JP5589469B2 - Image forming apparatus and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of processing means for generating a residue and storing the residue or consuming consumables, and a program for causing a computer to control the image forming apparatus as described above. The present invention relates to a recorded computer-readable recording medium.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, some peripheral devices (for example, a sheet post-processing apparatus) connected to the image forming apparatus may generate residues or require consumables. When the image forming apparatus is used, a lot of maintenance is required, such as replacement of consumables and disposal of residue.

  If such maintenance is not performed at an appropriate timing, a large downtime will occur in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is already known that there is a mechanism for constantly monitoring the state of consumables and notifying the administrator via the network when a change in state is detected.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that monitors the amount of toner for the purpose of reducing downtime of an image forming apparatus due to running out of toner, and takes a notification or ordering procedure to an administrator when the toner runs out. Yes. Further, Patent Document 2 periodically acquires the status information of consumables of devices connected to the network, and supplies the consumables to the ordering support apparatus via the network according to the change in the acquired status information. A device is disclosed that transmits a status and sends an e-mail notifying the status of consumables to a specific destination (for example, an administrator).

  However, in the conventional mechanism for notifying consumables information to the supplier through the network, only management of consumables in the image forming apparatus main body has been considered. There has been a problem that consideration is not given to replacement of consumables in the post-processing apparatus and processing of residue generated in those apparatuses.

  For example, in the conventional apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the consumables in the external processing apparatus such as the post-processing apparatus of the image forming apparatus run out or the residue generated in the post-processing apparatus becomes full, the image forming apparatus However, it was not possible to eliminate the situation where a state where the device cannot be used (down state) occurred.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to appropriately process the generation of a maintenance request of an external processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that can access a plurality of external processing units that consume consumables, and periodically acquires the remaining amount of consumables from the self-device and the plurality of processing units. Consumables remaining amount acquisition means , consumables remaining amount storage means for storing the remaining amount of consumables acquired by the consumables remaining amount acquisition means, and notifications storing notification determination information for each of the remaining consumables The determination information storage means, the remaining amount of each consumable item stored in the consumable item remaining amount storage unit , and the notification determination information of the remaining amount of the corresponding consumable item stored in the notification determination information storage unit are compared. and consumables information processing means for determining the state of the device and, the expendable information processing means, the notification when the notification about the respective consumable is determined to be necessary, it is determined that requires the expendable information processing means and a notification unit configured to perform, the notification determination The notification determination information stored in the information storage means is information indicating an allowable value of the amount of change in the amount of consumables per time, and the consumable information processing means performs a corresponding consumption based on the notification determination information. When the amount of change in the consumption amount of the product exceeds the allowable value, it is determined that a report is necessary for the consumable item .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that is capable of accessing a plurality of external processing means for generating a residue and storing the residue, and storing the residue from the apparatus and the plurality of processing means. A residue accumulation amount acquisition means for periodically acquiring the amount, a residue accumulation amount storage means for storing the residue accumulation amount acquired by the residue accumulation amount acquisition means, and notification determination information for each of the residue accumulation amounts is stored. The notification determination information storage means, the residual accumulation amount stored in the residual accumulation amount storage means, and the notification determination information of the corresponding residual accumulation amount stored in the notification determination information storage means are compared. A residual information processing means for determining the state of the residual information, and a reporting means for making a notification that the residual information processing means determines to be necessary when the residual information processing means determines that notification is required for each residual. The notification determination information stored in the notification determination information storage means is information indicating an allowable value of the amount of change per hour of the amount of residue, and the residue information processing means is configured to correspond to the residual information based on the notification determination information. When the amount of change per hour of the accumulated amount exceeds the above allowable value, it is determined that it is necessary to report the residue.

The request of the administrator, acquires the accumulated amount of residue the consumable information processing means the remaining amount of the consumable remaining amount storage means the stored consumable or said residue data processing means has stored in the residue accumulated-amount storage unit Then, it is preferable to be able to notify the temporal change in the state of the remaining amount of the consumables or the accumulated amount of residues.

