JP5194275B2 - Image forming apparatus and failure cancellation system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having functions such as copying, printing, and facsimile, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus coupled to a network and a failure clearing system.

  Conventionally, when a jam has occurred in an image forming apparatus, a jam generation position and a jam release procedure are displayed on the display screen, and the user has performed the jam release while viewing the display (for example, Patent Document 1 below). And 2).

  When the user cannot clear the jam by the above method, a call is made to the call center operator, information on the jam is explained in detail to the operator, and the jam is cleared according to the operator's instruction.

  In this case, there is a problem that it takes time to explain to the operator.

Therefore, in Patent Document 3 described below, a configuration is disclosed in which information related to a jam is automatically transmitted to a call center computer when a call is made to an operator in order to omit the time.
JP-A-2005-258104 JP 2008-145694 A JP 2007-208733 A

  However, in the invention of the above-mentioned Patent Document 3, when a call is made to an operator, information on a jam is always automatically transmitted, so that there is a problem that the case where the user does not want the transmission or prioritizes security cannot be handled. is there.

  Even if information about a jam is sent, the details of the screen currently displayed on the image forming apparatus cannot be grasped, and the operator may ask the user about the screen content and may take time.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a failure removal system capable of quickly removing a failure while considering security.

In the first aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a communication unit coupled to an operator's computer via a network; and a storage unit that stores failure information when a predetermined failure occurs.
A failure notification button;
In response to the operation of the failure occurrence notification button, the failure information is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the computer via the communication unit;
Is further provided.

The failure information includes jam information having jam occurrence position information,
The failure notification means transmits the jam information by e-mail to the operator.
It is characterized by that.

In a third aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
The failure notification means includes the failure information in an HTML format file included in the e-mail.
It is characterized by that.

In a fourth aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
It also has a built-in phone,
The failure notification means further makes a call to a predetermined call destination in response to the operation.
It is characterized by that.

In a fifth aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
Display means;
In response to the operation, the failure notification unit transmits a program of a screen displayed on the display unit as the failure information.
It is characterized by that.

In a sixth aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
The failure notification means further transmits a program of the screen when the screen displayed on the display means is changed after the transmission of the program.
It is characterized by that.

In a seventh aspect of the fault cancellation system according to the present invention,
An image forming apparatus management system in which the image forming apparatus according to any one of the above and a serviceman computer are coupled via a network,
The computer
Call means capable of making a call with the built-in phone;
Display means;
Mail receiving means for receiving an email containing the jam information;
Web browser means for displaying and outputting the jam information on the display means from among the emails received by the mail receiving means;
Comprising
It is characterized by that.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the “failure occurrence notification button and the failure information are read from the storage means in response to the operation of the failure occurrence notification button, and are transmitted to the computer via the communication means. And a failure notification means for transmitting to the user, so that the user's intention to send can be confirmed according to whether or not the failure occurrence notification button is operated, and the failure can be quickly released while considering security. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, “the failure information includes jam information having jam occurrence position information, and the failure notification means transmits the jam information to the operator by e-mail”. The jam information can be transmitted by a versatile and simple method such as e-mail. Further, since the jam information includes jam occurrence position information, the operator can grasp the cause of the jam in more detail.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, since the failure notification means includes the failure information as an HTML file and includes it in the e-mail. It can be easily read, and the versatility of report notification can be further enhanced.

  According to the configuration of the fourth aspect described above, “the telephone further includes a built-in telephone, and the failure notification means further calls a predetermined call destination in response to the operation”. Two operations of making a call and sending failure information can be performed by operating the failure notification button, and it is possible to save the trouble of selecting a call destination from the phone book or entering a phone number. Play.

  According to the configuration of the fifth aspect, “the display unit and the failure notification unit transmit the program of the screen displayed on the display unit as the failure information in response to the operation”. In addition, the operator can remotely confirm the same screen that the user is viewing with the display means, and it is possible to smoothly proceed with the dialogue with the user and quickly cancel the failure. .

