dissipation, air conditioning, or air purification. Along with this, large and small electric fans have been commercialized. Since the electric circuit or electronic device to be cooled may cause an overheat failure due to the failure of the electric fan, a reference signal indicating the presence / absence of an abnormal state in addition to the power supply line (+ / GND) is provided for a recent electric fan. Some have signal lines to output. For example, some have a signal line for outputting a lock detection signal. The lock detection signal is a normal level (for example, a constant level) when the electric motor does not rotate or remains stopped even when voltage is applied to the power line of the electric motor of the fan. The level is switched from level L) to a level indicating high lock (high level H).

  In a device having a plurality of electric fans, the reference signal lines of each of these electric fans are connected to I / O ports or CPU input ports to check the signal level of each input port. The occurrence of an abnormality can be monitored, and when an abnormality occurs, it can be immediately known which electric fan is abnormal. However, examples of a system having a plurality of electric fans include various image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, electric and electronic devices, automobiles, and the like. In these devices, if the lock detection of all the mounted electric fans is performed individually, there is a problem that the number of input ports for detection is required for the number of electric fans. Since it is rare that an electric fan actually becomes abnormal, it is not reasonable to prepare as many input ports as the number of electric fans. Therefore, as a possible means, it is effective to detect the logical sum of the reference signals of each electric fan as one abnormal signal output by the system.

JP-A-5-167281 JP2002-251109A.

Patent Document 1 describes a cooling fan unit that inputs an output signal of an operating state detector that detects an operating state of each of a plurality of cooling fans to an OR circuit and displays an alarm according to the output of the OR circuit. However, it is not possible to specify only the abnormal electric fan.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260688 reports that an abnormal signal has occurred in one of the loads by inputting an abnormal signal of many loads such as an electric motor, a high voltage power source, a light source, various sensors, various switches, and the like to an OR circuit and an encoder. An abnormality monitoring system is described in which an output of an OR circuit representing an output and an encoder output code representing a load in which an abnormality has occurred are provided to a CPU.

  However, since an encoder is required and wiring of each reference signal line to the encoder is required, the hardware becomes complicated. The first object of the present invention is to reduce the number of input ports used for monitoring an abnormality of a plurality of electric fans and to suppress the addition of hardware for specifying the abnormal electric fan, and to form an image using a plurality of electric fans. A second object of the apparatus is to avoid as much as possible the unavailability of the apparatus due to the abnormality of the electric fan.

(1) A plurality of urging means (SW1 to SW8) individually connected to each of a plurality of electric fans (F1 to F8) for outputting a reference signal indicating the presence or absence of abnormality;
OR means (79) for assembling the sum of the reference signals of the plurality of electric fans into one monitor signal representing the logical OR of each electric fan having an abnormality; and
When the monitor signal changes from no abnormality to presence, the plurality of electric fans are partially energized sequentially through the urging means, and the abnormal electric fan is identified with reference to the monitor signal. Means (130);
An abnormal electric fan detection device comprising:

  In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, the symbol or the corresponding matter of the corresponding element of the Example shown in drawing and mentioned later in parentheses was added as reference for reference. The same applies to the following.

  Although there are few monitor signal lines to the means (130) for specifying the abnormal electric fan for detecting the abnormality of the electric fan, the abnormal electric fan is automatically specified individually. For this identification, the encoder of Patent Document 2 and the wiring of many reference signal lines to the encoder are not required. That is, the addition of hardware for specifying the abnormal electric fan can be omitted.

  (2) Memory means (133b) for holding information (measure table: Table 1) for determining the order of sequentially energizing is further provided; means (130) for identifying the abnormal electric fan is the memory means ( The abnormal electric fan detection device according to (1), wherein the plurality of electric fans are partially energized sequentially in the order according to the information of 133b) and the abnormal electric fan is specified with reference to the monitor signal;

  According to this, the electric fan check order when the monitor signal indicates an abnormality can be set by the information written in the memory means (133b). For example, in order to shorten the energization continuation time in the abnormal state, the order can be set to the order with high possibility of failure. In addition, when the importance of driving an electric fan is different among devices equipped with the electric fan, it is possible to give priority to the electric fan having a high degree of importance.

