JPH02259664A - Information collecting system for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain error information and charging information etc., without going to the installation place of an image forming device and to easily control the image forming device from a remote place by receiving the various pieces of information on the image forming device transmitted with a transmitting means and printing and outputting the received information. CONSTITUTION:The system is constituted of the transmitting means which transmits the various pieces of information under circumstances where the image forming device 1 is used, a receiver 81 which receives the various pieces of information on the image forming device transmitted with the transmitting means and an output means 83c which prints and outputs the various pieces of information of the image forming device 1 received with the receiver 81. Therefore, the various pieces of information, for example, error information, charging account information, etc., under the circumstances where the image forming device 1 are obtained as a printed matter without going to the installation place of the image forming device 1 and the image forming device can be easily controlled from the remote place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an information collection system for an image forming apparatus that collects error information of, for example, an electronic copying machine.

(Prior Art) In recent years, with the remarkable progress and spread of electronic devices, it has become a matter of how efficiently they can be managed.

For example, in an image forming apparatus such as an electronic board, a storage device installed inside the apparatus stores information such as paper jams and other errors that occur during operation for maintenance service. By periodically checking the contents of the storage device, maintenance personnel can grasp the condition of the device under usage conditions, and adjust specified parts or replace parts based on this information. It has become. In addition, if a serious error occurs and it becomes impossible to continue operation, maintenance personnel are immediately called to request repairs.

On the other hand, in addition to error information, the storage device stores information such as the size of the paper used for copying and the number of copies, if the device is installed at a customer's site for rental or lease. Charges will be made accordingly. For this billing information, the person in charge goes to the customer's site and reads out the contents of the storage device using, for example, the operation panel of the copying machine.
A predetermined calculation is performed on this amount and an invoice is issued.

However, in any of the above cases, it is necessary for a person to go directly to the location where the copying machine is installed, which is extremely inconvenient. In addition, when a serious error occurs and operation cannot continue, it is necessary to immediately go to the customer's site for repairs, but since it is not possible to accurately grasp the state of the failure, After the trip, special tools and replacement parts were needed, and Mitaka often had to do the work.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, with conventional devices, it is necessary for a person to go directly to the location where the copying machine is installed in order to know error information, billing information, etc. This was extremely inconvenient, as if special tools or replacement parts were needed, a new trip had to be made.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that enables a person to obtain error information and billing information without going to the installation location of the image forming apparatus, and to manage the image forming apparatus from a remote location. The purpose is to provide an information collection system.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, an information collection system for an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that forms image information on a transfer material. a transmitting means for transmitting various information regarding the usage status of the image forming apparatus; a receiving apparatus for receiving various information of the image forming apparatus transmitted by the transmitting means; and an output means for printing and outputting various information of the image forming apparatus.

(Operation) The present invention uses the above-described means to obtain various information such as error information and billing information under the usage status of the image forming apparatus as printed matter in a receiving device installed at a location away from the image forming apparatus. It has been made possible to do so.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 schematically shows an image forming apparatus, such as an electronic copying machine, to which the present invention is applied.

This electronic copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1 and a copying machine main body 1.
The document feeder 28 is provided on the top surface of the document feeder 28 so as to be openable and closable, and automatically supplies documents.

The copying machine main body 1 receives the paper (transfer material) discharged from the copying device 3 and the discharge section of the copying device 3 as needed, and leaves it as it is in order to perform multiple or double-sided copying on the paper. Alternatively, it is comprised of a multiple double-sided copying unit 27 that leads the sheet to the paper feed section of the copying device 3 again in a reversed state.

A document table (transparent glass) 2 for supporting a document is fixed to the upper surface of the copying device 3. And this manuscript table 2
The automatic document feeder 28 is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the document is automatically conveyed to the exposure position on the document table 2 by the automatic document feeder 28 .

The automatic document feeder 28 includes a document feeder 2811 on which documents are set; a document feeder 28□ that is equipped with a reversing conveyance section that takes out the documents set on the document feeder 281 one by one and turns the documents over. , the taken out original is placed on the original platen 2.
The document tray 284 includes a conveying section 283 serving as a document table cover for conveying the document to the document table, and a document discharge tray 284 provided on the conveying section 283 and from which the copied document is discharged.