  According to the configuration of the sixth aspect, since “the failure notification unit further transmits the program of the screen when the screen displayed on the display unit is changed after the transmission of the program”, The operator can grasp the progress of the failure cancellation work without talking to the user, and the failure can be quickly cleared.

  Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a failure cancellation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[1] Schematic Configuration of Failure Resolving System This system 5 is configured by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 10, a mail server 400, and an operator computer 500 via the Internet 300.

  Each image forming apparatus 10 is a printer, a copier, a fax machine, or a complex machine of these, and has a jam information notification function to be described later.

  The mail server 400 includes both a known SMTP server and a POP server. The mail server 400 collects e-mails from the image forming apparatuses 10 and distributes the e-mails to the operator computer 500 when there is a distribution request.

The operator computer 500 manages failures that occur in the image forming apparatus, receives electronic mail from each image forming apparatus 10, and displays the contents on a display device.
[2] Hardware Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10 FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For simplification, a configuration in the case where one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 10 is used as a printer will be described below. In the illustrated example, the transfer drum method is adopted, but the present invention can be similarly applied even if other intermediate transfer belt method or tandem method is adopted.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is roughly divided into a paper feed tray 11, a transport path 20, a plurality of transport rollers 21, a paper discharge tray 22, an image forming unit 30 disposed along the transport path 20, And a control unit 50 electrically coupled to each resource of the image forming apparatus including the image forming unit 30.

  For example, A4 size printing paper 12 is set vertically in the paper feeding tray 11, and during color printing, the printing paper 12 is transported from the paper feeding tray 11 by the transport roller 21 under the control of the control unit 50. 20, a color image, which will be described later, is formed by the image forming unit 30 in the middle of the conveyance path 20, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 22.

  The image forming unit 30 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a corona charger 32, an exposure unit 33, a Y developing unit 34, an M developing unit 35, a C developing unit 36, a BK developing unit 37, and a photosensitive member cleaning. A unit 38, an intermediate transfer drum 39, an intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 40, a secondary transfer unit 41, a density detection sensor 42, a temperature / humidity sensor 43, a transport belt 44, and a fixing device 45 are included.

  When performing color image formation, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is charged by the corona charger 32, and then the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is exposed by the exposure unit 33 in accordance with the image data. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 31 is developed by the Y developing unit 34 to be a Y toner image, transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 39 (primary transfer), and the residual Y toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 is It is removed by the photoconductor cleaning unit 38.

  In this way, an M toner image, a C toner image, and a BK toner image are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 11, and are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer drum 39 to superimpose colors of the respective colors. A color toner image is formed thereon.

The color toner image on the intermediate transfer drum 39 is secondarily transferred onto the printing paper 12 conveyed from the paper feed tray 11 by the secondary transfer unit 41 that contacts the intermediate transfer drum 39 at the timing of the secondary transfer. The image is transferred and sent to the fixing device 43 by the conveying belt 42, where the color toner image on the printing paper 12 is fixed. Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 22 via the conveyance path 20. After the secondary transfer, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer drum 39 is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 40.
[3] Configuration of Control Unit 50 FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the control unit 50.

  An EEPROM 63E1, EEPROM 63E2, DRAM 63D, HDD 64, operation panel 65, scanner 66S, printer 66P, image memory 67, sensor group 68, NIC 69, and IP phone 70 are coupled to the control unit 50 via an interface 62. In FIG. 3, a plurality of interfaces are shown as one block for simplification.

  The EEPROMs 63E1 and 63E2 are, for example, flash memories. The EEPROM 63E1 stores BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The EEPROM 63E2 stores an operating system (OS), various programs operating on the upper layer of the OS, various device drivers operating on the lower layer of the OS, and various setting values. The DRAM 63D is for work area, and the HDD 64 is for data storage.