  (3) The abnormal electric fan detection device according to (1) or (2), wherein the order is an order with a high possibility of failure. According to this, it is early to identify whether the electric fan that has a high possibility of failure has failed.

  (3a) The means (130) for identifying the abnormal electric fan updates the information in the memory means (133b) so that the electric fan identified as abnormal is in the highest priority; (2) or (3) above The abnormal electric fan detection device described in 1. According to this, after repairing or replacing an abnormal electric fan, if the monitor signal indicates an abnormality, it is first checked whether the electric fan is abnormal. It is early to identify whether or not an easily damaged part or specification electric fan has failed.

  (4) The means (130) for identifying the abnormal electric fan divides the plurality of electric fans into two groups, one group is de-energized and the other group is energized to indicate that the monitor signal is abnormal 2. The abnormal electric fan detection device according to claim 1, wherein a group is determined, and a group in which the monitor signal indicates that there is an abnormality is sequentially divided into two groups to finally identify an abnormal electric fan. According to this, the time required to specify one abnormal electric fan is shortened.

(5) The plurality of electric fans and the abnormal electric fan detection device according to any one of (1) to (4);
Imaging means (100) for forming an image on paper; and
Control means (130) for controlling the operation of the image forming means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  According to this, in the image forming apparatus including a plurality of electric fans, the function and effect described in any one of (1) to (4) can be obtained similarly.

  (6) It further comprises memory means (133b) for holding information on the presence of each of the plurality of electric fans and control mode information (measure table: Table 1) when there is an abnormality; means for specifying the abnormal electric fans ( 130) reads out the control mode corresponding to the electric fan identified as abnormal from the memory means (133b), and the control means (130) controls the image forming means in the read control mode; The image forming apparatus according to (5).

  In an image forming apparatus, the importance of driving a plurality of electric fans is individually different. For example, in the case of continuous full-color printing or copying with a large number of set sheets, since the input power to the image forming means is large and takes a long time, it is necessary to simultaneously drive many electric fans. However, in the case of printing or copying with a single color and a set number of sheets, the input power to the image forming means is small and it takes a short time. Depending on the installation location, even if the electric fan stops, there is a special problem with the image forming apparatus. May not give. By assigning a single-color single-image control mode to the memory means (133b) for abnormalities in the electric fan at such locations, the minimum image-forming function can be used even if a specific electric fan fails can do.

  (7) The means (130) for specifying the abnormal electric fan specifies the abnormal electric fan by an interrupt process (IPA / IPAv) that is started in response to a change from the abnormal level to the abnormal level of the monitor signal. Electronic information processing means (CPU) for executing processing.

  According to this, there is no need for a task of repeatedly reading the monitor signal at a predetermined period and checking whether or not an abnormality has occurred, and the abnormal electric fan identification process is automatically started when an abnormality occurs. The time delay from the occurrence of an abnormality to the start of the abnormal electric fan specific process is small. As long as no abnormality occurs, the electronic information processing means (CPU) does not need to repeatedly read the monitor signal and can concentrate on other tasks.

  (8) The electronic information processing means (CPU) prohibits the interrupt processing (IPA / IPAv) responding to the level change of the monitor signal when the interrupt processing (IPA / IPAv) is activated, and When the fan specifying process is completed, the interrupt process (IPA / IPAv) is permitted (s1, s16 in FIG. 4 / s21, s45 in FIG. 5).

  According to this, after starting the interrupt processing (IPA / IPAv), by stopping the energization of the electric fan in the interrupt processing and energizing the specific fan, the monitor signal is once brought to a level with no abnormality. Even when returning to the level with an abnormality again after returning, this does not start (double) interrupt processing (IPA / IPAv).

  Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a mechanism part of a full-color copying machine having a composite function according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The printer 100 of the copying machine has an intermediate transfer belt 10 that is an endless belt in the center. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is wound around three support rollers 14 to 16 and is driven to rotate clockwise. To the left of the second support roller 15 is an intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 that removes residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt 10 between the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15 has black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) along the moving direction. These color image forming units constitute a full-color image forming apparatus 20. Each color image forming unit is individually unitized for replacement and is detachably attached to the printer body. Each color image forming unit includes a photoconductor drum 40, and an image forming-related device 18 including a charger for charging the photoconductor drum, a developing device for developing a latent image, a cleaning device, and other peripheral devices.

