JP6693258B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a so-called multiplex type image forming system that forms an image by interlocking a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Further, although not limited to the image forming system, there is known a technique of collecting an operation history of an apparatus included in the system as log information and using it for system recovery when a system malfunction occurs.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to improve efficiency of a test / evaluation environment in development and product assurance, or failure analysis in the market, and debugging or testing when a failure occurs, various states of the device itself are attached to the device. By grasping the status information from the sensor, monitor, etc., and handling the status information by the corresponding software modules, the information (41-46) related to the hardware is the same as the communication between the modules (53-58) inside the software. (52) and the operation history performed through the operation means, the hardware information (21 to 23, 30) of the various functional units inside the apparatus, and the operation state / state change inside the control software. Notify as control information such as an inter-module communication message inside the software to be notified (51). Centralized discloses a technique information and the control information related to adware.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, when a user reports a failure occurrence in a device that has once been put on the market, it is possible to grasp an unexpected usage situation of the user in the market and to perform a quick failure diagnosis. A technique for providing an image output device having a function is disclosed. In the technique of Patent Document 2, the system unit 10 of the apparatus is mounted on a substrate including an OS and various device drivers. An interface unit 11 with an external system is built on this OS, and communication with the external system 12 is realized via this. A similar interface unit 13 is built on the external system 12, and data exchange and the like are realized via these. In the development stage, for example, a test program is started from the outside or a remote check of the application is performed.

JP, 2006-40297, A JP 2002-297417 A

  However, as a multiple-link image forming system, an image forming apparatus is provided with an operation unit that performs an operation such as image formation and an instruction unit that instructs the operation unit to perform an operation, and log information is instructed from the operation unit. There is an image forming system that is collected by a unit, and in such a form of the image forming system, communication between the operation unit and the instruction unit may be impossible when the log information is collected. In such a case, the log information cannot be collected by one or more of the image forming apparatuses included in the image forming system, which may hinder system recovery.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system capable of obtaining a history from an operating unit even when communication between the operating unit and the instruction unit becomes impossible.

The image forming system according to claim 1,
A first image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material,
A second image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording material in association with the first image forming apparatus,
The first image forming apparatus is
A first operation unit that carries the recording material and forms an image on the recording material, receives an operation instruction, executes the operation, and records a history of the operation;
A first instruction unit that gives the operation instruction to the first operation unit, receives the request, and obtains the history from the first operation unit,
The second image forming apparatus described above
Responsible for conveying a recording material and forming an image on the recording material, receiving an operation instruction, executing the operation in association with the first operation unit by communication through a communication path for interlocking, and the operation A second operation unit that records a history regarding
An instruction of an operation shared by communication with the first instruction unit via a communication path for sharing independent of the communication path for cooperation is given to the second operation unit, and the history is received in response to a request. And a second instruction section obtained from the second operation section,
The first instruction unit, when the history is not available from the first operation unit in the first image forming apparatus, uses the history as the communication path for sharing, the second instruction unit, and the second instruction unit. It is obtained from the first operating unit via the two operating units and the communication path for interlocking.

The image forming system according to claim 2 is the image forming system according to claim 1,
The first operation unit and the second operation unit perform interlocking communication using the first signal system that can be used in the interlocking communication path, and the signal system is based on a signal pattern not included in the first signal system. And the second signal system including at least a part of the signal pattern included in the first signal system is used to perform the communication of the history.

  According to the image forming system of the first aspect, it is possible to obtain the operation history from the first operation unit even when the communication between the first instruction unit and the first operation unit becomes impossible.

  According to the image forming system of the second aspect, history communication can be performed by utilizing the communication path for interlocking.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the printing system. It is a figure which shows the procedure which collects log information from a printing mechanism part via an IOT control part. It is a figure which shows the collection procedure of log information when the operation abnormality has arisen in the interface for control. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the communication signal for cooperation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system corresponding to an embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention.

  The printing system 1 shown here includes two printers 10 of the same type, a paper reversal buffer device 20, a paper supply device 30, and a paper collection device 40.

  The paper M supplied from the paper supply device 30 is so-called continuous paper. The paper M is transported along a transport path that passes through the first printing machine 10, the paper reversal buffer device 20, and the second printing machine 10 in order, and is collected by the paper collecting device 40. When distinguishing the two printing machines 10 in the following description, the printing machine 10 located on the upstream side of the conveyance of the paper M is referred to as an upstream machine 10A, and the printing machine 10 located on the downstream side of the conveyance of the paper M. Is referred to as a downstream machine 10B. These two printing machines 10 correspond to the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The paper reversal buffer device 20 reverses the front and back of the paper M between the two printing machines 10, and guides the paper M while adjusting the tension so as to prevent the paper M from sagging or tearing.