An operation unit is further provided, and the time interval for acquiring the remaining amount of consumables performed by the consumables remaining amount acquiring unit or acquiring the accumulated amount of residue performed by the remaining accumulated amount acquiring unit is set according to the operation of the operating unit. Means may be provided.

  Means may be provided for setting the notification determination information stored in the notification determination information storage unit in accordance with an operation of the operation unit.

Means may be provided for setting a type of consumable that causes the consumable information processing means to determine a state or a type of residue that causes the residual information processing means to determine a state according to an operation of the operation unit.

  In place of or in addition to the operation unit, a network connection means for connecting to a network is provided, and each setting is connected via the network instead of or in addition to the operation from the operation unit. It is good to carry out according to the operation signal input from the terminal.

  The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to control an image forming apparatus and causing the computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus is recorded.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the recording medium of the present invention as described above, there is an effect that it is possible to appropriately handle the generation of the maintenance request of the external processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart of processing related to monitoring of consumables and residues executed by a CPU provided in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen for receiving the monitoring setting of consumables and a residue from an administrator. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system in a case where a terminal device that transmits a print job and an image forming apparatus are connected via a network.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes a plotter device 1 and sheet storage devices 2 and 3, and has a configuration in which sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 are connected to the outside.
The plotter apparatus 1 is a unit that forms the core of the image forming apparatus, and includes a control unit having a CPU. The plotter apparatus 1 is composed of, for example, an electrophotographic recording apparatus or an ink jet recording apparatus, and is supplied from the sheet storage apparatuses 2 and 3. The image information is printed on the sheet-like paper that has been printed, and the recorded paper is output (conveyed) to the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6.

  The sheet storage devices 2 and 3 are devices for storing sheet-like paper (not limited to paper) for transferring an image. There is a relatively small capacity storage device connected to the lower side of the plotter device 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and a large capacity storage device connected side by side with the plotter device 1 like 3. Each of these sheet storage devices 2 and 3 includes a plurality of paper feed stages (each having the same size is stored in each paper feed stage) that stores papers of different sizes. Transport.

  The sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 are devices that perform post-processing on the paper discharged from the plotter device 1, and a plurality of sheet post-processing devices can be connected to the plotter device 1. 4 is for example an insertion device for inserting a cover or slip sheet for bookbinding, 5 is a punching device for punching, for example, and a folding device for folding paper for bookbinding, and 6 is for example on paper A stapling device for performing stapling processing, a tape binding device, a ring binding device, a bookbinding device for performing bookbinding, and a cutting device for cutting the bound paper into a final size are shown.

  In addition, the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 are provided with staples for staple processing, adhesives for perfect binding, tapes for tape binding, rings for ring binding, binding for sure binding, as necessary. A consumable storage unit (not shown) for storing each consumable such as a strip is also provided.

  In addition, some consumables storage units are provided with sensors (remaining amount sensors) for detecting the remaining amount of consumables stored therein, and the remaining amount of consumables is detected by the remaining amount sensor. The consumables information management unit (described later) of the image forming apparatus acquires the information at an appropriate timing and stores it in the consumables / residue information storage unit (described later). As this acquisition method, the detection value of each remaining amount sensor is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the transmission means attached to the remaining amount sensor, or the image forming apparatus periodically transmits the remaining amount sensor. A method of reading the detection value can be employed. If the image forming apparatus has the function of the sheet post-processing apparatus, the consumable storage unit and the remaining amount sensor are also built in the image forming apparatus. In this case, the image forming apparatus directly sets the sensor value. By reading, the amount of residue can be obtained directly.

  Of the post-processing performed by each of these sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6, staple processing generates staple chips when the staples are cut according to the number of sheets to be printed. Punch scraps are generated when punch holes are made, and in the bookbinding process, cutting scraps are generated during the three-way finishing cutting and the perfect binding milling process.

  The sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 are also provided with a residue collection unit (not shown) for storing residues such as staple scraps, punch scraps, and cutting scraps. Note that the perfect binding milling process refers to the process of attaching a jagged edge to a book and applying and applying an adhesive to the portion. When the jagged edge is attached to the back of the book, cutting waste is generated. .