  Above the image forming device 20 is a laser exposure device 21 that irradiates each photosensitive drum of each color image forming unit with laser light for image formation. Below the intermediate transfer belt 10 is a secondary transfer device 22. The secondary transfer device 22 is arranged such that a secondary transfer belt 24, which is an endless belt, is stretched between two rollers 23, and the intermediate transfer belt 10 is pushed up and pressed against the third support roller 16. is there. The secondary transfer belt 24 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 onto a sheet. Next to the secondary transfer device 22, there is a fixing device 25 for fixing the transferred image on the paper, and the paper on which the toner image has been transferred is fed into the fixing device 25.

  The fixing device 25 is obtained by pressing a heating and pressure roller 27 against a fixing belt 26 that is an endless belt. Below the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25, there is a sheet reversing device 28 that sends out the paper immediately after the image is formed on the front surface and reverses the front and back in order to record the image on the back surface.

  When the start switch is pressed, if there is a document on the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, it is transported onto the contact glass 32, and if there is no document on the ADF, a manually placed document is placed on the contact glass 32. Immediately for reading, the scanner 300 is driven, and the first carriage 33 and the second carriage 34 are read and scanned. Then, light is emitted from the light source on the first carriage 33 to the contact glass, and the reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the first mirror on the first carriage 33 toward the second carriage 34, and on the second carriage 34. The image is reflected on the mirror 36 and imaged on the CCD 36 as a reading sensor through the imaging lens 35. Based on the image signal obtained by the CCD 36, K, Y, M, and C color recording data are generated.

  Further, when the start switch is pressed, the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is started, the image forming preparation of each image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 20 is started, and the image forming of each color image forming unit is started. The sequence is started, and an exposure laser modulated based on each color recording data is projected to each color image forming unit, and each color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 10 as a single image by each color image forming process. Is done. When the leading edge of the toner image enters the secondary transfer device 22, the sheet is sent to the secondary transfer device 22 at a timing so that the leading edge enters the secondary transfer device 22 at the same time. The upper toner image is transferred to the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has moved is sent to the fixing device 25 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

  Note that the above-described sheet is selectively rotated by driving one of the sheet feeding rollers 42 of the sheet feeding table 200, the sheet is fed out from one of the sheet feeding cassettes 44 provided in the paper bank 43 in multiple stages, and is separated by the separation roller 45. The paper is separated into the paper feed path 46, transported by the transport roller 47, guided to the paper feed path 48 in the printer 100, abutted against the registration roller 49 and stopped, and then transferred to the secondary transfer device 22 at the aforementioned timing. It will be sent out. Paper can also be fed by inserting paper on the manual feed tray 51. When the user is inserting paper onto the manual feed tray 51, the printer 100 drives the paper feed roller 50 to separate one sheet on the manual feed tray 51 and pulls it into the manual feed path 53. Stop at 49.

  The paper discharged after receiving the fixing process by the fixing device 25 is guided to the discharge roller 56 by the switching claw 55 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 57. Alternatively, it is guided to the sheet reversing device 28 by the switching claw 55, reversed there and led again to the transfer position, and the image is recorded also on the back surface, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 57 by the discharge roller 56. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 after image transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 17 to prepare for image formation again.

  An exhaust port is provided in the left side wall of the scanner 300, and an electric fan F1 for exhaust is mounted thereon. The right side wall of the scanner 300 has an air inlet. An electric fan F2 for intake air is provided at the intake port on the right side wall of the electrical unit EAEC (FIG. 1) where the electrical and electronic systems of the color original scanner 300, operation board 610, system controller 630, IPP and color printer 100 shown in FIG. However, there is an electric fan F3 for exhaust at the exhaust port on the left side wall. On the left side wall above the fixing device 25 of the printer 100, there is an exhaust port fitted with a filter for collecting floating toner, and there is an electric fan F4 for cooling that sends out the in-machine air. Further, on the back wall surface of each color image forming unit having each photoconductor drum 40 as a main body, there is a ventilation port fitted with a filter for collecting floating toner, and electric fans F5 to F8 for sending air around each unit there. There is.

  FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of image reading, image processing, image storage and image formation of the copying machine shown in FIG. A reading unit 11 that optically reads a document of the color document scanner 300 scans the document with a document illumination light source, and forms a document image on a CCD 36 of an SBU (sensor board unit). The original image, that is, the reflected light of light irradiation on the original is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 36 to generate R, G, B image signals, converted to RGB image data on the SBU, shading corrected, and output I / F (interface) 12, the image data is sent to an image data processor IPP (Image Processing Processor; hereinafter simply referred to as IPP) via an image data bus.

  The IPP performs separation generation (determination of whether an image is a character area or a photographic area: image area separation), background removal, scanner gamma conversion, filter, color correction, scaling, image processing, printer gamma conversion, and gradation processing. IPP is a programmable arithmetic processing means for performing image processing. Image data transferred from the scanner 300 to the IPP is corrected for signal deterioration (scanner system signal deterioration) accompanying quantization into an optical system and a digital signal by the IPP, and is written in the frame memory 601.

  The system controller 630 has functions of a plurality of applications such as a scanner application, a facsimile application, a printer application, and a copy application, and controls the entire system. The operation panel control device 631 is a device that decodes the input of the operation board 610 and displays the settings of the system and the state contents thereof. The image data bus / control command bus is a bus through which image data and control commands are transferred in a time division manner.

  The CPU 605 of the system controller 630 controls the system controller 630. In the ROM 604, a control program for the system controller 630 is written. A RAM 603 is a working memory used by the CPU 605. The NVRAM 602 is a nonvolatile memory and stores information on the entire system.

  The external device communication control 606 performs communication control with an external device (for example, the same type of copier, image scanner, personal computer, printer, facsimile) requesting image reading, image storage or image printing, and the management server 500 of the management center. The physical I / F for connecting to the network is controlled. When the external device communication control 606 connected to the network receives data from the network, only the content of the communication data is sent to the system I / F 607 from an electrical signal. In the system I / F 607, the received data is logically converted in accordance with a prescribed protocol and sent to the CPU 605. The CPU 605 determines and processes the logically converted received data. When the CPU 605 transmits data to the network, the transmission data is transmitted to the system I / F 607 and the external device communication control 606 in the reverse order of reception, and is transmitted as an electric signal on the network.

  The system I / F 607 controls the transfer of document reading data, facsimile reception data, personal computer document data (printing commands), and image data for printing personal computer document data, which are processed in the system according to a command from the CPU 605. Image data) and transfer. The work memory 600 is a working memory for image development (conversion from document data to image data) used in the printer. The frame memory 601 is a working memory that temporarily stores image data of a read image and a written image that are printed immediately while power is continuously supplied.

  The HDDC 650 is used as an application database that stores system application programs and device activation information of image forming process devices of the printer 100, and an image database that stores image data of read images and written images, that is, image data and document data. Hard disk HDD and its controller. Image data and document data may be encoded or dot images. The FIFO buffer memory 609 performs data transfer rate conversion when writing an input image to the frame memory 601. In other words, temporary storage of data that absorbs the difference between the data sending / receiving timing of the transfer source and the transfer destination, the difference in the data amount of the transfer unit, the transfer speed difference, etc., and accepts the data at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer source, Data is sent out at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer destination. Similarly, the FIFO buffer memory 608 performs speed conversion when transferring the image data of the frame memory 601 as an output image.

  The memory controller 610 controls input / output of images between the frame memory 601 and the HDDC 650 and the bus without the control of the CPU 605. In addition, according to a command received by the input device 614 of the operation board 301, the frame memory 601 is used to edit, process, or combine images stored in the HDDC. The memory controller 610 reads image information from the HDD of the HDDC 650 to the work memory 600 or the frame memory 601 and changes the image printing direction on the transfer paper, image rotation, image combination editing mainly by the image data address changing operation. Various image processing and editing can be performed by density conversion, image trimming, and composition of image data, and writing of image information processed in this way to the HDD. The image reading unit 624 performs image reading scaling, and the image writing unit 623 performs printing scaling.