  Each printing machine 10 includes a controller 100 and a printing mechanism unit 200. The printing mechanism unit 200 is responsible for image formation on the sheet M and conveyance of the sheet M, and the controller 100 is responsible for image data processing and print job management. Further, the controller 100 outputs the image data to the print mechanism unit 200, and also issues various instructions such as a print instruction and a transport instruction to the print mechanism unit 200. The controller 100 corresponds to an example of the first instruction unit and the second instruction unit according to the present invention, and the printing mechanism unit 200 corresponds to an example of the first operation unit and the second operation unit according to the present invention.

  The printing mechanism unit 200 includes a printing unit 210, an image reading unit 220, a conveyance unit 230, and a mechanical control unit 240. The printing unit 210 forms an image according to image data given from the controller 100 by a so-called inkjet method. Form on M. Since the front and back sides of the paper are reversed by the paper reversal buffer device 20, the printing unit 210 of the upstream machine 10A forms an image on the first surface (front surface) of the paper M, and the printing unit 210 of the downstream machine 10B prints the first surface of the paper M. An image is formed on two sides (back side). Although the inkjet printing unit 210 is illustrated here, the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be one that forms an image with a so-called electrophotographic apparatus. Further, as the printing unit 210, a unit that forms a color image or a unit that forms a monochrome image may be adopted.

  The image reading unit 220 reads an image formed by the printing unit 210 for image correction or the like, or reads a mark on a page formed by the upstream machine 10A in order to match the printing positions on the upstream and downstream printing machines 10. Or The result read by the image reading unit 220 is input to the mechanical control unit 240.

  The transport unit 230 has a transport roll that is driven by a transport motor, and transports the sheet M according to an instruction from the mechanical control unit 240.

  In such a printing system 1, the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B cooperate to execute a printing operation according to the image data of the print job sent from the host device 2 such as a personal computer.

  The upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B are respectively connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 60 and are also connected to each other by a dedicated cable 50. In order to coordinate image formation, the controllers 100 exchange image data and job information via the LAN 60. Further, in the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B, the mechanical control units 240 of the printing mechanism unit 200 exchange information such as a carry amount via the dedicated cable 50 in order to cooperate in carrying the paper and the like.

  The LAN 60 corresponds to an example of a sharing communication path according to the present invention, and the dedicated cable 50 corresponds to an example of a linking communication path according to the present invention.

  In the printing system 1, a history of internal operations is recorded as log information in the controller 100 and the printing mechanism unit 200, as will be described later, for the purpose of, for example, utilizing the system for recovery in the event of a malfunction. Has been done. When a user (operator) gives an instruction to collect log information via a user interface (UI) (not shown), the log information in each printing press 10 is collected in each controller 100.

  Here, the configuration focusing on the control system of the printing system 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing system 1.

  As described above, the printing system 1 is provided with the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B that are the same type of printing machine 10, and each printing machine 10 is provided with the controller 100 and the printing mechanism unit 200. The mechanical control unit 240 is provided in 200. The upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B are connected to the LAN 60, and the mechanical control unit 240 is connected to each other by a dedicated cable 50. Further, the controller 100 and the printing mechanism unit 200 are connected to each other by a control interface 70.

  In the following description, the printing mechanism unit 200 may be referred to as an IOT (Image Output Terminal).

  The controller 100 includes a communication unit 110, a switch processing unit 120, a device management unit 130, and an IOT control unit 140.

  The communication unit 110 is responsible for communication via the LAN 60, and the switch processing unit 120 receives an instruction via the switch operation in the UI described above.

  The device management unit 130 manages internal operations of the printing machines 10 and linked operations of the printing machines 10, and also manages a history of operations.

  The IOT control unit 140 instructs the printing mechanism unit (IOT) 200 to operate, and also has a role of collecting log information in the IOT 200.

  Further, the printing machine 10 is provided with a non-volatile storage device 80, such as an HDD, which stores log information collected from each unit in the printing machine 10. The log information stored in the storage device 80 is read according to the above-described UI operation or the like and used for system recovery or the like.

  Next, a procedure for collecting log information in the printing system 1 will be described.

  First, for example, a user (operator) performs an operation for instructing the printing system 1 to collect log information using the above-described UI. For example, an operation such as pressing a switch provided on the UI is performed. This operation may be, for example, an operation of a switch provided exclusively for instructing collection of log information. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, this operation may be performed by either the upstream machine 10A or the downstream machine 10B.

