JPH04130437A - Self-diagnostic and self-repairing system for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain self-diagnosis and self-repair by applying status data indicating the function status of an image forming device from a data input means, diagnosing the status and selecting an actuator to be driven. CONSTITUTION:Status data applied in response to the application of status data from the data input means are compared with feature data such as reference data and the occurrence of a failure is discriminated when the status data is relatively higher or lower than the reference data. The status of the occurred failure is diagnosed based upon qualitative data. At the occurrence of the failure, which actuator means out of plural actuator means 6a to 6c is to be driven to repair the occurred failure is inferred based upon the qualitative data and failure diagnostic knowledge obtained from an objective model storing part 14 and the comparison of the adjusting states and adjusting ranges of respective means 6a to 6c to select the actuator means concerned. Thus, the self-diagnosis and the self-repair can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a self-diagnosis and self-repair system for an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device or system that can self-diagnose the operational status of an image forming device and self-repair by utilizing artificial intelligence and knowledge engineering, which have been actively researched in recent years.

<Conventional technology> In the development field of precision machinery and industrial machinery, recent efforts have been made to save labor in maintenance work and extend automatic operation.
Artificial Intelligence
CE: Research on expert systems using so-called AI technology is actively being conducted. Some expert systems can self-diagnose whether a device has malfunctioned,
There are also some devices that self-repair any malfunctions that occur.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, in the fault diagnosis system using the conventional expert system, (a) the knowledge is not versatile and fault diagnosis for various targets cannot be performed, and (b) unknown faults occur. (c) As the target becomes more complex, the amount of knowledge required for fault diagnosis increases explosively.
Limitations were pointed out, including (d) difficulty in realizing it, and (d) difficulty in acquiring knowledge.

More specifically, conventional automatic adjustment systems and fault diagnosis systems basically operate corresponding actuators based on the outputs of the sensors. In other words, a type of automatic adjustment and failure diagnosis has been performed using a predetermined combination of sensors and actuators. Therefore, basically, each sensor corresponds to a specific actuator, and the relationship between the two is fixed.

Therefore, (1) The relationship between sensor parameters and actuator parameters must be clearly expressed numerically.

(2) For the reason mentioned in (1) above, the relationship between sensor parameters and actuator parameters is strongly dependent on the object and lacks versatility. In other words, it cannot be used for various objects.

(3) The relationship between parameters between each sensor or between verameters between each actuator is irrelevant to control.

Therefore, only simple control can be performed based only on the relationship between the corresponding sensor parameters and actuator parameters, and the types of failures that can be handled are limited in advance.

In other words, it is necessary to predict possible failures at the design stage and include a mechanism for dealing with such failures; unknown failures cannot be handled.

(4) For the reason mentioned in (3) above, do not anticipate any side effects on the parameters of other actuators that may be caused by manipulating the parameters of any actuator.

There were some problems.

In this way, in conventional automatic adjustment systems and fault diagnosis systems, T-II failure A is determined based on set A of sensor A and actuator A, and predictive failure B is determined based on set B of sensor B and actuator B. The predictive failure C is performed based on the set C of the sensor C and the actuator C. In this way, fault diagnosis is performed based on each independent sensor and actuator set, and fault repair is performed based on that. It was nothing more than

The present invention was made against the background of such prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new self-diagnosis and self-repair system for an image forming apparatus that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention is a self-diagnosis and self-repair system for an image forming apparatus that embodies image data and generates a visible image, and includes features that represent the characteristics of the image forming apparatus. Data, a storage means that stores qualitative data representing the image forming device as a combination of multiple elements, qualitatively representing the behavior or attributes of each element, and the connection relationship between each element, and fault diagnosis knowledge, data input means, a plurality of actuator means capable of changing the functional state of the image forming apparatus, an adjustment range setting means for setting a predetermined adjustment range for a predetermined actuator means among the plurality of actuator means; Adjustment state output means for detecting and outputting the adjustment state of a predetermined actuator means among the plurality of actuator means, in response to receiving state data representing the functional state of the image forming apparatus from the data input means; A fault diagnosis means or fault diagnosis means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is normal or abnormal and diagnosing the state based on the state data, characteristic data, qualitative data, and fault diagnosis knowledge stored in the storage means. Data updating means and failure diagnosis means for updating predetermined data of the characteristic data stored in the storage means based on given status data in response to determining that the image forming apparatus is normal. In response to determining that the image forming apparatus is abnormal, the adjustment state of the actuator means and the adjustment range setting means are set based on the qualitative data stored in the storage means, the failure diagnosis knowledge 1, and the adjustment state output means. a selection means for selecting the actuator means to be actuated based on a comparison of adjustment ranges of the actuators, and simulating side effects that may occur when the actuator means selected by the selection means is actuated; simulating means, determining means for determining whether or not the side effects simulated by the simulating means can be removed by actuating an actuator other than the selected actuator means; When it is determined that the influence can be eliminated, the driving means for actuating the selected actuator means, and when the determination means determines that the secondary influence cannot be eliminated, the selection means is again provided with qualitative data and fault diagnosis. Based on the knowledge and comparison of the adjustment state of the actuator means given from the adjustment state output means and the adjustment range of the actuator set in the adjustment range setting means, an actuator means other than the previously selected actuator means is selected and simulated. It is characterized by comprising control repetition means for controlling the means to simulate side effects that may occur at that time, and for controlling the determining means to determine whether or not the side effects can be removed. It is something to do.