  Each residue collection unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of accumulated residue. As a sensor for detecting the accumulation amount, for example, a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the residue and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the height of the accumulation amount are provided. The accumulated amount of accumulated residue is detected by this weight sensor or height detection sensor, and is acquired at an appropriate timing by a residue information management unit (described later) of the image forming apparatus, and is supplied with a consumable / residue information storage unit (described later). ). As this acquisition method, a method in which a transmission unit attached to the weight sensor or height detection sensor or the like transmits the detection value of each weight sensor or height detection sensor to the image forming apparatus, or the image forming apparatus However, it is possible to adopt a method of periodically reading detection values of each weight sensor or height detection sensor. In the case where the image forming apparatus incorporates the function of the sheet post-processing apparatus, a residue collection unit and a sensor for detecting the amount of accumulated residue are also incorporated in the image forming apparatus. By directly reading the sensor value, the amount of residue can be obtained directly.

  Here, in order to make this image forming apparatus function as a single image forming apparatus, a reading paper feeding apparatus that conveys a set original to a reading position, a scanner apparatus that reads image information of an original, a numeric keypad, a start key, a function key, An operation panel including an operation panel including various operation keys such as a one-touch key and a liquid crystal display may be provided, but details thereof are omitted.

Next, a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes a system control unit 11, a job management unit 12, a residue information management unit 13, a consumable information management unit 14, a consumable / residual information storage unit 15, and a consumable / residual notification determination. An information unit 16, a consumable / residue information processing unit 17, and an information notification unit 18 are included.

  The function of each of these elements is realized by the CPU provided in the control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus executing the corresponding program stored in the ROM. The control means includes a CPU, a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU, a RAM that forms a work area of the CPU, a storage area for various data, and the like.

  The system control unit 11 has a function of storing the time of the monitoring interval and controlling each element shown in FIG. 2 to manage consumables and residues. The job management unit 12 has a function of accepting a print job requested by an administrator or the like by operating the image forming apparatus.

  The residue information management unit 13 has a function of managing the amount of residue accumulated in the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6, and is provided with a weight sensor provided in each residue collection unit at regular time intervals (monitoring intervals). Are obtained as the amount of residue accumulated (residue accumulation amount), and the obtained residue accumulation amount is stored in the consumable / residue information storage unit 15. The residue accumulation amount is divided by the maximum recovery amount (weight) stored according to the type of the residue, and the percentage value may be handled as the residue accumulation amount.

  The consumable information management unit 14 has a function of managing the remaining amount of consumables used in the plotter device 1 and the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6, and stores each consumable at regular time intervals (monitoring intervals). The measurement value of the remaining amount sensor provided in the unit is acquired as the remaining amount of consumables (remaining consumables), and the acquired remaining amount of consumables is stored in the consumable / residual information storage unit 15. Further, the remaining amount of consumables may be divided by the maximum storage amount (weight) stored according to the type of the consumables, and the percentage value may be handled as the remaining amount of the consumables.

  Further, the residue information management unit 13 and the consumables information management unit 14 acquire a residue accumulation amount or a consumables remaining amount at regular time intervals, the residue information management unit 13 obtains the residue accumulation amount, and The type of consumables for which the consumable information management unit 14 acquires the remaining amount of consumables can be designated by the administrator through the operation unit (described later).

  The consumable / remaining information storage unit 15 has a function for storing the amount of accumulated residue acquired by the residual information management unit 13 and the remaining amount of consumables acquired by the consumable information management unit 14. The consumable / residue notification determination information unit 16 determines the time interval (monitoring interval) at which the image forming apparatus inspects the state of consumables and residue, and whether the state of the consumables and residue needs to be notified. It has a function of holding a reference value (notification determination reference value) necessary for. Notification judgment reference values include, for example, a reference value for the remaining amount of consumables and residue accumulation to determine that maintenance is approaching, whether a large amount of consumables has been consumed, or a large amount of residue accumulation A change allowable value for determining this is held. These values can be designated by the administrator through the operation unit (described later).