  In this way, when the operation of instructing the collection of log information is performed, the operation is accepted by the switch processing unit 120 of the controller 100, and the switch processing unit 120 requests the device management unit 130 to collect the log information.

  Upon receiving such a request, the device management unit 130 of the controller 100 causes the device management unit 130 provided in the other printing machine 10 (for example, the downstream machine 10B) to the printing machine 10 (for example, the upstream machine 10A) to which it belongs. , Request to collect log information. As a result, log information is collected by both the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B. In the case of a printing system in which three or more printing machines 10 are assembled, when an operation for giving an instruction to collect log information is performed to one printing machine, all the other printing machines 10 ( Similarly, the device management unit 130) is requested to collect the log information.

  The device management unit 130 of the controller 100 of each printing press 10 issues an instruction to each module installed in each printing press 10 to determine the log information in each module, and to output the determined log information from each module. get.

  At this time, the log information in the IOT is collected from the printing mechanism unit (IOT) 200 via the IOT control unit 140.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure for collecting log information from the printing mechanism unit 200 via the IOT control unit 140.

  As a log information collection procedure, first, the IOT control unit 140 of the controller 100 gives a log collection command to the mechanical control unit 240 of the printing mechanism unit 200 via the control interface 70, and thereby the log information is collected. Is instructed (step S101). The mechanical control unit 240 that has received the log information collection instruction by the log collection command acquires the log information from each mechanical unit in the printing mechanism unit 200 (step S102). Every time the mechanical control unit 240 acquires the log information, the mechanical control unit 240 sends the log information to the IOT control unit 140 of the controller 100 via the control interface 70 as response information to the log collection command (step S103).

  The IOT control unit 140 of the controller 100 repeats steps S101 to S103 until the log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 is gathered, and when the collection of the log information is completed, collects the log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 into one file. Then, the IOT control unit 140 aggregates the log information files of the printing mechanism unit 200 with the log information files of the IOT control unit 140 and writes the files in the storage device 80 (step S104). The log information written in the storage device 80 in this way is used for system restoration or the like as described above.

  By the way, when the user (operator) performs an operation for instructing the collection of log information, it is expected that some malfunction occurs in the printing system. When the printing system 1 has an abnormal operation, the operation of the control interface 70 is not guaranteed, so the IOT control unit 140 may fail to collect the log information from the printing mechanism unit 200. .. The log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 is log information related to the printing operation such as the printing unit 210 and the conveyance unit 230. If this log information is not obtained, there is a risk that the recovery of the printing system 1 may be hindered. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 cannot be obtained within the apparatus (printing machine 10) due to an operation abnormality of the control interface 70, etc. A function for obtaining log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 is incorporated.

  Hereinafter, a procedure of collecting log information when the control interface 70 has an operation abnormality will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure for collecting log information when an operation abnormality occurs in the control interface 70.

  First, the IOT control unit 140 of the controller 100 receives a log information collection instruction from the device management unit 130 (step S201). Then, the IOT control unit 140 that has received the collection instruction gives a log collection command to the mechanical control unit 240 of the printing mechanism unit 200 via the control interface 70, thereby instructing the collection of log information (step S202). ). At this time, the collection command may not reach the mechanical control unit 240 depending on the degree of operation abnormality in the control interface 70, or the collection command may arrive but the response from the mechanical control unit 240 may not reach the IOT control unit 140. In some cases. In any case, the IOT control unit 140 recognizes the operation abnormality because the log information collection from the mechanical control unit 240 is not completed.

  In this way, the IOT control unit 140, which has recognized the operation abnormality, notifies the device management unit 130 of the abnormality (step S204), and the device management unit 130 notifies the device management unit 130 of another device (for example, the upstream device 10A) connected thereto. For example, the apparatus management unit 130 of the downstream device 10B is requested to collect the log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 of the own device (for example, the upstream device 10A) (step S205). This request is made via the LAN 60 described above.

  Upon receiving such a request, the device management unit 130 requests the IOT control unit 140 to collect log information via the dedicated cable 50 (step S206), and the IOT control unit 140 causes the mechanical control unit of the printing mechanism unit 200 to operate. A command is sent to 240 to instruct the collection of log information via the dedicated cable 50 (step S207).

  Upon receiving this instruction, the mechanical control unit 240 uses the communication function of the dedicated cable 50 provided for interlocking the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B, and the mechanical control section on the opposite side (for example, the upstream machine 10A). Obtain log information from 240. Here, a specific example of how to use the communication function will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a communication signal for interlocking.