<Operation> According to the present invention, in response to the status data being given from the data input means, the given status data is compared with, for example, reference data as feature data, and is determined to be relatively low or relatively low. It is determined that a failure has occurred depending on whether the

Furthermore, the current failure state is diagnosed based on the qualitative data.

If a failure has occurred, the malfunction is determined based on the qualitative data, failure diagnosis knowledge, and comparison of the adjustment state of the actuator means given from the adjustment state output means and the adjustment range of the actuator set in the adjustment range setting means. It is deduced which actuator means should be operated in order to repair the fault occurring and the actuator means is selected.

The actuator means selected in the repair plan are actuator means that can actually be adjusted.

Furthermore, it is simulated whether side effects occur when operating the selected actuator means. When simulating side effects, the fault condition diagnosed by the fault diagnosis means is taken into account.

Then, based on the simulation results of the simulation means,
If there are no side effects, the actuator means selected by the selection means is driven to automatically repair the fault.

Also, if a side effect occurs as a result of the simulation by the simulating means, is it possible to eliminate the generated side effect by operating an actuator means other than the actuator means selected above? It is determined whether or not.

As a result of the determination, if the side effects cannot be removed, the selection means selects an actuator means other than the previously selected actuator means again, and eliminates the side effects that may occur in that case. The control is repeated so that the simulating means simulates the effect, and the determining means determines whether or not the side effects can be removed.

Then, when an actuator means that can eliminate the side effects is selected, that actuator means is driven and the failure is automatically repaired.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform self-diagnosis and autonomous self-repair by inputting status data.

Further, when the image forming apparatus is determined to be normal by the failure diagnosis means, predetermined data, such as reference value data, of the characteristic data stored in the storage means is updated based on the given status data. , characteristic data that always represents the latest state of the device is stored in the storage means.

Qualitative data is not data specific to the image forming apparatus, but data that is common to many image forming apparatuses and is expressed qualitatively. Therefore, the self-diagnosis and self-repair system according to the present invention It can be easily incorporated into different types of image forming apparatuses.

<Embodiment> Overview of System Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes multiple sensors la, lb installed on the target machine.

1c and a plurality of actuators 6a, 6b, and 6c for changing the functional state of the target machine.

The plurality of sensors la, lb, and lc are each for detecting a change in an element of the target machine or a state related to the machine elements caused by the operation of the target machine.

Multiple sensors la, lb.

Information taken in from each IC is amplified by an amplifier circuit 2, converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by an A/D conversion circuit 3, and provided to a system control circuit 10.

The system control circuit 10 includes a digital signal/symbol conversion section 11, a fault diagnosis section 12, a fault simulation section 13, a target model storage section 14, a repair planning section 15, and a symbol/digital signal conversion section 16.

The digital signal/symbol conversion section 11 is for converting the digital signal provided from the A/D conversion circuit 3 into qualitative information. That is, a digital signal, for example, normal.

A conversion function is provided to convert to any of the three symbols, high and low. Sensor la, lb,
By converting the signal provided from the lc into such symbolic qualitative information, the approach to fault diagnosis becomes easier. Note that the symbols are not limited to normal, high, and low as in this example, but may be other expressions such as on and off or A, B, C, and D. When the digital signal is converted into a symbol in the conversion unit 11, characteristic data specific to the target machine stored in the target model storage unit 14 is referred to. Details of this feature data and signal conversion will be described later.

The failure diagnosis section 12 and the failure simulation section 13 are
By comparing the symbols converted by the digital signal/symbol conversion unit 11 with the fault diagnosis knowledge stored in the target model storage unit 14, the presence or absence of a fault is determined, and fault diagnosis is performed. This is a component that expresses and outputs the failure state of the machine using qualitative information, that is, symbols.

The repair planning unit 15 is a component for inferring a repair plan for repairing a failure when a failure occurs and deriving a repair work. In inferring the repair plan and deriving the repair work, qualitative data (described in detail later) stored in the target model storage unit 14 is utilized.

The methods of fault diagnosis and fault simulation, inference of a repair plan, and derivation of a repair work in the fault diagnosis section 12, fault simulation section 13, and repair planning section 15 will be described in detail later.

