JPH0535014A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device which can automatically switch a normal mode and a maintenance mode based on the connecting condition of an external device, in the image forming device in which maintenance control is performed by connecting the external device. CONSTITUTION:A copying machine 1 provided with a communication interface 204 is constituted in such a manner that it performs maintenance control by connecting a handy tool 300 being an external device provided with a communication interface 306. Also, a CPU 201 is constitued in such a manner that it detects the connecting condition of the handy tool 300 to the copying machine 1 by means of a connecting signal and selects either operation mode of the normal mode or maintenance control mode based on the result of the detection to be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus connected to an external device for maintenance management.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an external device called a handy tool or the like is sometimes used to perform maintenance services for image forming apparatuses. In this case, the service person stores the latest guide data in the handy tool at the service station, connects the handy tool to the image forming apparatus at the user's site, and then outputs the data indicating the condition of the image forming apparatus from the memory of the image forming apparatus. The data is transferred to the handy tool, and the service person inputs data concerning the condition of the image forming apparatus obtained by the five senses. The handy tool displays the guidance of the optimal work procedure corresponding to the condition based on these data, and the service person can proceed with the work accurately and promptly by following the guidance display.

Further, the service person operates the keys provided on the handy tool to update the set values of the respective parts of the image forming apparatus or independently operate one of the interlocking parts. You can

[0004]

By the way, in the image forming apparatus in which the external device is connected and the maintenance is managed as described above, after the external device is connected, an operation mode is set by operating an internal switch or the like inside the machine body. Since it is designed to switch from the normal mode to the maintenance mode, it is necessary to open the cover of the machine to operate this key switch. Therefore, it takes a lot of trouble to switch from the normal mode to the maintenance mode, and the condition of the image forming apparatus may change due to the opening of the cover, which may impair the accuracy of the work procedure guidance.

Further, since the operation of returning from the maintenance mode to the normal mode is also manually performed, it is troublesome to return to the maintenance mode, and the maintenance mode may be canceled to forget to return to the normal mode.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically switching between a normal mode and a maintenance mode based on a connection state of an external device. .

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an image forming apparatus for performing maintenance management by connecting an external device having a communication interface to a main body having a communication interface. Connection state detecting means for detecting the connection state of the main body is provided, and the main body is configured to select and execute one of the normal mode and the maintenance management mode based on the detection result of the connection state detecting means. It is characterized by that.

[0007]

[Operation] In the present invention, when the external device and the main body are in a fixed connection state, the normal mode is switched to the maintenance management mode, and when the connection state is released, the maintenance management mode is switched to the normal mode. Here, the constant connection state may be a state in which the external device and the main body are physically connected via a wire, but the external device and the main body are physically connected via a wire, Furthermore, it may be in a state where predetermined communication is executed between the external device and the main body.

Further, in the present invention, when the monitoring of the connection state by the connection state detecting means is limited within a predetermined period during the operation of the main body, the cycle time (loop time) of the program to be circulated is kept short. be able to.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
It will be explained based on. This copying machine 1 scans a document D placed on a document glass table 2 with a light beam emitted from an exposure lamp 3 driven at a constant speed inversely proportional to the copying magnification in the direction of arrow Mb, and the reflected light is reflected. The latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 by irradiating the exposure position X ₂ on the photosensitive drum 5 through the optical system 4, and a toner image corresponding to the original D is formed on the paper P according to an electrophotographic process described later. Configured to form.

The optical system 4 accompanies the exposure lamp 3 and the original D
The first movable mirror 41 that receives the reflected light from the second movable mirror 42 and the third movable mirror 42 that moves in the same direction as the exposure lamp 3 and the first movable mirror 41 at half the speed of the exposure lamp 3 and the first movable mirror 41. Movable mirror 43 and fixed mirror 44
And a projection lens 45, and an AE sensor 46 that detects the amount of light reflected from the document D.

The photosensitive drum 5 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow Ma at a constant peripheral velocity v, and the photosensitive drum 5 is internally provided therein.
A heater 5a and a temperature sensor (thermistor) 5b for heating the heater 5a are provided, and the heater 5a is on / off controlled based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 5b to keep the temperature of the photosensitive drum 5 constant. In the electrophotographic process of the copying machine 1, the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential VO by the charging charger 6 of the scorotron system at the charging position X ₁ , and light is irradiated at the exposure position X _2. Is partially discharged to form a latent image corresponding to the original D, and the surface potential at each position of the photosensitive drum 5 that has passed the exposure position X ₂ is measured by a surface potential meter (VO sensor) 7, The eraser 8 erases the electric charge in the area other than the latent image,
At the developing position X ₃ , toner is attached to the latent image by the developing device 9 to make it visible as a toner image, at the transfer position X _{4 the} toner image is transferred to the paper P by the transfer charger 10, and the photosensitive drum by the separation charger 11. The paper P separated from the sheet 5 is sent to the fixing device 13 by the conveyor belt 12 to fix the toner image on the paper P.