  In the communication function via the dedicated cable 50, communication using five types of signals of “PON”, “Ready”, “Fault”, “Print”, and “FeedPulse” is performed. Since printing is linked between the upstream machine 10A and the downstream machine 10B, when printing, the "Print" signal is ON, the "Ready" signal is ON, and the "Fault" signal is OFF. The transfer timing is notified.

  In such a signal system for interlocking, a signal pattern in which both the "Ready" signal and the "Fault" signal are turned off is not used. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the signal system is switched using this signal pattern. It represents. Then, when the "Ready" signal is OFF and the "Fault" signal is also OFF, the "FeedPulse" signal is used as a serial signal to notify the command or log information.

  In this way, the existing communication function via the dedicated cable 50 is used to realize the notification of the log information, so that the resources are effectively used.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.

  Upon receiving the instruction in step S207, the mechanical control unit 240 sends a command for requesting log information to the mechanical control unit 240 on the opposite side (for example, the upstream machine 10A) by the serial signal via the dedicated cable 50 (step S208). ).

  Upon receiving this command, the mechanical control section 240 on the opposite side collects log information from each mechanical section in the printing mechanism section 200 (step S209), and returns the log information as a serial signal via the dedicated cable 50 ( Step S210).

  The mechanical control unit 240 that has acquired the log information via the dedicated cable 50 returns the log information as response information to the command to the IOT control unit 140 via the control interface 70 (step S211). The above steps S207 to S211 are repeated until the collection of the log information is completed.

  When the collection of the log information on the opposite side (for example, the upstream machine 10A) is completed, the IOT control unit 140 collects the log information into a file and sends it to the device management unit 130 (step S212). Then, the device management unit 130 passes the file to the device management unit 130 on the opposite side via the LAN 60 (step S213).

  The device management unit 130 on the opposite side (for example, the upstream device 10A) sends the log information of the print mechanism unit 200 of the own device acquired via another device to the IOT control unit 140 (step S214), and the IOT control unit 140 The log information file of the printing mechanism unit 200 is integrated with the log information file of the IOT control unit 140 itself and written in the storage device 80 (step S215).

  As described above, even when the acquisition of the log information of the printing mechanism unit 200 in the own device fails, the log information is acquired via the other device by the above procedure. As a result, the amount of information used for system recovery and the like increases, and system recovery and the like becomes easier.

  In the above description, the case where the operation of the control interface 70 occurs on the upstream machine 10A side has been described as an example, but the same procedure is performed when the operation of the control interface 70 occurs on the downstream machine 10B side. Log information is acquired with.

  Further, in the above description, the printing machine using so-called continuous paper as a recording material has been shown as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the image forming apparatus of the present invention may use so-called cut paper as a recording material. ..

  Further, in the above description, a printing system provided with two printers of the same type is exemplified, but the image forming system according to the present invention is the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming according to the present invention. As long as it includes a device corresponding to the device, the image forming device may include three or more image forming devices, or may include a plurality of image forming devices of different models.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system, 10, 10A, 10B ... Printing machine, 20 ... Paper reversal buffer device, 30 ... Paper supply device, 40 ... Paper collection device, 50 ... Exclusive cable, 60 ... LAN, 70 ... control interface, 80 ... storage device, 100 ... controller, 110 ... communication unit, 120 ... switch processing unit, 130 ... device management unit, 140 ... IOT control unit, 200 ... printing mechanism Section 210 ... printing section 220 ... image reading section 230 ... conveying section 240 ... control section

Claims (2)

A first image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material,
A second image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording material in cooperation with the first image forming apparatus,
The first image forming apparatus is
A first operation unit that carries the recording material and forms an image on the recording material, receives the operation instruction, executes the operation, and records a history of the operation;
A first instruction unit that gives the operation instruction to the first operation unit, receives the request, and obtains the history from the first operation unit,
The second image forming apparatus is
Responsible for conveying a recording material and forming an image on the recording material, receiving an operation instruction, executing the operation in cooperation with the first operation unit by communication through a communication path for interlocking, and performing the operation. A second operation unit for recording the history of
The operation instruction shared by the communication with the first instruction unit via the communication path for sharing, which is independent of the communication path for linking, is given to the second operation unit, and the history is received in response to the request. And a second instruction section obtained from the second operation section,
The first instruction unit, when the history is not available from the first operation unit in the first image forming apparatus, outputs the history to the sharing communication path, the second instruction unit, and the second instruction unit. An image forming system, wherein the image forming system is obtained from the first operating unit via two operating units and the communication path for interlocking.   The first operation unit and the second operation unit perform interlocking communication using a first signal system that can be used in the interlocking communication path, and use a signal pattern that is not included in the first signal system. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the history is communicated using a second signal system including at least a part of a signal pattern included in the first signal system. ..

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