The repair work output from the repair planning unit 15 is represented by the symbol /
In the digital signal conversion section 16, the stored information in the target model storage section 14 is referred to and converted into a digital signal.

The digital signal is then converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by a D/A conversion circuit 4 and is provided to an actuator control circuit 5. The actuator control circuit 5 controls a plurality of actuators 6a, 6b, based on an applied analog signal, that is, an actuator control command.
6c is selectively activated to perform repair work.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of the system control circuit 10 in FIG. Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an overview of the processing of the system control circuit 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

The detection signal of sensor Ia, lb or 1c is amplified,
and is converted into a digital signal and read into the system control circuit 10, for example, every predetermined read cycle (
Step Sl).

The read digital signal is converted into symbols in the digital signal/symbol converter 11 (step S2
). This symbolization is performed based on characteristic data preset in the target model storage unit 14, that is, reference value data specific to the target machine. For example, the output ranges of the sensors la, lb, and lc are set in the target model storage unit 14 as reference value data specific to the target machine as follows.

That is, sensor 1a: less than output ka1 - low output kal ~ ka2 - exceeds normal output ka2 - high sensor 1b = output kb, less than - low output kb, ~ kb2 - exceeds normal output kb2 - no\I sensor IC: output less than kc1 - Low output kcl~kc2 - Exceeds normal output kc2 - Noh is set. The digital/symbol conversion unit 11 converts the sensors 1a to 1C based on reference value data specific to the target machine set in the target model storage unit 14.
Converts the digital signal from the device into a symbol of ``low,''``normal,'' or ``high.''

Next, the converted symbol is evaluated in the fault diagnosis unit 12, and the presence or absence of a fault is determined and the fault symptom is specified (step S3). The target model storage unit 1 is used to determine the presence or absence of a failure by evaluating symbols and to identify failure symptoms.
The fault diagnosis knowledge stored in 4 is utilized. Fault diagnosis knowledge is, for example, a setting condition that a specific parameter must be normal, for example. If the specific parameter is not normal, there is a failure,
The failure symptom is determined based on the specific parameter. If there is no failure, step S1
．． The routines S2 and S3 are repeated.

If it is determined in step S3 that there is a failure,
The state of the target machine is inferred, that is, fault diagnosis and fault state simulation are performed (step S4). Specifically, the failure diagnosis unit 12 uses the qualitative data stored in the target model storage unit 14 that qualitatively represents the behavior or attributes of each element constituting the device and the coupling relationship between each element. , the parameter causing the failure is searched, and the failure state is simulated in the failure simulation section 13 on the assumption that the searched parameter is the cause of the failure.

Further, in the failure diagnosis section 12, the simulation results are compared with the current parameter values, and the validity of the assumption that the searched parameter is the cause of the failure is determined. The above processing is performed on a plurality of parameters to be searched.

As a result of fault determination, fault diagnosis, and fault condition simulation, the fault symptoms and cause of the target machine are determined (step S5). Here, failure symptoms include the output status of the target machine (for example, in the case of a copying machine,
The cause of the failure is,
This is a change in the mechanism or structure of the target machine that causes the symbol to change (for example, in the case of a copying machine, a ``decrease in the light intensity of a halogen lamp'', etc.).

Next, the repair planning unit 15 infers a repair method. In this inference, a simulation of the influence of repair is also performed (step S6).

Then, a repair plan is determined (step S7), and control instructions are developed based on the determined repair plan (step S8). When developing actual control commands, characteristic data unique to the device, such as limit values for actuator operation, is read out from the target model storage unit 14 and utilized.

The developed control command is converted into an analog signal and given to the actuator control circuit 5, and repair control is executed (step S9). Control then ends.

Next, we will explain how to infer failure diagnosis and repair plans.
A detailed explanation will be given with reference to specific examples.

In the following description, as an example, a method will be described in which the peripheral area of the photoreceptor drum in a small-sized ordinary copying machine is used as the target machine.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram showing a specific target machine. In FIG. 3, 21 is a photosensitive drum, 22 is a main charger, 23 is a halogen lamp for illuminating the original, 24 is a developing device, and 25 is a transfer charger.

In this embodiment, for example, there are three sensors la.

lb and lc are provided. That is, sensor 1a is an AE sensor for measuring the amount of light incident on the photoreceptor drum, sensor 1b is a surface potential sensor for measuring the surface potential of the photoreceptor drum, and sensor 1c is for measuring the density of the image copied on paper. This is a concentration meter for

Furthermore, three types of actuators not shown in FIG. 3 are provided. That is, the main charging volume VRI is used to change the main charging voltage of the photoreceptor drum, and the lamp volume A is used to control the light amount of the halogen lamp.
Three volumes are provided as actuators: VR and a transfer volume VR2 for controlling the transfer voltage between the photosensitive drum and copy paper.