Inside the paper feed section 282, there are a pair of transport rollers 28b and 2 for transporting the taken out paper to the transport section 283.
8c, 28d, and a reversing conveyance path 28e1 as a reversing conveyance section to which a document that has been removed from the document table 2 and whose one side has been copied is guided; conveyance rollers 28f, 28g arranged along this reversing conveyance path 28e; 28h is provided.

Further, the conveyance section 283 is provided with a belt 281 that conveys the original supplied from the paper feed section 282 to a set position (exposure position) on the document table 2. This belt 28
i is the roller 28j.

It has been extended to 28k. The belt 28i discharges the copied original onto the original output tray 284, and when one side of the original has been copied,
Conveying the original to the reversing conveyance path 28e of the paper feed section 282,
The reversing conveyance path 28e is configured to operate to convey the reversed original to the set/sort position of the document table 2 again.

The document placed on the document table 2 by the automatic document feeder 28 or the operator is exposed to the exposure lamp 4, mirror 5,
By moving an optical system consisting of 6.7 along the lower surface of the document table 2, exposure scanning is performed. In this case, mirror 6.7 moves at half the speed of mirror 5 so as to keep the optical path length constant. The light reflected from the original by the scanning of the optical system, that is, the light reflected from the original by the light irradiation of the exposure lamp 4, is reflected by the mirrors 5 and 6. 91, 92 + 93 and guided to the photoreceptor drum 10, and the original image is reflected by the photoreceptor drum 10.
The image is formed on the surface of the

The photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in the figure, and the surface is first charged by the charging device 11, and then,
By exposing the original image to slit light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. This electrostatic latent image is
A visible image is created by adhering toner by 2b. The developing units 12a and 12b each develop the latent image using, for example, black toner or red toner, and are selected by an operation panel to be described later.

On the other hand, the paper is stored in the upper paper feed cassette 131 selected by the operation panel. The feed roller 141 is fed from the manual paper feed section 13a provided in the lower paper feed cassette 132, the large capacity paper feed cassette 133, or the upper paper feed cassette 131.
, 142, 143° 144 and roller pair 15z, 15
2,153, one sheet at a time, and the sheets are taken out one by one by each of the paper guide paths 16, . It passes through 162 and 163, is guided to a pair of registration rollers 17, and is supplied to a transfer section by this pair of registration rollers 17.

The paper sent to the transfer section comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the transfer charger 18, so that the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred by the action of the charger 18. The transferred paper is electrostatically peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the action of a peeling charger 19, and is conveyed by a conveyor belt 20 and sent to a fixing roller 21 as a fixing device provided at the end of the conveyor belt 20. It will be done. Then, by passing through this, the transferred image is fixed.

After this fixation, the paper is discharged to a tray 24 outside the main body 1 by a pair of delivery rollers 22 and 23.

After the transfer, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is removed by a cleaner 25, and the photosensitive drum 10 returns to its initial state.

When double-sided copying or multiple double-sided copying is performed, the sheets after transfer are sorted and guided to the multiple double-sided copying unit 27 by the gate 26.

This multiple double-sided copying unit 27 is capable of performing double-sided copying on -sheets of paper or multiple copying on the same side of -sheets of paper, and is connected to the large-capacity paper feed cassette 133.
is provided at this multiple duplex copying unit 2°7.

The multiple double-sided copying unit 27 is provided with a conveyance path 27b that guides the sheets taken in by the gate 26 to the stacking section 27a, and this conveyance path 27b includes a plurality of conveyance rollers separated by a predetermined interval. vs. 27c, 27d, 27e,
27f is provided.

Further, the stacking section 27a is provided with a take-out roller 27g for taking out the sheets stored therein. This take-out roller 27g is movable in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure depending on the thickness (number of sheets) of the stored sheets. Furthermore, a length guide 51 is provided in the stacking section 27a so as to be movable according to the length of the stored sheets (size with respect to the transport direction), and also pushes the stored sheets against the width guide 52. The side paper that aligns the paper by
Aligning rollers 5B, 5B are provided.