  The consumables / residue information processing unit 17 reads the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated deposits stored in the consumables / residue information storage unit 15, and the notification determination reference value stored in the consumables / residual notification determination information unit 16. Based on the above, it has a function of determining whether the state of the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue has changed. For example, whether there is a consumable / residue information storage unit 15 read out from the consumable / residual information storage unit 15 that has reached the notification determination reference value set in the consumables / residual notification determination information unit 16 To determine whether maintenance is necessary for each consumable and residue. In addition, changes in the monitoring interval of various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount read from the consumables / residual information storage unit 15 have reached the allowable change value set in the consumables / residual notification determination information unit 16 It is determined whether there are any consumables that have been consumed in large quantities or residues that have been generated in large quantities.

  When the consumables / residue information processing unit 17 determines that maintenance is necessary for the consumables or residues, and when a consumable or a large amount of residuals is detected, the information notification unit notifies that fact. 18 to notify.

  In addition, when the administrator requests display of the change in the remaining amount of the consumables and the amount of residue accumulated, the system control unit 11 displays the amount of residue accumulated in the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 at present. And the measurement value of the remaining amount sensor provided in the consumables storage unit of the plotter device 1 and the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 is acquired as the current remaining amount of consumables, Based on the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residues acquired during the previous monitoring acquired from the consumables / residual information storage unit 15, changes in the amount of remaining residues and the remaining amount of consumables from the previous monitoring The amount is calculated, and the temporal change in the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue is displayed based on the amount of change and the elapsed time since the previous monitoring. The display is notified to the administrator through the information notification unit 18. The administrator can make this request from the operation unit.

  As will be described later, the system control unit 11 performs a monitoring operation related to the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue, and at this time, monitors the elapsed time of the monitoring interval. Yes. Then, the information on the elapsed time from the previous monitoring date and time that is held is used when the manager requests the display of the temporal change in the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue as described above.

  The information notification unit 18 has a function of displaying on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus when maintenance regarding various consumables and residues is necessary and notification (notification) to that effect is necessary.

Next, operations related to monitoring of consumables and residues of the image forming apparatus will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing related to monitoring of consumables and residues executed by the CPU provided in the control unit of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
The CPU periodically performs various consumables and various residues in the apparatus main body (plotter apparatus 1 and sheet storage apparatuses 2 and 3) of the image forming apparatus and external sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 based on the set monitoring time. Information acquisition.
That is, the CPU is provided in each of the residue collection units of the sheet post-processing apparatuses 4 to 6 when the time set for the monitoring interval has elapsed since the last monitoring and the monitoring timing is reached (YES in S101). The measurement value of the weight sensor or the like is acquired as the amount of accumulated residue (the amount of accumulated residue), and the remaining amount provided in each of the consumables storage units of the plotter device 1 and the sheet post-processing devices 4 to 6 The measured value of the sensor is acquired as the remaining amount of each consumable item (consumable item remaining amount) (S102). Further, since the elapsed time after monitoring is monitored in this way, the CPU holds the previous monitoring date and time in a memory means such as a RAM.

  Next, each residue accumulation amount and each remaining consumable amount acquired in step S102 are stored in the memory means (S103). The consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount stored in the memory means in step S103 can be referred to later.

  Subsequently, the CPU compares the acquired remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated deposits with a reference value for notification determination relating to the amount of remaining consumables and the amount of accumulated residues that is preset in the apparatus and stored in the memory means. It is determined whether or not there is a remaining amount of consumables or a residue accumulation amount that requires notification to the person (S104).

  Here, in this step S104, the CPU confirms whether there is a consumable item or residue that is close to maintenance or whether there is a large amount of consumption. For example, it is determined whether there is any consumables remaining amount or residue accumulation amount read from the memory means that has reached a preset notification criterion, and whether maintenance is required for each consumable item and residue Detect if.

  In addition, it is determined whether there is a difference between the previous acquisition value and the current acquisition value of various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount read from the memory means, and whether or not there is a preset change allowable value. Detected consumables and large amounts of residue generated. For this purpose, the memory means stores the previous acquired values of various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount in addition to the current acquired values of various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount. For example, if two sets of areas for storing the acquired values of various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount are provided in the memory means and the area for storing the acquired values is changed every time the monitoring timing comes, The acquired value and the current acquired value can be stored.