  The CPU 617 performs input / output control of the operation board 610. That is, input reading and display output of the operation board 610 are controlled. In the ROM 616, a control program for the operation board 610 is written. A RAM 618 is a working memory used by the CPU 617. Reference numeral 614 denotes an input device in which the user inputs system settings by operating the input keys and the input panel of the operation board 610. The display device 615 is provided on the operation board 610 and displays the setting contents and status of the system to the user, and includes an indicator lamp and a display panel. The basic magnification adjustment values for main scanning and sub-scanning are measured by a sample image in the system adjustment process, and are set by the operation panel control device 611.

  The ROM 133a is a part for storing a control algorithm program executed by the CPU in the process controller 131 and various invariant data. Information is read from the ROM 133a to the CPU. The RAM 132 is used to store variable data necessary for a control algorithm performed by the CPU and various data temporarily. The nonvolatile memory 133b is used to store variable data, setting values, setting conditions, state information, and management information that need to be continuously saved even when the device power is turned off. Writing from the CPU in the process controller 131 to the RAM 132 or the nonvolatile memory 133b is performed, and information is read from the RAM 132 or the nonvolatile memory 133b to the CPU.

  The process controller 131 is an image forming controller that reads “status of each part” in the printer. When a copy condition or print condition is given from the system controller 630, it is saved in the RAM 132, and a mechanism or circuit (load) in the printer is stored. ) Is set to a condition given via the input / output port 136. Also, the status signal of the sensor in the printer is read via the input / output port 136 to determine the status, and if there is an abnormality or maintenance required (abnormality etc.) in the printer, it is notified to the system controller 630 and the operation board 610 To display. If there is no abnormality or no abnormality, the ready is notified to the system controller 630, the display of abnormality is deleted, and the process controller 131 when a print command (copy start / print start) comes from the system controller 630. Executes control of the copy process or print process of the specified condition, and performs “reading of each part status” in the printer. Even in this state reading, the state of the sensor in the printer is read via the input / output port 136 to determine the state.

  The aforementioned electric fans F1 to F8 are rotated by being energized (energized) when the process controller 131 turns on the energization switch 70 via the input / output port 136. Each of the electric fans F <b> 1 to F <b> 8 includes a signal line that outputs a reference signal (abnormality: H / abnormality: L) indicating the presence or absence of an abnormal state, and each signal line is connected to the OR gate 79. The OR gate 79 outputs a signal representing the logical sum of all reference signals. Hereinafter, this output signal is referred to as a monitor signal. The monitor signal is normal when all of the electric fans F1 to F8 are normal and all reference signals are L (no abnormality in the electric fan group FG), and even one of the electric fans F1 to F8 becomes abnormal and is output. When the reference signal to become H becomes H (the electric fan group FG is abnormal).

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration around the energizing switch 70 in some detail. In this embodiment, when the monitor signal, which is the output of the OR gate 79, rises from L (no abnormality) to H (abnormality), the CPU 130 which is the main body of the process controller 131 is interrupted. The electric fan that became abnormal in the electric fan group FG was specified. Since the CPU 130 executes external interrupt processing when the signal applied to the external interrupt signal input terminal INTa switches from H to L, the external interrupt processing is executed in response to the monitor signal H (abnormal). The monitor signal is inverted by the inverter 80 and applied to the external interrupt signal input terminal INTa of the CPU 130. Further, when an abnormal electric fan in the electric fan group FG is specified, the electric fans in the electric fan group FG are partially energized by operating on / off of the switches Sw1 to Sw8 of the energization switch 70. This changes the level of the monitor signal. In order to read this at a port different from the external interrupt signal input terminal INTa, a monitor signal that is an output of the OR gate 79 is applied to the input port ia of the CPU 130.

  FIG. 4 shows the contents of the external interrupt IPA in response to the signal change from H to L of the interrupt signal input terminal INTa (change of the monitor signal from L to H) in the CPU 130. When the CPU 130 proceeds to this interrupt processing IPA in response to the change of the monitor signal from L (no abnormality in the electric fan group FG) to H (abnormal in the electric fan group FG), the CPU 130 doubles and interrupts the interrupt processing IPA. In order to prevent double activation, new activation of the interrupt processing IPA is prohibited (step s1). At that time, the output signals of the output ports o1 to o8 to the energization switch 70 (H: energized / L: stopped) That is, the energizing (driving) state of the electric fan group is written in the state register defined in the internal RAM of the CPU 130 (step s2).