  The operation panel 65 is used for inputting a set value or an instruction and displaying a setting screen, a state, or the like, and is configured by a combination of a touch panel 80 and various hardware keys, as shown in FIG. On the touch panel 80, software keys including a jam notification first button 81 according to the present invention, a call & notification button 82, and a notification setting button 83 are displayed. The various hardware keys are provided with a jam notification second button 86 according to the present invention in addition to the known numeric keypad 84 and start key 85.

  The scanner 66S is used for image input for scanning or copying. The printer 66 </ b> P includes a print engine, a fixing device, a paper feeding unit, a conveyance unit, and a paper discharge unit, and forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum of the print engine based on image data stored in the image memory 67. Then, this is developed with toner, transferred onto paper, fixed, and discharged.

  The image memory 67 temporarily stores the input image input by the scanner 66S.

  The sensor group 68 includes a plurality of sensors such as a concentration detection sensor 42, a temperature / humidity sensor 43, and a jam detection sensor (not shown).

  The NIC 69 is an abbreviation for Network Interface Card, and is connected to the Internet 300 via a cable or a wireless communication medium, and communicates with the mail server 400 on the Internet 300.

The IP phone 70 is for making a call to a call center operator via the Internet 300.
[4] Hardware Configuration of Operator Computer 500 FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the operator computer 500 shown in FIG.

  In the operator computer 500, a RAM 503, a ROM 504, an HDD 505, an interactive input device 506, a display device 507, a NIC 508, and a headset 509 are coupled to the MPU 501 via an interface 502. In FIG. 5, a plurality of basic interfaces are shown as one block for the sake of simplicity.

  The RAM 503 is for main memory. The ROM 504 stores a bootstrap and BIOS. The HDD 505 stores an OS, various applications, and various device drivers.

  The interactive input device 506 receives user input and is, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device. The display device 507 is for displaying characters or images on the screen.

  The NIC 508 is coupled to the Internet 300 via a cable or a wireless communication medium, and communicates with the mail server 400 on the Internet 300.

The headset 509 includes a microphone and a speaker that are used when an operator makes a call with a user.
[5] Configuration of Main Part of Failure Clearing System FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the failure clearing system 5 shown in FIG.

  First, the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  In addition to the NIC 69 and the IP phone 70 described above, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a one-touch jam notification button unit 100, an instruction reception unit 101, a jam information storage unit 102, a jam notification unit 103, and a call control unit 104. And mainly.

  The one-touch jam notification button unit 100 is composed of a hardware key having a jam notification second button 86 and a software key having a jam notification first button 81 and a call & notification button 82 as shown in FIG. When any of these buttons is pressed, the instruction receiving unit 101 is called.

  The instruction receiving unit 101 includes the MPU 61, the DRAM 63D, and the EEPROM 63E2 in which a predetermined program is stored. When the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86 of the one-touch jam notification button unit 100 is pressed. The jam notification unit 103 is called. When the call & notification button 82 of the one-touch jam notification button unit 100 is pressed, the call control unit 103 is called.

  The jam information storage unit 102 includes the EEPROM 63E2 or the HDD 64. When a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10, the jam information storage unit 102 generates a jam by a jam detection sensor included in the sensor group 68. The position is detected, and jam information including the jam occurrence position is stored. The jam information is represented, for example, by a code combining alphabets and numbers.

  The jam notification unit 103 includes the MPU 61, the DRAM 63D, and the EEPROM 63E2 in which a predetermined program is stored. In response to a call from the instruction receiving unit 101, the jam notification unit 103 reads jam information from the jam information storage unit 102, and stores the information. An HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format electronic file is created and attached to the e-mail and sent to the operator computer 500.

  FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the jam notification unit 103 according to the first embodiment. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses.

  (S1) In response to the call of the instruction receiving unit 101, the jam information is read from the jam information storage unit 102.

  (S2) An HTML electronic file containing the jam information is created so that the jam information can be viewed on a general operator computer. Hereinafter, this electronic file is referred to as a jam information file.