By the way, the target machine shown in Fig. 3 can be viewed from a physical perspective, and the target machine can be expressed at the physical level as a combination of multiple elements, and the behavior and attributes of each element and the connection relationship between each element can be expressed using parameters. When expressed qualitatively using this method, it is as shown in Table 1. The expression format shown in Table 1 will be referred to as a "substantive model."

Furthermore, the representation shown in FIG. 4 in which the entity model is abstracted and expressed as a connection tree of each parameter will be referred to as a "mathematical model."

Then, by combining the "substantive model" and the "mathematical model",
We will call it the "target model". The "target model" is qualitative data common to image forming apparatuses that is also utilized for failure repair, which will be described later.

(The following is a blank space) Table 1 "Substantive Model" The contents of the substantive model and the mathematical model as qualitative data are stored in the target model storage unit 14.

In addition, the target model storage unit] 4 contains information regarding predetermined parameters among the parameters included in the entity model.
For example, reference value data measured at the time of factory shipment is stored. This reference value data is characteristic data specific to this image forming apparatus.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, this machine stores reference value data specifying low, normal, and high ranges for parameters x, v, , o, , and vfi, respectively.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned reference value data can be updated in response to sensing data during subsequent failure diagnosis and failure repair processes, changes in the operating state of the machine, and the like.

In addition, the target model storage unit 14 stores, based on the converted symbol, an example of failure diagnosis knowledge that serves as a reference for determining whether or not the target machine is operating normally.
? 'F' functional knowledge is memorized.

Note that the evaluation function knowledge, in other words, the failure diagnosis knowledge, may be specific to the target device, or may not be specific and may be common to a wide range of image forming apparatuses.

The evaluation functional knowledge includes the following weights.

Image density O6-normal, fogging degree O1-normal, separation performance Sl, <normal here, 0. ．． 0.・If S does not meet the above conditions, the target machine is not operating normally.

Now, consider a case where the digitized sensor information of the target machine during normal operation has the following values.

Value of AE sensor:・, Value V of the surface potential sensor with the halogen lamp turned off
, -dark potential vn, and their values are assumed to be fogging degree O5·-50 dark potential V, -700, respectively.

Note that these fogging degrees are 0.・Measurement of dark potential ■can be performed manually or automatically by a sensor under certain conditions, for example, each time the target machine is turned on or before copying starts. It may be programmed as such. In this embodiment, the latter is adopted.

AE sensor las surface potential sensor 1b and concentration meter IC
Each of the values X, V1, O, Os-V n obtained by is converted into a symbol in the digital signal/symbol converter 11.

The conversion is performed for each sensor la, lb or I as described above.
The digital value given from C is stored in the target model storage unit 1.
This is done by comparing it with reference value data as feature data stored in No. 4, and converts it into one of three types of symbols: normal, no. 1, or low.

In this example, each parameter is symbolized as follows.

In the X-high ■, -low 0, -low vfi cod normal fault diagnosis unit 12, each of these symbolized parameters is used as functional evaluation knowledge as an example of fault diagnosis knowledge stored in the target model storage unit 14. compared to As a result, since the image density O is not normal, it is determined that there is a failure, and the failure symptom is ``Image density is too low (0
．． − low)”. And next,
0. - Low" as a failure symptom, a failure diagnosis, that is, an inference of the cause of the failure is made.

Fault diagnosis is first performed in the fault simulation section 13 using the mathematical model shown in FIG. 4, and parameters that may cause 0, -low are searched for.

In the mathematical model in Figure 4, 0. Fig. 6 shows the parameters that have the potential to reduce the . In FIG. 6, the parameters marked with upward or downward arrows are those that may cause parameter O1-low, and those with upward arrows indicate that the parameter increases, while those with downward arrows indicate parameters that may cause parameter O1-low. If that parameter decreases, 0. -Causes low.

Next, each parameter ζ, D, that can cause Ol-rho was explored in the mathematical model.

V+,7o,V,,v,,Vll,X,　β,HL.

Regarding D, the failure diagnosis unit 12 detects the cause of the parameter change.

This detection is performed based on the entity model shown in Table 1, and in this embodiment, the following failure cause candidates are inferred.

That is, ■, - Defect in the Rowney transfer transformer ζ - Deterioration in the Rowney paper ■, - High: → Defective developing bias γ. - Low knee toner deterioration V, - Low knee main charging voltage failure HL - High: - No 10 gen lamp setting failure D - Low: → Original is thin Note that among the parameters, β is the sensitivity of the photoreceptor, and this increases It is excluded because there is nothing to do.

D, , V, and X are also excluded since they are represented by other parameters.

Then, in response to the above inference made in the fault diagnosis section 12, a fault state simulation is performed in the fault simulation section 13.