  In the following, the word “step” is abbreviated in parentheses, and step no. Write only the symbol.

  Next, the CPU 130 sets the input / output ports o1 to o8 to L instructing deactivation (energization stop) (s3). As a result, all the switches Sw1 to Sw8 are turned off, the energization of all the electric fans F1 to F8 is stopped, and all the fans are stopped. As a result, the monitor signal output from the OR gate 79 returns to L (no abnormality).

  In this embodiment, a countermeasure table for a fan failure is written in one area of the nonvolatile memory 133b. The information held in this countermeasure table is shown in Table 1 below.

  The table address on the countermeasure table is a check order, that is, an order to test whether the fan is an abnormal fan. The write data “output port” of each address is an output port No. The electric fan No. It corresponds to. The presence / absence of a failure represents the current state, L means no abnormality, and H means an abnormality.

  The machine control mode “3” at the time of failure designates an interruption processing mode in which the energization to the fixing device 25 is cut off and the machine is stopped after discharging the remaining paper in the machine. Of the electric fan F4 and an abnormality of the electric fan F3 for cooling due to forced exhaust of the electrical component EAEC. “2” in the machine control mode at the time of failure designates the copy restriction mode in which the continuous copying of the set number of sheets is finished as usual, and thereafter the copying operation is performed only in accordance with the copy instruction of the set number of sheets. This is addressed to the abnormality of the electric fan F1 for cooling the inside of the document scanner 300. In the machine control mode “1” at the time of failure, continuous image formation (printing or copying) for the set number of sheets is completed in the same way as normal, and after that, an image forming operation is performed only in response to an image formation instruction for the set number of sheets. The image restriction mode is designated, and is addressed to an abnormality of the cooling electric fan F2 due to forced intake of the electrical component EAEC. “0” of the machine control mode at the time of failure designates a normal image forming control mode in which there is no restriction on image forming control, and each of the abnormalities of the electric fans F5 to F8 for ventilating around each color image forming unit. Addressed to

  If there is a failure information (H) at any address on the countermeasure table, the process controller 131 operates an alarm indicating that the electric fan at the output port of the address is abnormal via the system controller 630. It is displayed on the board 610, the machine control mode of the address is read and executed, and it does not respond to an image forming instruction in a control mode different from the machine control mode. The operator can rewrite the data in Table 1 by selecting the electric fan monitoring setting menu in the initial value setting using the operation board 610.

  Refer to FIG. 4 again. When the drive of all the electric fans is stopped in step s3, the CPU 130 initializes the data read address N of the countermeasure table to 1 (s4), reads the data there, and the output port in the read data is If it is “energized” in the status register (s2), an energizing instruction signal H for instructing fan driving is set to the output port (s5, s6). As a result, the switch connected to the output port is turned on to energize the electric fan connected to the switch. When the abnormality detection circuit of the electric fan responds to this energization, and if it is abnormal, after a time dT slightly longer than the delay time for switching the reference signal from L to H (abnormal) (s7, s8), the CPU 130 When the signal level of the input port ia (monitor signal) is read and it is H (abnormal), the electric fan is deenergized (s9, s10), and a failure signal ( H) is written (s11).

  Even when the read signal level is L (no abnormality) and when the above-described failure signal (H) is written, the address N is not the final address n (n = 8 in the embodiment). Then, the data of the next address is read from the countermeasure table (s12, s13), and the above-described steps s5 to s9 are similarly checked for the presence / absence of one electric fan. In this way, all the abnormalities of the electric fans that were driven when proceeding to the interrupt processing IPA are checked one by one in sequence, and the faulty signal is displayed at the address of the electric fan that has an abnormality on the countermeasure table. Write (H) (s11).

  When this is finished, the CPU 130 saves the data at the address j where the failure signal (H) on the countermeasure table is stored, and the data at the address j-1 is lowered to the address j. The data is decremented by one address, and the saved data (the data at the old address j) is written in the address 1 vacated thereby (s14). That is, the data of the electric fan that has generated the abnormal signal is rewritten to address 1 which is the earliest rank position (s14). If there are a plurality of electric fans that have generated an abnormal signal, the address on the countermeasure table is updated from the address in the first order, address 1, 2,... And the write address on the countermeasure table (s14). .