  (S3) Create an e-mail addressed to the operator who owns the operator computer 500. The electronic mail text describes that a jam information file is included as an attached file, for example.

  (S4) A jam information file is attached to the created electronic mail.

  (S5) The electronic mail to which the jam information file is attached is transmitted to the mail server 400 via the NIC 69.

  Returning to FIG. 6, the call control unit 104 includes the MPU 61, DRAM 63 </ b> D, and EEPROM 63 </ b> E <b> 2 storing a predetermined program, and is on-hook to a preset call destination (operator) via the IP phone 70. Make a call in a state.

  Next, the operator computer 500 will be described.

  In addition to the display device 507 and the NIC 508, the operator computer 500 mainly includes a mail client 510, a reception folder 511, a Web browser unit 512, and a call unit 513.

  The mail client 511 includes the HDD 505 in which the MPU 501, the RAM 503, and mail software are stored. The mail client 511 receives an electronic mail addressed to the operator from the mail server 400 via the NIC 508 and stores it in the reception folder 510.

  The reception folder 511 is configured to include a partial area of the HDD 505 and stores an email received by the NIC 508 from the mail server 400. The reception folder 511 also stores an e-mail including a jam information file created by the image forming apparatus 10.

  The Web browser unit 512 includes an HDD 505 in which a Web browser such as the MPU 501, RAM 503, and Internet Explorer is stored. The Web browser unit 512 reads an HTML format jam information file attached to an e-mail in the reception folder 511. The contents are displayed on the display device 507.

The call unit 513 includes the MPU 501, the RAM 503, the HDD 505 storing the IP phone program, and the headset 509, and enables a call with the image forming apparatus user.
[6] Operation of the fault clearing system 5 (related to the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86)
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an execution flow when the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86 is pressed by connecting the functional units of the failure cancellation system 5 illustrated in FIG. 6 with arrows. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses.

  (S10) The instruction receiving unit 101 receives that the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86, which is a part of the one-touch jam notification button unit 100, is pressed.

  (S11) The instruction receiving unit 101 calls the jam notification unit 103 corresponding to the pressed jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86.

  (S12) The jam notification unit 103 performs the process shown in FIG. 7 described above in response to the call of the instruction receiving unit 101.

  (S13) In response to the instruction from the jam notification unit 103, the NIC 69 transmits an email including the jam information file created by the jam notification unit 103 to the mail server 400 via the Internet 300.

  (S14, S15) The mail client 510 receives an electronic mail addressed to the operator via the NIC 508 and stores it in the reception folder 511.

(S16) The web browser unit 512 reads the jam information file in the HTML format attached to the e-mail in the reception folder 511, and displays the content on the display device 507.
[7] Operation of failure cancellation system 5 (related to call & notification button 82)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an execution flow when the call & notification button 82 is pressed by connecting the functional units of the failure cancellation system 5 shown in FIG. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses.

  (S20) The instruction receiving unit 101 receives that the call & notification button 82, which is a part of the one-touch jam notification button unit 100, is pressed.

  (S21) The instruction receiving unit 101 calls the call control unit 104 corresponding to the pressed call & notification button 82.

  (S22) In response to the call from the instruction receiving unit 101, the call control unit 104 makes a call in an on-hook state to a preset call destination via the IP phone 70.

  (S23) The IP phone 70 makes a call to the operator via the NIC 69 under the control of the call control unit 104.

  (S24) The NIC 508 accepts a call from the IP phone 70.

  (S25) The NIC 508 calls the call unit 513 in response to the call. In response to a call from NIC 508, call unit 513 sounds a ring tone through a speaker (not shown). The operator starts a call in response to this.

  (S26) The call control unit 104 calls the jam notification unit 103 when a call is started.