Simulating a fault state means inferring the state of the target machine when the inferred fault occurs. More specifically, it is assumed that the cause of 0-low, that is, the cause of failure is, for example, a defective transfer transformer, and vl-low is set for a model in a normal state. Then, the influence on each parameter in that state is examined using a mathematical model. Vl
If -low is set, O1=low and S, -low, and all other parameters are normal, so this contradicts the X-high and V,-low obtained from the sensor. Therefore, the result is that the inference regarding the cause of the failure is incorrect.

Similarly, ζ-rho is set on the normal state mathematical model and the result is compared with the symbols obtained from the sensor. In this case as well, on the mathematical model, for X-normal,
Since the symbol from the sensor is X-high, there is a contradiction, and the inference of the cause of the failure is determined to be incorrect.

In this way, simulation of the failure state is performed for all failure cause candidates, and it is confirmed whether the inference of the failure cause is correct.

As a result, in this example, when the cause of the failure is determined to be "incorrect halogen lamp settings (HL-high)," a result that matches the actual condition of the target machine can be obtained, and other causes of the failure can be determined. It is concluded that all candidates are inconsistent with the actual state of the device.

Therefore, it can be determined that the cause of the failure in this case is improper setting of the /% rogen lamp. Table 2 shows the status of each parameter of the target machine at that time.

Table 2: Halogen setting failure If the states of the parameters shown in Table 2 are traced onto a mathematical model, FIG. 7 is obtained. In FIG. 7, the downward arrow attached to the right side of each parameter indicates low, the upward arrow indicates high, and N indicates normal.

Next, we will explain the reasoning behind the restoration plan.

As a result of fault determination, "Image density is too low (0°-low)"
” was taken up as a failure symptom, the goal of repair was to
0. The goal is to increase the

Therefore, from the relationship on the mathematical model shown in Figure 4, it is inferred that the repair target 0 can be increased by increasing D, Vl, or ζ. be done.

Next, when inference is made with the goal of increasing Dl, ■
Raise , or lower ■, or γ.

Either rise or get a conclusion. in this way,
By repeating the inference based on the mathematical model,
Candidates for repair operations can be obtained on the mathematical model. The results obtained are shown in Table 3.

(Margin below) Table 3 By the way, among the repair candidates obtained based on the mathematical model, there are some that can be realized and some that cannot be realized. For example, D: The optical density of the original cannot be changed, and β: The sensitivity of the photoreceptor is also difficult to change.

γ. : Toner sensitivity cannot be changed, ζ, paper sensitivity is also unchangeable.

Also, in this specific example, ■,: Bias voltage It is also impossible to change because there is no actuator.

Of course, by adding an actuator, ■,
can be made changeable.

Furthermore, X: Logarithm of the amount of light reflected from the original, ■: The surface potential of the drum after exposure and the toner density on the double drum cannot be changed per se, but can be changed indirectly by changing other parameters. It can only be changed, and is excluded from repair candidates here.

Although not directly related to this specific example, the amplitude of the AC voltage for separation into two can also be changed by adding an actuator.

As described above, in this specific example, vl : transfer voltage Vo : surface potential after main charging HL : logarithm of halogen lamp output light amount is taken up as a repair candidate.

On the other hand, the target model storage unit 14 stores the following knowledge in advance as repair plan knowledge. That is, (a) Increase the control voltage of the transfer transformer to increase V. (b) Decrease the control voltage of the transfer transformer to decrease V. (c) Increase the control voltage of the main charging transformer. Increase (d) Decrease V, Decrease the control voltage of the lifetime charging transformer (e) Increase Ht → shift the halogen lamp control signal to the high voltage side (f) Decrease Ht → halogen lamp control signal Shift to low voltage side.

It is. The repair plan knowledge stored in the target model storage unit 14 is characteristic data specific to this device. By applying the repair plan knowledge to the repair candidates obtained based on the mathematical model, as a repair operation to increase Ol, (a) Increase V → Increase the control voltage of the transfer transformer (c) There are three methods: increasing the control voltage of the charging transformer (f) decreasing HL → shifting the halogen lamp control signal to the lower voltage side.

If you simply want to increase the image density O, then these 3
Repair is possible by performing any of the methods.

However, the target machine may be affected by various side effects by increasing the image density O8. Therefore, in this embodiment, as explained below, the inference of secondary effects is performed based on a mathematical model.

When the three repair plans derived in the inference of the side effect repair plan are developed on a mathematical model, FIGS. 8 to 13 are obtained. In other words, (a) FIGS. 8 and 9 show the case where V+ is increased (in FIG. 9, Os・ when set to D-0 is expressed on a mathematical model), (c) V, In the case of increasing the
f) When HL is lowered, see Figures 12 and 13 (
In FIG. 13, 05. when D-0 is represented on a mathematical model).

Then, when a functional evaluation is performed based on the mathematical model, the following state is inferred.