The sheets taken out from the stacking section 27a by the take-out roller 27g are guided to the control gate 27i via a separation roller pair 27h that separates the sheets one by one and sends them out.

When performing multiple copying, this control gate 27i is rotated in the direction of the arrow M shown in the figure, so that the paper is guided as it is to the registration roller pair 17 via the conveyance roller pair 27j and the conveyance path 27k. ing. When double-sided copying is to be performed, the state shown in the figure is first established, and the paper is guided to the reversing section 27m via a pair of transport rollers 271. When the paper is stored in the reversing section 27m, the control gate 27i is further rotated in the direction of arrow T in the figure, and the paper transported by the pair of transport rollers 27g is transferred to the pair of transport rollers 2.
7j and a conveyance path 27k, it is guided to the pair of registration rollers 17 in an inverted state.

In addition, 55. . . are passage detection switches that detect the passage of paper, and these passage detection switches 55, . . .
Detects paper jams. In addition, passage detection switches 55 are provided at various locations. In addition, a limit switch for detecting the initial position of the optical system, a switch for detecting abnormal operation of the main motor (none of which are shown), etc. are provided.

FIG. 10 shows an operation panel provided on the main body 1 of the copying machine. The operation panel 30 includes a copy key 3081 that generates an image forming signal to command the start of copying, a numeric keypad 30b that sets the number of copies, a display section 30c that displays the operating status of each part, paper jams, etc. A density setting section 30d for setting the density, a count command key 30e for displaying the total number of copies, etc., an interrupt key 30f that is operated when someone else is making another copy while copying is in progress; 30g1 Upper magnification setting key 30h1 used to set the copy magnification.

Middle paper feed cassette 13. ．． 132 or large-capacity paper feed cassette 133; 1 Color selection key 30j to select the developer 12a, 12b (development color); 1 to the mode memory key 30 to be operated when reading stored information If you want to obtain information corresponding to each mode, for example, when a paper jam occurs, operate it to display the paper jam on the display 30o (described later). Information key 30j that displays information for canceling! , a function check key 3 for displaying on the display 300 what kind of function is set.
0m etc. In addition, the operation panel 30
is equipped with a data transfer key 30n, which allows management data such as error information and billing information stored in the memory to be sent to an external device as a receiving device installed in a remote location via a communication line. It looks like this.

The display 30o is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal dot matrix panel, and displays the setting status of the copying machine in characters, etc. ,3
0i.

When 30j, 30, 3ON, 30m, and 30n are operated, the corresponding characters are displayed. Further, if a paper jam occurs during a copying operation, for example, the display 300 displays the location of the paper jam using characters and graphics. Furthermore, operation keys 30s to 304, 305 to 30a for selecting various functions displayed on the display 30o are arranged on both sides of the display 30o.
When the key 7 is operated, the copying machine main body 1 is set to the multiple copy mode, and when the operation key 308 is operated, the copying machine main body 1 is set to the double-sided copy mode.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 schematically show the configuration of an information collection system of the present invention. The main control section 60 of the copying machine main body 1 controls the overall operation, and this main control section 60 includes a memory 61 and an input/output interface 6.
2.63, timer 64, and pattern generator 6
5 etc. are connected.

The main control section 60 is mainly composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, and is operated according to a program stored in a memory 61.

The memory 61 includes a ROM (not shown) and a nonvolatile RA.
The ROM part stores programs for operating the microcomputer and constants necessary for various processes. Further, the RAM portion is provided with a work area for the microcomputer and a log area in which management data consisting of error information detected inside the electronic copying machine and billing information such as the number of copies is stored.

The input/output interface 62 includes a passage detection switch 5.
5. . . . various detection switches 55, a drive control section 71 that controls the main motor 70 as a drive source for the photosensitive drum 10, etc., an exposure control section 72 that controls the exposure of the exposure lamp 4, and a counter that counts the number of copies. 73, the above-mentioned operation panel 30°, a developed color detector 74 for detecting developed colors when making multicolor copies, and the like are connected.

The input/output interface 63 operates as a communication I10, and a modem 66 built into the copying machine main body 1 is connected to this interface 63.