(S27 to S31) Each functional unit performs the same processing as S12 to S16 shown in FIG.
[8] Effects of the Invention of the First Embodiment According to the first embodiment, the jam information is stored in the jam information storage unit 102 in response to the jam notification first button 81 and the jam notification second button 86 and any one of these presses. A jam notification unit 103 that reads out information and transmits the information to the operator computer 500 via the NIC 69, so that the user's intention of notification can be confirmed according to whether or not these buttons are operated, There is an effect that the jam can be quickly released while taking security into consideration.

  In addition, in response to the call & notification button 82 and this press, a call is made to an operator computer 500 (call program) which is a predetermined call destination, and jam information is transmitted to the computer 500. There is an effect that it is possible to save the trouble of selecting a call destination from the telephone directory or inputting a telephone number.

In the second embodiment, a modification of the first embodiment will be described.
[9] Configuration and Operation of Second Embodiment The hardware configurations of the image forming apparatus 10 and the operator computer 500 according to the second embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an execution flow when the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86 is pressed by connecting the functional units of the failure cancellation system 5 according to the second embodiment with arrows. is there. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses.

  Here, the screen program storage unit 110 includes the EEPROM 63E2 or the HDD 64 in which a screen program to be displayed on the touch panel 80 is stored, and the screen monitoring unit 111 stores the MPU 61, the DRAM 63D, and a predetermined program. In addition, it includes an EEPROM 63E2 and monitors changes in the screen on the touch panel 80. The screen program execution unit 520 includes an MPU 501, a RAM 503, and an HDD 505 in which a program for controlling display of the screen program of the image forming apparatus 10 on the display device 507 is stored.

  Hereinafter, these operations will be described with reference to FIG.

  (S40) The instruction receiving unit 101 receives that the jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86, which is a part of the one-touch jam notification button unit 100, is pressed.

  (S41) The instruction receiving unit 101 calls the jam notification unit 103 corresponding to the pressed jam notification first button 81 or the jam notification second button 86.

  (S42) In response to the call of the instruction receiving unit 101, the jam notification unit 103 reads a screen program on the touch panel 80 in a state where a jam currently occurs from the screen program storage unit 102. Then, an electronic file including the screen program is created, attached to an e-mail addressed to the operator who owns the operator computer 500, and the e-mail is transmitted to the mail server 400 via the NIC 69. To do.

  The screen program includes information that allows the jam position information to be visually grasped.

  (S43) In response to the instruction from the jam notification unit 103, the NIC 69 transmits the email created by the jam notification unit 103 to the mail server 400 via the Internet 300.

  (S44, S45) The mail client 510 receives an electronic mail addressed to the operator via the NIC 509 and stores it in the reception folder 511.

  (S46) The screen program execution unit 520 executes the screen program attached to the e-mail in the reception folder 511 and causes the display device 507 to display the contents.

(S47) The screen monitoring unit 111 monitors the screen change of the touch panel 80, and when there is a change, calls the jam notification button unit 103 until the jam is released. Thereby, the process similar to said step S42-46 is repeatedly performed.
[10] Effects of the Invention of the Second Embodiment According to the second embodiment, the operator can remotely grasp the same screen that the user is actually viewing on the touch panel 80, and There is an effect that the dialogue can be smoothly advanced and the failure can be quickly cleared.

Since the screen program is transmitted every time the screen displayed on the touch panel 80 changes after the transmission of the screen program at the time of the occurrence of the jam, the operator can cancel the jam clearing process with the user. It is possible to grasp without talking, and the jam can be quickly released.
[11] Modifications of the Present Invention The above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention are examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those embodiments. Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the gist thereof. Hereinafter, some of the modifications will be exemplified.

  The jam notification unit 103 may be configured to attach an important flag to an electronic mail when the electronic mail is transmitted to the operator computer 500.

  Further, the jam notification unit 103 may be configured to immediately transmit a jam information file to the operator computer 500 when a jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10.

  Furthermore, the jam notification unit 103 may further be configured to periodically transmit jam information to the operator computer 500, such as every day, every three weeks, or every month.