That is, (1) When V is increased (Figures 8 and 9) (a)
The output image density increases.

(b) When D-0, 0.・〉It may be normal.

In other words, fogging may occur.

(C) s>normal, and there is a possibility that separation failure will occur.

(2) When V is increased (Figures 10 and 11) (a) The output image density increases.

(b) When D=0, O, .> is normal, and there is a possibility that fogging may occur.

(3) When HL is lowered (FIGS. 12 and 13) (a) Only the output image density increases, and there are no other side effects.

Therefore, the repair planning unit 15 selects a repair plan that has the least side effects, that is, a repair plan that lowers the HL. This repair plan is consistent with the operation to eliminate the cause of the failure determined by the failure diagnosis.

In other words, looking at it from a different perspective, inferring the cause of a failure in fault diagnosis involves tracing the actual state of the device when it fails on a mathematical model and understanding the state of each component when the device fails. In contrast to the previous method of estimating the cause of a failure, estimating a repair plan is based on the assumption that the device is not in a faulty state, but rather that the device is normal, tracing the state of the device on a mathematical model, and performing repairs based on that. Reasoning plans.

In the above-mentioned specific example, both the reasoning in the failure diagnosis and the reasoning in the repair planning resulted in the same failure cause and repair plan.

However, in some cases, inferences for failure diagnosis assume a device in a failed state, while inferences for a repair plan assume a device in a normal state, so the results obtained may differ depending on the two. .

In such a case, if only those that do not contradict the conclusions obtained in the inference process of failure diagnosis are selected when inferring the repair plan, the inference process of the repair plan can be performed in a shorter time.

In the above case, if the repair plan of lowering HL cannot be selected, for example, if the AVH volume for shifting the halogen lamp control signal to the lower voltage side is already at the lower limit, then V of (2) has little influence. A restoration plan was selected to increase the

However, if a repair plan that increases Vo is selected, it is predicted that there will be a side effect of the possibility of fogging, so in the mathematical model shown in Figure 11, 0. Which parameter should be manipulated in order to lower ? is examined based on the mathematical model shown in FIG. 11, and the operation is selected based on knowledge of the repair plan. As a result, it is selected whether to raise Hl, lower , or lower Vl, and a repair plan including prevention of fogging is carried out.

That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the reasoning for the repair operation is developed assuming side effects. In the inference development of repair operations as shown in Figure 14, (a) branches that contradict the previous repair plan on the mathematical model are not selected (b) branches with the least side effects are selected (C ) Unrolling is based on the knowledge that anything that forms a loop will stop unrolling at that point.

In FIG. 14, in the end, two repair plans remain: (1) a loop of V, ↑-HL↑-V0 ↑, and (2) a loop of V, ↑→V, ↓→v, , ↑.

Now, suppose that when loop (1) is performed as a restoration plan, the image density becomes normal, that is, 0. In such a case, ■. and HL have been increased, so in the post-repair state where the image density returns to normal, the value of the surface potential measured by sensor 1b changes to a much higher value than the value initially measured. They should have done so. However, since the repair operation was successful, the state of the parameter V after repair must be symbolized normally. Therefore, in such a case, when the repair is completed, the reference data for symbolizing the parameter V shown in FIG. 5 is changed based on the measured value measured by the sensor 1b,
For example, the data is rewritten to the data shown in FIG.

In this way, the reference data is updated as necessary after the repair work is completed.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned (1) in FIG.
Specifically, when the main charging volume VR1 is operated to increase the surface potential of the photoreceptor drum 21, and when a rash occurs on the resulting copy, the lamp volume AVR is operated to increase the halogen charge voltage. The light intensity of the lamp is increased and the image density of the copy is diluted.

Then, while increasing the main charging volume VR1 and the lamp polyneum AVR alternately and appropriately, when the image density becomes normal, that is, when the parameter O1 becomes normal, it is obtained from the detection output of the densitometer that is the sensor 1c. When this occurs, the repair process is terminated.

Furthermore, if the above two repair plans are not practicable, the above-mentioned repair plan (3) of increasing Vl is selected, and the two side effects of this are fogging and poor separation. A fault diagnosis is performed based on the assumption that a repair plan is selected.

The selected repair plan is then executed, and in the case of loop processing, failure is determined when the operation of the parameters on the loop reaches its limit.

In addition, in the case of this embodiment, as explained in the specific example, 0. The end of the repair is determined when it becomes normal,
In this state, the repair is stopped.

In the inference of the side effects described above, the three repair plans derived in the inference of the repair plan are sequentially developed on a mathematical model, and the side effects are collectively inferred for each of the three repair plans. ing.

Instead of this method of inferring side effects, the following processing may be performed.