  If the CPU determines that there is a consumable item or residue that needs to be notified in step S104 (YES in S104), the CPU uses the operation unit of the image forming apparatus to notify the administrator. Notification is made (S105).

  If there is no consumable or residue that is determined to require notification (NO in S104), nothing is done. If step S105 is completed and if the result of step S104 is NO, the CPU returns to step S101, waits for the time to elapse until the next monitoring timing, and repeats the subsequent processing. .

  In this way, the CPU included in the control unit of the image forming apparatus acquires various consumables remaining amount and residue accumulation amount every time the monitoring interval time set in advance elapses and becomes the monitoring timing. It is saved in the means, and it is judged whether there is something near maintenance by comparing the reference value of notification judgment set in advance with the current acquired value, and the difference between the previous acquired value and the current acquired value, and various By comparing the amount of consumables remaining and the amount of accumulated residues with preset change tolerances, it is possible to detect consumables that have been consumed in large quantities and residues that have occurred in large quantities, and to determine the results of these judgments or detections. Therefore, the administrator of the image forming apparatus can appropriately determine the maintenance timing of the consumables and residues, and can appropriately know the consumables consumed in large quantities and the residues generated in large quantities. of Which is very convenient in managing the 耗品 and residue.

Next, monitoring settings related to consumables and residues performed by the administrator will be described.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen for performing setting for monitoring consumables / remnants displayed to the administrator.
When the administrator operates the operation panel of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus and inputs that the setting for monitoring of consumables and residues is input, the CPU of the control unit of the image forming apparatus displays the screen shown in FIG. The image is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the operation unit of the display image forming apparatus.
In this screen, the input unit B1 is for inputting a time for setting a monitoring interval for the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue. When the monitoring time input by the administrator to the input unit B1 is set to be short, it is possible to see small time changes in the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue.

  B2 to B5 relate to the setting for monitoring the change in consumables. The button B2 is used by the administrator to select whether or not to notify when a near-maintenance of various consumables is detected. The subsequent input unit B3 indicates that the remaining amount of consumables is reduced and the maintenance is near. This is for the administrator to input a reference amount for determination. Further, only when the button B2 is turned on by the administrator, an input to the input unit B3 is possible. In this case, a percentage value is input to the input unit B3.

  The button B4 is used by the administrator to select whether or not to perform notification when a sudden decrease in the amount of consumables due to a large amount of consumption among various consumables is detected. This is for an administrator to input a reference amount for determining a rapid decrease in consumables. Further, only when the button B4 is turned on by the administrator, an input to the input unit B5 is possible. In this case, a percentage value is input to the input unit B4.

  B6 to B9 relate to settings for monitoring changes in the residue. The button B6 is used by the administrator to select whether or not to perform notification when near-maintenance of various residues is detected, and the subsequent input unit B7 determines that the residue is almost full and is approaching maintenance. This is for the administrator to input the reference amount. Further, only when the button B6 is turned on by the administrator, an input to the input unit B7 is possible. In this case, a percentage value is input to the input unit B7.

  The button B8 is for the administrator to select whether or not to perform notification when a sudden increase in residual amount is detected due to a large amount of use, and the subsequent input unit B9 displays a rapid increase in the residual amount. This is for the administrator to input a reference amount for determination. Further, only when the button B8 is turned on by the administrator, the input unit B9 can be input. In this case, a percentage value is input to the input unit B7.

  In the screen example of FIG. 4, a blacked-out button indicates that the administrator did not turn on the button, and grayed-out items indicated by diagonal lines corresponded to the blacked-out button. This is an input section and indicates that a numerical value or the like cannot be input.

  Then, when the CPU inputs a desired value on the screen shown in FIG. 4 by an appropriate device provided on the operation panel or the like and confirms the content, the monitoring interval stored in the system control unit 11 and The setting of the notification determination reference value stored in the consumable / residual notification determination information unit 16 is updated according to the value input by the user.