  Next, the CPU 130 extracts the “machine control mode at the time of failure” data addressed to the electric fan that has generated the abnormal signal on the countermeasure table, adds it to the data group of the image forming condition register of the CPU 130, and forms an image. The condition interrupt change (flag) is set in the status register (s15), the external interrupt is permitted (s16), and the external interrupt IPA is terminated. That is, the process returns to the control step (main routine) immediately before entering the external interrupt IPA. In the main routine, since there is an imaging condition interrupt change (flag) in the status register, the imaging control is switched to the machine control mode specified by the “machine control mode at failure” data in the imaging condition register.

  The hardware of the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and the countermeasure table shown in Table 1 is written in the nonvolatile memory 133b in the second embodiment, but the OR gate 79 The content of the abnormal electric fan specifying process executed when the monitor signal, which is the output of, switches from L (no abnormality) to H (abnormal) is different.

  FIG. 5 shows the contents of the external interrupt IPAv that identifies the abnormal electric fan of the CPU 130 that is the main body of the process controller 131 of the second embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, when the process proceeds to the interrupt processing IPAv in response to the change of the monitor signal from L (no abnormality) to H (abnormal), the CPU 130 of the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. The new activation of the interrupt processing IPAv is prohibited (s21), and at this time, the output signals of the output ports o1 to o8 to the energization switch 70 are written in the state register defined in the internal RAM of the CPU 130 (s22). Next, the CPU 130 sets the input / output ports o1 to o8 to L instructing deactivation (energization stop) (s23). As a result, all the switches Sw1 to Sw8 are turned off, the energization of all the electric fans F1 to F8 is stopped, and all the fans are stopped. As a result, the monitor signal output from the OR gate 79 returns to L (no abnormality).

Next, the CPU 130 refers to the output signal data of the status register and numbers all the electric fans that have been operated at the time of abnormality detection in order from the first (s24). Next, in S25, the _first group of electric fans numbered in odd numbers are energized. Here, representing the electric fan numbered to even-numbered first _two groups. Then, the monitor signal is confirmed after elapse of dT (s26, s27). If any one of the _first group of electric fans numbered in an odd number has failed, the monitor signal is H. In this case, re-numbering the electric fan of the first _first group (S28), only to urge the electric fan of the first ₁₁ group numbered odd-numbered (s29). Here, the electric fans numbered in even numbers are expressed as the _12th group. Then, the monitor signal is confirmed after elapse of dT (s30, s31). If any of the _eleventh group of electric fans numbered oddly has failed, the monitor signal is H. In this case, the _11th group electric fans are renumbered (S32), and only the first _111th group electric fans numbered oddly are energized (s35). Here, the electric fans numbered in even numbers are expressed as the first ₁₁₂₂ group. Then, the monitor signal is confirmed after elapse of dT (s36, s37).

At this stage, since the number n of all electric fans is 8, one group is one or less electric fans. Accordingly, if the electric fan of the first _111th group numbered in an odd number has failed, the drive is stopped (s38). If the first _111th group electric fan has not failed, the first _112th group electric fan has failed, and the drive is stopped (s39). As in the case of the first embodiment, the failure signal (H) is written to the address of the electric fan having an abnormality on the countermeasure table (s41), and the data of the electric fan that has generated the abnormality signal is stored in the address. Rewrite to address 1 which is the priority position (s42). Next, the CPU 130 extracts the “machine control mode at the time of failure” data addressed to the electric fan that has generated the abnormal signal on the countermeasure table, adds it to the data group of the image forming condition register of the CPU 130, and forms an image. The condition interrupt change is set in the status register (s43), the normal fan among the driving fans of the status register is driven (s44), the external interrupt is permitted (s45), and the external interrupt IPA is terminated. That is, the process returns to the main routine immediately before entering the external interrupt IPA. In the main routine, since there is “change image forming condition interrupt” in the status register, the image forming control is switched to the machine control mode designated by the “machine control mode at failure” data in the image forming condition register.