This modem 66 is connected to the input/output interface 63
It modulates the management data and other information sent through the network into a data format suitable for transfer, and sends it out to the line 80 according to the transmission format, and also demodulates the data received through the line 8o and supplies it to the input/output interface 63. , and further sent to the main control unit 6o.

The timer 64 measures the time necessary for various processes performed by the main control unit 6o, and for example, interrupts the processing of the main control unit 6o at regular intervals by counting a certain period of time.
The management data stored in the memory 61 is transferred to the copying machine main body 1.
It is used for processing when sending data to external equipment.

The pattern generator 65 receives the code data from the main control unit 6o, converts it into a character pattern that is corresponding image data, and sends it to the input/output interface 63.
This is what is output to. This makes it possible to handle cases where the destination of management data is a device that handles image data, such as a facsimile machine.

The external device 81 manages data from the copying machine main body 1. This external device 81 basically consists of a modem 82 and a processing device 83.

The modulator/demodulator 82 demodulates, for example, data received from the line 80 and outputs it to the processing device 83, and also modulates the data from the processing device 83 and outputs it to the line 80.

The processing device 83 converts the data received from the modem 82 into
For example, it is stored in a storage device 83e such as a floppy disk, displayed on a display device 83b such as a CRT display, or printed by a printing device (output means) 83c such as a printer. The processing device 83 is also equipped with a human-powered device 83d such as a keyboard, so that the external device 81 can request the copying machine main body 1 to transfer, for example, management data. That is, by inputting predetermined data from the input device 83d, a request signal requesting transfer of management data is issued from the external device 81 side, and this signal is transferred to the copying machine main body 1. Furthermore, by inputting predetermined data from the input device 83d, the contents of the memory 61 in the copying machine main body 1, such as management data, can be rewritten. This makes it possible to set the contents of the memory 61 to the initial state, for example, to clear read management data.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the storage format of management data stored in the log area of the memory 61. in this case,
As management data, "error record", "sheet count", and 1-day data" are stored in association with each other. For example, 61a shown in the figure shows that when 205 copies were made on October 10, 1988, the reversing unit 27
This indicates that a paper jam has occurred at ``m''.

Such error information is sequentially accumulated and stored in the log area over time. Furthermore, when the log area becomes full, the data may be returned to the beginning of the log area and stored over the previously stored management data. In addition, management data includes "error records" and "
It may be stored in association with "sheet count" or "error record" and "date data".

FIG. 4 shows another example of the storage format in the memory 61. In this case, only the latest error information is shown at 61b in the diagram. In this way, the storage format of the management data stored in the memory 61 is not limited to the above example, and may be in any format.

Next, the management data transfer operation in the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

For example, if a request to send management data is generated in the copying machine main body 1 as the sending side, the data transfer key 30n on the operation panel 30 is pressed. Then, a signal from this data transfer key 30n is transmitted to the main control section 60 via the input/output interface 62. As a result, the main control unit 6
0 is an input/output interface 63 and a modem 66
A "transmission start signal" is sent out onto the line 80 via the line 80.

On the other hand, external device 81 sends data received from line 80 to processing device 83 via modem 82 . As a result, the processing device 83 of the external device 80 receives a "transmission start signal".
When the processor 83 recognizes that it has received the data and is ready to receive data at that time, it sends a "receivable signal" back to the copying machine main body 1 via the modem 82.

The main controller 60 receives the "receivable signal" via the modulator/demodulator 66 and the input/output interface 63, reads management data from the log area of the memory 61, and stores this management data in the copying machine main body 1, for example. It is sent to the external device 81 along with the model number via the input/output interface 63 and the modem 66.

The external device 81 that has received this management data prints the received data on recording paper using the printing device 83C.

In this way, when the transmission of the management data is completed, the main control unit 6
A "completion signal" is sent from 0, and in response to this "completion signal", a "reception completion signal" is returned from the external device 81, and the series of transmission operations is completed.

Note that although the configuration is such that a transmission request from the copying machine main body 1 is generated by pressing the data transfer key 30n,
It may be configured such that a transmission request is generated when the timer 64 measures a certain period of time, so that the management data is automatically transferred at a certain period. Further, the configuration may be such that a transmission request is automatically generated when the occurrence of an error is detected during a copying operation. Furthermore, the transmission request may be generated when the number of copies in the copying machine main body 1 reaches a certain number.