  In this screen, since the reference values for the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue are input as percentage values, the remaining amount and the remaining amount of each consumable are referred to with reference to the reference values stored in the memory means by the CPU. When determining the accumulation amount, the acquired consumables remaining amount and the residue accumulation amount are converted into values represented by ratios (percentage values) from the maximum consumable residue amount and the maximum residue accumulation amount, respectively. . However, as a matter of course, the reference values of the remaining amount of consumables and the amount of accumulated residue may be input as values such as actual weights instead of percentage values.

  In the embodiments described above, the case where the image forming apparatus is a stand-alone type apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to a case where a terminal apparatus that transmits a print job and the image forming apparatus are connected via a network. Can be applied to.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system when a terminal device that transmits a print job and an image forming apparatus are connected via a network.
As shown in FIG. 5, the system including the image forming apparatus connects terminal apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 that instruct image formation and a network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 that executes image formation via a network 105. ing.

  In FIG. 5, three terminal apparatuses and one network-compatible image forming apparatus are used. However, the number of each apparatus is not limited to this, and any one or more apparatuses can be connected. In FIG. 5, the network 105 is a bus type as an example, but the network form is not limited to this form, and may be a star type, ring type, or other connection type network. As the network 105, either a wired network or a wireless network can be applied.

  The network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment adds network communication means (not shown) for connecting various data to other apparatuses connected to the network 105 in the image forming apparatus of FIG. The detailed description is omitted.

  In this case, the information notification unit 18 displays on the operation panel attached to the image forming apparatus when maintenance regarding various consumables and residues is necessary and notification (notification) to that effect is necessary. At the same time, by applying an appropriate communication application, the terminal devices 101, 102, 103 connected to the network 105 are notified (notified) that maintenance regarding various consumables and residues is necessary. Here, the terminal device of the notification destination (notification destination) may be all terminal devices, or may be only a specific terminal device, for example, a terminal device used by an administrator user or a maintenance processing user. .

  In the present embodiment, the screen for setting the consumable / remaining monitor shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on any of the terminal devices 101, 102, and 103, and the consumables and remnant for the network-compatible image forming apparatus 100 are displayed. Monitoring settings and the like can be performed via the network 105 by applying an appropriate communication application.

  In this way, in the present embodiment, since other terminal devices are informed that maintenance related to various consumables and residues is necessary via the network, for example, an administrator user or a maintenance processing user Even in a remote location, maintenance operations such as replenishment of consumables for the image forming apparatus and collection of residues can be smoothly performed. In addition, it is convenient because monitoring settings for consumables and residues can be made from other terminal devices via the network.

[Modification]
Although the description of the embodiment has been completed above, it is a matter of course that the configuration of the apparatus, specific processing contents, and the like are not limited to those described in the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiments, the case where the sheet post-processing apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus has been described. However, some processing is performed at other processing apparatuses, for example, the stage before image formation or the stage during image formation. The present invention can also be applied to a case where an apparatus or the like is provided. Even when all or part of a processing apparatus that generates and stores residues or consumes consumables is built in the image forming apparatus, the present invention is used for monitoring residues and consumables in these processing apparatuses. It is possible to apply the invention.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device other than a peripheral device connected to the image forming apparatus, or a device connected to a device other than the image forming apparatus, and consumables are consumed or collected according to the operation time of the device. As long as the amount of the target such as residue is increased, the present invention can be similarly applied to other devices and other targets. Further, the present invention can be applied to any object such as consumables and residues as long as the object can be measured or predicted by an appropriate method.

  Further, the program stored in the recording medium according to the present invention is a program for causing a computer to control hardware so as to function as each element of the image forming apparatus as described above, and causing the computer to execute such a program. Thus, the effects as described above can be obtained.

  Such a program may be stored in a storage means such as ROM, HDD or SSD provided in the computer from the beginning, but it is a CD-ROM or flexible disk as a recording medium, MO, CD-R, CD-RW. , DVD + R, DVD + RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM, SRAM, NOV-RAM, EEPROM, a non-volatile recording medium (memory) such as a memory card, and the like. Each function described above can be realized by installing a program recorded in the memory in a computer and causing the CPU to execute the program, or causing the CPU to read and execute the program from the memory.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to download and execute an external device that is connected to a network and includes a recording medium that records the program, or an external device that stores the program in the storage unit.