In subdivision process divided into the sequential two groups, when the electric fan of the first ₁₁ group has not failed, the electric fan of the first ₁₂ group is driven (s33) to renumbering the group (S34), only the first ₁₂₁ group electric fans numbered in odd numbers are energized (s35). Here, the electric fans numbered in even numbers are defined as the first _122th group. Then, the monitor signal is confirmed after elapse of dT (s36, s37). At this stage, since the number n of all electric fans is 8, one group is one or less electric fans. If the first ₁₂₁ group of electric fans numbered in the odd number has failed, the drive is stopped (s38). If the electric fan of the first ₁₂₁ group has not failed, the electric fan of the first ₁₂₂ group has failed, and the drive is stopped (s39). Then, the processing after step s41 described above is performed.

Further, when the electric fan of the first _first group has not failed, and re-numbering to drive the electric fan of the first _two groups (S40), with respect to the first _two groups, the above-mentioned step s28 following The specific process is executed.

  In the second embodiment, all the electric fans are subdivided into two groups sequentially until only the group on which the monitor signal is H (abnormal) until the number of electric fans in one group becomes one. Therefore, when the number of electric fans is large, the time required for specifying an abnormal fan is remarkably short.

  In both the first and second embodiments, when the monitor signal becomes H (abnormal), an abnormal fan in the electric fan group FG is specified by the interrupt processing of the CPU 130. In the embodiment or the modified example, the inverter 80 is omitted, not the interrupt processing of the CPU 130, but the change in the signal level of the input port ia is monitored. If the change is from L to H, for example, steps s2 to s15 in FIG. An abnormal electric fan identification process such as steps s22 to s44 in FIG. 5 is performed. In this case, only one input port (ia) is required to identify an abnormal fan.

1 is a sectional view showing an outline of the mechanism of a full-color copying machine having a composite function according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image processing system of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged block diagram showing a configuration around an energizing switch 70 shown in FIG. 2 in somewhat detail. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the external interruption process of CPU130 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the external interruption process of CPU130 of 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10: Intermediate transfer belt 14-16: Support roller 17: Intermediate transfer body cleaning device 18: Image forming device 20: Image forming device 21: Laser exposure device 22: Secondary transfer device 23: Roller 24: Secondary transfer belt 25 : Fixing device 26: fixing belt 27: pressure roller 28: sheet reversing device 32: contact glass 33: first carriage 34: second carriage 35: imaging lens 36: CCD
40: photosensitive drum 42: paper feed roller 43: paper bank 44: paper feed cassette 45: separation roller 46: paper feed path 47: transport roller 48: paper feed path 49: registration roller 50: paper feed roller 51: manual feed tray 55: Switching claw 56: Discharge roller 57: Discharge tray

Claims (6)

A plurality of biasing means individually connected to each of the plurality of electric fans for outputting a reference signal indicating the presence or absence of abnormality;
OR means for assembling the sum of the reference signals of the plurality of electric fans into one monitor signal representing the logical OR of each electric fan having an abnormality; and
When the monitor signal changes from no abnormality to presence, the plurality of electric fans are partially energized sequentially through the urging means, and the abnormal electric fan is identified with reference to the monitor signal. means;
An abnormal electric fan detection device comprising:   And further comprising memory means for holding information for determining the order of sequentially energizing; the means for specifying the abnormal electric fan partially applies the plurality of electric fans sequentially in the order according to the information of the memory means. The abnormal electric fan detection device according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal electric fan is identified with reference to the monitor signal.   The abnormal electric fan detection device according to claim 1, wherein the order is an order in which the possibility of failure is high.   The means for identifying the abnormal electric fan divides a plurality of electric fans into two groups, deenergizes one group and energizes the other group to determine a group in which the monitor signal indicates an abnormality, 2. The abnormal electric fan detection device according to claim 1, wherein the group in which the monitor signal indicates that there is an abnormality is sequentially divided into two groups to finally identify the abnormal electric fan. A plurality of electric fans and an abnormal electric fan detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
Imaging means for forming an image on paper; and
Control means for controlling the operation of the image forming means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Memory means for holding information on the presence of each of the plurality of electric fans and control mode information when there is an abnormality is further provided; means for identifying the abnormal electric fan is a control mode corresponding to the electric fan identified as having an abnormality The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the image forming unit in the read control mode.

Images