Next, the transmission operation when a transmission request is generated from the external device 81 side, which is the receiving side, will be explained with reference to FIG.

For example, when a transmission request is input from the input device 83d, the "request signal" is sent to the main control unit 60 via the modem 82, the line 80, the modem 66, and the input/output interface 63 in the same manner as described above. Reportedly.

In response, the main control unit 6 that received the "request signal"
0 means that if the copying machine main body 1 is in a state where transmission operation is possible, "
A transmission start signal is sent to the external device 81.

The external device 81 that has received the “transmission start signal” returns a “receivable signal” to the main control unit 60.

Upon receiving this, the main control unit 60 stores the management data in the memory 6.
1 from the log area, and send it to the external device 81 along with the model number in the same way as above. When the transmission of all management data is completed, a "completion signal" is sent to the external device 81.
Send to.

On the other hand, in the external device ff81, the management data received from the copying machine main body 1 is printed on recording paper by the printing device 83c and output.

This completes the series of management data transmission operations.

In the above operation, when the external device 81 is a personal computer system, the management data sent and received over the line 80 is code data such as ASCII code, so the transfer efficiency is very high. has been done.

As mentioned above, various information (management data) regarding the usage status of the electronic copying machine, such as error information and number of copies information, etc.
The information is sent to an external device installed at a location away from the electronic copying machine, and the information is also printed out. This makes it possible to obtain copying machine management data while being on the external device side. Therefore, it is possible to understand to some extent the usage status and failure status of the copying machine at a location away from the copying machine, which makes it possible to reduce the effort required for maintenance and the like.

In addition, since the management data remains in printed form, repairs can be carried out accurately and can be used as a reference for the next periodic inspection.

Furthermore, if a plurality of electronic copying machines are managed using the location where the external device is installed as a center, even more efficient operation becomes possible.

In the above embodiment, a personal computer system is used as an example of the external device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a facsimile device as shown in FIG. 7 can also be used. In this case, the management data converted into image data is received and recorded on the recording paper 84. Further, when the facsimile machine side requests transmission of management data, a request signal generated by dialing is transferred to the copying machine main body 1.

Further, although the modulator/demodulator 66 is provided inside the copying machine body 1, it may be provided outside the main body 1 as shown in FIG. In this case, a modem including a modem 66 and a memory 67 is installed outside as a modem 68.

As a result, the memory 67 between the main control section 60 and the modem 66 acts as a buffer, and the time that the main control section 60 is exclusively used for transmitting management data is shortened, so that the available copying time increases. A commercially available device can be used as the modulation/demodulation device 68, and the system can be configured at low cost, such as being easily applicable to existing copying machines.

Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to electronic copying machines but also to various image forming apparatuses such as thermal printers and laser printers.

It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a person can obtain error information and billing information without going to the installation location of the image forming apparatus, and can perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus from a remote location. It is possible to provide an information collection system for image forming apparatuses that can be managed in a timely manner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an information gathering system, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the information gathering system, and FIG. 3 is a log area of the memory. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of management data, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of another storage format of management data.
FIG. 5 is a diagram shown to explain the transmission operation based on a transmission request from the transmitting side, FIG. 6 is a diagram shown to explain the transmission operation according to a transmission request from the receiving side, and FIGS. This shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an information collection system exemplifying a case where a facsimile machine is used as an external device, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where a modem is provided externally. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view schematically showing the structure of an electronic copying machine, and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing one structure of an operation panel. 1... Copy machine body, 30... Operation knob, 30n
...Data transfer key 60...Main control unit, 61...
・Memory, 63...Input/output interface, 64・
...Timer, 66...Modulator/demodulator, 73...Counter, 80...Communication, communication line, 81...External device (receiving device), 82...Modulator/demodulator, 83...Processing device , 83
c...Printing device (output means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming apparatus that forms image information on a transfer material, a transmitting means that transmits various information under usage conditions of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus that transmits information from the transmitting means. An information collection system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a receiving device that receives various information about the image forming device; and an output unit that prints and outputs the various information about the image forming device received by the receiving device. .