That is, suppose that, for example, three repair plans are derived in the repair plan inference. In that case, take only one repair plan out of the three, simulate the side effects that may occur if the actuator means is actuated based on that repair plan, and It is determined whether the negative influence can be removed by actuating an actuator means other than the actuator means selected by the repair plan.

When it is determined that the side effects can be eliminated, the actuators selected by the repair plan are actually operated to carry out the repair, and the side effects are eliminated by activating other actuator means. It removes it.

As a result, there is no need to simulate the side effects based on the other two plans derived from the repair plan, and overall the repair operation time can be shortened.

In the above case, if a side effect is simulated for the M1th selected repair plan, and it is determined that the simulated side effect cannot be removed by actuating another actuator means. If
If the first repair plan is abandoned and a second repair plan is taken up, the selected actuator means may be actuated based on the second repair plan. determine whether the simulated side effect can be removed by activating an actuator means other than the actuator means, and if the side effect can be removed, the Perform restoration work based on the second restoration plan.

In this way, if the first repair plan is extracted from among the multiple repair plans derived in the inference of the repair plan, the side effects in that case are inferred, and the side effects can be removed. Then, immediately execute the repair based on the first repair plan.

If that repair plan has too many side effects, it is abandoned, the next repair plan is selected, and the side effects in that case are simulated.

In such a case, it is preferable to select which repair plan first among the plurality of repair plans derived in the inference of the repair plan, taking into account the cause of the failure obtained in the failure diagnosis, for example.

In the above embodiments, the repair itself is considerably limited due to the small number of actuator parameters, but by increasing the number of actuator parameters, the flexibility and possibility of repair can be further improved.

In the specific example explained above, if any repair work is successful, the state of the equipment after the success is determined to be normal, so it is determined based on the digital data values provided from each sensor. It is preferable that the reference value data of each parameter (the reference values shown in FIG. 5) be updated and the parameters be symbolized based on the new reference value data.

Further, in the above-mentioned specific example, although the operating range of each actuator was not particularly mentioned, the target model storage unit 14
If the operating range data that sets the actuator's operating range is included in the device-specific characteristic data stored in the device, the actuator can be operated when the actuator's output state is within the stored operating range. When the output state of the actuator reaches the upper or lower limit of the stored operating range, it can be determined that the actuator can be operated, and this can be used to determine whether the repair work is correct or not.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned specific example, a system that automatically performs self-diagnosis and self-repair based on changes in sensor output was introduced, but if the image forming apparatus is provided with a self-diagnosis mode setting key, etc. Self-diagnosis and/or self-repair may be performed only when the self-diagnosis mode setting key is operated.

In the above specific example, the system is completely autonomous, that is, the system automatically performs self-diagnosis to determine whether there is a failure or not, and self-repairs if a failure occurs, without any operation by service personnel or users. I picked it up and explained it. However, in the present invention, the sensor is removed from the structural requirements, and the configuration is such that a service person or the like can measure functional status data at predetermined locations of the image forming apparatus and input the measured data into the apparatus. By doing so, it is possible to configure an image forming apparatus that can perform non-autonomous self-diagnosis and perform autonomous repair based on the self-diagnosis.

In addition, if you configure a system that only selects the actuator to repair a failure based on the results of the self-diagnosis performed by the device, but displays the actuator that should be operated without actually operating the actuator, service The image forming apparatus may include a non-autonomous repair system, in which a person only needs to operate the displayed actuator.

Of course, it is also possible to exclude the configuration requirements of the self-repair system and configure an image forming apparatus having only the self-diagnosis system.

That is, according to the present invention, (1) an image forming apparatus having a fully autonomous self-diagnosis and self-healing system; (2) an image forming apparatus having an autonomous self-diagnosis system and a non-autonomous self-healing system; (3) (4) an image forming device having a non-autonomous self-diagnosis system and a non-autonomous self-healing system; (4) an image forming device having a non-autonomous self-diagnosis system and an autonomous self-healing system; or (5) an image forming device having only an autonomous self-diagnosis system. The forming device can be configured as desired.

In addition, in this invention, when inferring a repair plan,
In consideration of the adjustment range of the actuator, only actuators that are actually adjustable may be selected.

To explain more specifically, the actuator is, for example, A
In the case of VR, the lower limit of AVR is "0" and the upper limit is rlo
oJ, and the configuration is such that the AVR setting state can be detected as an integer value from 0 to 100. In addition, the lower limit value rOJ and upper limit value r1 of the AVR are stored in the target model storage unit 14.
Set 00J. Therefore, when the AVR is in an adjusted state, the adjusted state of the AVR is understood as integer value data of any one of 0 to 100 corresponding to the adjusted state.

The repair planning unit 15 uses integer value data from 0 to 100 obtained depending on the adjustment state of the AVH to
It is determined whether the AVR can be selected as the actuator for troubleshooting. In other words, the lower limit and upper limit of AVH stored in the target model storage unit 14 are compared with the current adjustment state value, and it is determined whether the AVR can be further operated toward the lower limit or toward the upper limit. It will be done.