  In addition, the transmission method of the jam information file is not limited to e-mail, and may be transmitted using another transmission method such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

  Further, not only jam information but also failure information of each device in the image forming apparatus 10 may be transmitted to the operator computer 500 as described above.

  Furthermore, the telephone built in the image forming apparatus 10 is not limited to the IP telephone 70, and may be a general telephone that can be used for a telephone call.

  In FIG. 9, the configuration in which jam information is transmitted after making a call has been described. However, a configuration in which a call is made after transmitting jam information may be used.

  Furthermore, the jam notification unit 103 may be configured to transmit jam information including characters or symbols together with the screen program.

  Furthermore, the mail server 400 may be included in the operator computer 500.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 10 and the operator computer 500 may include resources other than the above-described resources, or some of the above-described resources may not be included.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the failure cancellation | release system concerning Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the control part shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel shown in FIG. 2. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the computer for operators shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the failure cancellation system shown in FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of a jam notification unit according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the execution flow at the time of pressing down a jam notification 1st button or a jam notification 2nd button, connecting each function part of the failure cancellation system shown in FIG. 6 with the line with an arrow. It is a figure which shows the execution flow at the time of pressing down the call & notification button by connecting each function part of the failure cancellation system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the execution flow at the time of pressing down a jam notification 1st button or a jam notification 2nd button, connecting each function part of the failure cancellation system which concerns on the present Example 2 with the line with an arrow.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Failure cancellation system 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Paper feed tray 12 Printing paper 20 Carriage path 21 Carrying roller 22 Paper discharge tray 30 Image forming part 31 Photosensitive drum 32 Charger 33 Exposure unit 34 Y developing device 35 M developing device 36 C developing 37 BK developing unit 38 photoconductor cleaning unit 39 intermediate transfer drum 40 intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 41 secondary transfer unit 42 density detection sensor 43 temperature / humidity sensor 44 transport belt 45 fixing unit 50 control unit 61 MPU
62 Interface 63E1 EEPROM
63E2 EEPROM
63D DRAM
64 HDD
65 Operation Panel 66S Scanner 66P Printer 67 Image Memory 68 Sensor Group 69 NIC
70 IP phone 80 Touch panel 81 Jam notification first button 82 Call & notification button 83 Notification setting button 84 Numeric keypad 85 Start key 86 Jam notification second button 100 One-touch jam notification button unit 101 Instruction receiving unit 102 Jam information storage unit 103 Jam notification Unit 104 Calling control unit 110 Screen program storage unit 111 Screen monitoring unit 300 Internet 400 Mail server 500 Operator computer 501 MPU
502 interface 503 RAM
504 ROM
505 HDD
506 Interactive input device 507 Display device 508 NIC
509 Headset 510 Mail client 511 Reception folder 512 Web browser part 513 Calling part 520 Screen program execution part

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a communication unit coupled to an operator's computer via the Internet; and a storage unit that stores failure information when a predetermined failure occurs.
A failure notification button;
Phone and
In response to the operation of the failure occurrence notification button, a call is made to a predetermined destination, and the failure information is read from the storage means in response to the start of the telephone call. Failure notification means for transmitting to the computer via the communication means;
An image forming apparatus further comprising: The failure information includes jam information having jam occurrence position information,
The failure notification means transmits the jam information by e-mail to the operator.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The failure notification means includes the failure information in an HTML format file included in the e-mail.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. Display means;
In response to the operation, the failure notification unit transmits a program of a screen displayed on the display unit as the failure information.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that. The failure notification means further transmits a program of the screen when the screen displayed on the display means is changed after the transmission of the program.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 . An image forming apparatus management system in which the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 and an operator 's computer are coupled via the Internet .
The computer
And the call can call means and the power story,
Display means;
Mail receiving means for receiving an email containing the jam information;
Web browser means for displaying and outputting the jam information on the display means from among the emails received by the mail receiving means;
Comprising
An obstacle removal system characterized by that.