  In addition, the configurations and modifications of the embodiments described above can be applied in appropriate combinations within a consistent range.

  The present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus capable of connecting a plurality of peripheral devices for generating a residue, including an arbitrary recording unit such as an electrophotographic recording apparatus or an ink jet recording apparatus, or a network compatible image forming apparatus. Can be applied.

1: plotter device, 2, 3: sheet storage device, 4-6: sheet post-processing device,
11: System control unit, 12: Job management unit, 13: Residual information management unit,
14: Consumables information management unit, 15: Consumables / residue information storage unit,
16: Consumables / residue notification determination information part, 17: Consumables / residual information processing part,
18: Information notification unit, 100: Network-compatible image forming apparatus, 101-103: Terminal apparatus

JP 2007-240761 A JP 2008-0099969 A

Claims (11)

An image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of external processing units that consume consumables,
Consumables remaining amount acquisition means for periodically acquiring the remaining amount of consumables from the own apparatus and the plurality of processing means;
Consumables remaining amount storage means for storing the remaining amount of consumables acquired by the consumables remaining amount acquisition means;
Notification determination information storage means for storing notification determination information for each remaining amount of the consumables;
The state of the apparatus is determined by comparing the remaining amount of each consumable item stored in the consumable item remaining storage unit with the notification determination information on the remaining amount of the corresponding consumable item stored in the notification determination information storage unit. Consumables information processing means,
When the consumable information processing means determines that a report is necessary for each consumable, the consumable information processing means comprises a reporting means for performing a report that the consumable information processing means determines to be necessary,
The notification determination information stored in the notification determination information storage means is information indicating an allowable value of a change amount per hour of the amount of the consumables,
The consumable information processing means, based on the notification determination information, determines that it is necessary to report the consumable when the amount of change in consumption of the corresponding consumable exceeds the allowable value. An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus capable of accessing a plurality of external processing means for generating a residue and storing the residue,
Residue accumulation amount acquisition means for periodically acquiring the accumulation amount of residue from its own apparatus and the plurality of processing means;
Residue accumulation amount storage means for storing the residue accumulation amount acquired by the residue accumulation amount acquisition means;
Notification determination information storage means storing notification determination information for each of the accumulated amount of the residue;
Residue information processing for judging the state of the apparatus by comparing the accumulation amount of each residue stored in the residue accumulation amount storage unit with the notification determination information of the corresponding residue accumulation amount stored in the notification determination information storage unit Means,
When the residue information processing means determines that reporting is necessary for each residue, the residue information processing means comprises reporting means for making a notification determined to be necessary by the residue information processing means,
The notification determination information stored in the notification determination information storage means is information indicating an allowable value of the amount of change per hour of the amount of residue,
The residual information processing means, based on the notification determination information, determines that it is necessary to report the residual when the amount of change of the corresponding residual storage amount exceeds the allowable value. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
According to an administrator's request, the consumables information processing means can acquire the remaining amount of consumables stored in the consumables remaining amount storage means, and can notify the temporal change in the state of the consumables remaining amount. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
According to a request from an administrator, the residue information processing means can acquire the accumulation amount of the residue stored in the residue accumulation amount storage means, and can notify a temporal change in the state of the accumulation amount of the residue. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
It further includes an operation unit,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for setting a time interval for acquiring the remaining amount of consumables performed by the consumables remaining amount acquiring unit according to an operation of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:
It further includes an operation unit,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for setting a time interval for acquiring a residue accumulation amount performed by the residue accumulation amount acquisition unit according to an operation of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for setting the notification determination information stored in the notification determination information storage unit according to an operation of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
An image forming apparatus, comprising: means for setting a type of consumable that causes the consumable information processing means to determine a state according to an operation of the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: means for setting a type of residue that causes the residue information processing unit to determine a state according to an operation of the operation unit. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
In place of or in addition to the operation unit, provided with a network connection means for connecting to a network,
The image forming apparatus, wherein each setting is performed according to an operation signal input from a terminal connected via the network, instead of or in addition to an operation from the operation unit.   A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to control the image forming apparatus and causing the computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images