Therefore, by adopting such a configuration for each of a plurality of actuators or any actuator among them, the inference result of the repair plan can be used as a combination of actuator means that can actually be operated. It has the advantage that it can be output and a practical repair plan can be inferred.

Note that the above explanation is just an example of how to set the operating range, and the operating range may be set using another method and compared with the actual state of the actuator.

In addition, the repair planning section 15 not only compares the set adjustable range of the actuator with the actual adjustment value, but also the failure diagnosis section 12 when performing failure diagnosis.
The set adjustable range of the actuator and the actual adjustment value may be compared and referred to.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, when the state of the image forming apparatus is abnormal, the presence or absence of a failure can be determined by simply measuring the state data and inputting it from the data input means, and whether or not a failure has occurred. If so, the fault condition is diagnosed, the actuator means to be operated to repair the fault is deduced, and the side effects that may occur if the actuator means is operated are simulated. be done.

As a result of the simulation, if there is no side effect, the inferred actuator means is selected and driven to automatically repair the fault.

Furthermore, if a side effect occurs, it is determined whether the generated side effect can be removed by operating another actuator means. As a result of the determination, if the side effect cannot be removed, another actuator means is selected by the selection means again, and it is simulated whether or not a side effect occurs in that case, and If side effects occur, it is determined whether they can be eliminated.

Finally, if there is a repair plan that can eliminate the side effects, the actuator means is driven to execute the repair plan.

Further, according to the present invention, only actuator means that can be actually adjusted are selected in the repair plan, so that the apparatus can be provided with a practical repair system.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of self-diagnosis and autonomous self-repair using input of status data as a trigger.

Further, according to the present invention, since the cause of failure is determined based on qualitative data common to image forming apparatuses, a self-diagnosis and self-repair system that can handle unknown failures that are not explicitly described is provided. The image forming apparatus may have the following features.

Furthermore, the self-diagnosis and self-repair system according to the present invention can be commonly applied to many types of image forming apparatuses, rather than to a specific image forming apparatus, and as a result, is inexpensive. An imaging device having a self-diagnosis and self-repair system can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the present invention when used in a plain paper copying machine. FIG. 4 is a diagram representing a mathematical model of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing reference value data of each parameter necessary when each parameter is symbolized. FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing development for fault diagnosis on a mathematical model. FIGS. 8 to 13 are diagrams showing the development of the secondary influence inference on the mathematical model. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing operations when selecting a repair plan. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing updated reference value data. In the figure, 1a, 1b, 1c - sensor, 6a6b, 6c...actuator, 10...system control circuit, 11...digital signal/symbol converter, 12...failure diagnosis unit, 13... ... Failure simulation section, 14. Target model storage section, 15.. Repair planning section, 16.. Symbol/digital signal conversion section,
shows.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A self-diagnosis and self-repair system for an image forming apparatus that embodies image data to generate a visible image, comprising: characteristic data representing characteristics of the image forming apparatus; storage means, data input means, and image forming apparatus in which qualitative data and fault diagnosis knowledge are stored that represent the behavior or attributes of each element and the connection relationship between the elements, expressed as a combination of a plurality of elements; a plurality of actuator means capable of changing the functional state of the plurality of actuator means; an adjustment range setting means in which a predetermined adjustment range is set for a predetermined actuator means among the plurality of actuator means; an adjustment state output means for detecting and outputting the adjustment state of a predetermined actuator means in the image forming apparatus; and a storage means for storing the state data and the storage means in response to receiving state data representing the functional state of the image forming apparatus from the data input means. A fault diagnosis means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is normal or abnormal based on characteristic data, qualitative data, and fault diagnosis knowledge stored in the image forming apparatus, and for diagnosing the state. In response to determining that the image forming apparatus is abnormal, the data updating means updates predetermined data of the characteristic data stored in the storage means based on the given state data; In response to the determination that Selection means for selecting the actuator means to be actuated based on the comparison; simulating means for simulating side effects that may occur if the actuator means selected by the selection means is actuated; determining means for determining whether or not the side effects simulated by the actuator means can be removed by operating an actuator other than the selected actuator means; When the driving means for operating the selected actuator means and the determining means determine that the secondary effects cannot be removed, the selecting means is again provided with a drive means for operating the selected actuator means, based on the qualitative data, fault diagnosis knowledge, and adjustment state output means. Based on the comparison between the given adjustment state of the actuator means and the adjustment range of the actuator set in the adjustment range setting means, the actuator means other than the previously selected actuator means is selected, and the simulation means an image forming apparatus comprising: control repetition means for simulating a side effect that cannot be removed, and controlling the determining means to determine whether or not the side effect can be removed; Self-diagnosis and self-healing system.