The paper P is fed one by one from a removable paper feed cassette 18 by a paper feed roller 19,
The timing roller 20 sends the photosensitive drum 5 to the transfer position X ₄ in synchronism with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 5. The paper feed cassette 18 is provided with a paper sensor 21 including a photo sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the paper P. Further, the surface of each point of the photosensitive drum 5 is cleaned by the cleaning device 14 after the toner image is transferred onto the paper P and before the transfer to the charging position X ₁ again, and the charge is uniformly removed by the main eraser 15. . A reflection type photo sensor (AIDC sensor) 16 including a light emitting element 16a and a light receiving element 16b is provided between the separation charger 11 and the cleaning device 14 to measure the density of the reference toner image.
Is provided.

The developing device 9 comprises a developing tank 90 and a toner tank 91 provided above the developing tank 90. By rotating a toner replenishing roller 92 provided at the bottom of the toner tank 91 with a replenishing motor 93, the toner tank 91 is obtained. From developing tank 90
Toner is supplied. In the developing tank 90, the screw roller 9 is provided below the toner supply roller 92.
4 is provided. By rotating the screw roller 94, the toner and the carrier in the developing tank 90 are mixed and sent to the bucket roller 95. Bucket roller 7
Reference numeral 4 rotates in the direction of arrow Mc to further agitate the developer consisting of toner and carrier, and this agitation causes triboelectrification so that the magnetic carrier and toner are charged with opposite polarities. The carrier with toner adheres to the developing sleeve 9
6 is attracted to the surface of the developing sleeve 96 by the magnetic roller 97 provided inside the developing sleeve 96, and the arrow M of the developing sleeve 96
It is conveyed to the developing position X ₃ as it rotates in the d direction. At the developing position X ₃ , the negative toner is on the photosensitive drum 5.
It adheres to the surface of the photoconductor drum 5 by electrostatic attraction with the surface charge of the. A developing bias V _B of a predetermined voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 96 in order to prevent the toner from being attached due to the residual electric charge remaining on the exposed portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 5. Further, the carrier separated from the toner due to the adhesion of the toner to the photosensitive drum 5 is returned to the developing tank 90,
It is mixed with the newly supplied toner.

A toner concentration sensor (ATDC sensor) 17 is provided below the screw roller 94, and the toner weight ratio T / T to the entire developer is determined from the magnetic permeability of the developer.
C [wt%] is measured, toner is supplied from the toner tank 91 to the developing tank 90 based on the measurement result, and the weight ratio of the toner to the entire developer is controlled to be within a certain range.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 200 of the copying machine 1 has a CPU 20 for controlling the entire copying machine 1.
1. Program memory 20 storing a control program
2, a memory 203 for storing various data used for controlling the electrophotographic process and management of the copying machine 1, a communication signal with an external device such as a handy tool 300 described later, and a connection signal for notifying connection of the handy tool 300 to the CPU 201. Interface 2 for input to
It is equipped with 04.

The CPU 201 includes the AE sensor 4 described above.
6, ATDC sensor 17, VO sensor 7, AIDC
The signals from the sensors of the respective parts such as the sensor 16 and the thermistor 5b and the output of the switch SW1 for switching the connection permission timing of the handy tool 300 are input.
The switch SW1 is composed of a switch such as a DIP switch, and is set at the time of factory shipment.

From the CPU 201, the exposure lamp 3
, An exposure lamp power source 211 for driving the replenishing motor 93, an output circuit 213 for setting the surface potential VO of the photosensitive drum 5, and a high voltage power source 214 for applying the developing bias V _B. A control signal is added to. In addition to controlling the electrophotographic process, the CPU 201 controls communication for sending data in the memory 203 to the external device in response to a command from the external device.

The data stored in the memory 203 includes past and present data including reference data BD which serves as a reference for controlling the electrophotographic process, setting values of each part which are appropriately changed during control, and installation environment information. There are status data CD indicating the condition, user data UD relating to user operation management such as management of the number of copies and consumables.

The copying machine 1 having the above-described structure transfers the status data CD and the command information data between the handy tool 300 and the normal mode for controlling each element of the copying machine 1 as will be described later. It is possible to perform operations in two operation modes including a maintenance mode for performing the above. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the handy tool 300 includes a display 302 for displaying guidance, a key group 303 in which various keys for operation input are arranged, a printer unit 304, and a connector 30 for connecting a cable 401.
It is equipped with 5. In addition, as shown in FIG.
Communication interface 306 for performing communication with the copying machine 1 via 01 and outputting a signal notifying the copying machine 1 of the connection of the handy tool 300, and for storing the guide data GD for supporting on-site work. Memory 3
07, a memory 308 capable of writing and reading work data WD indicating the contents of field work by a service person, and a CPU 301 for controlling the entire handy tool 300.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a cable 401 is attached to the communication interface 306 of the handy tool 300.
When the communication interface 204 of the copying machine 1 is connected via the pull-up resistor 205, the pull-up resistor 205 provided in the communication interface 204 of the copying machine 1 is grounded in the communication interface 306 of the handy tool 300 via the cable 401. A low level connection signal is output from one end of 205.

As shown in FIG. 3, 0 is assigned to the key group 303.
Keys corresponding to numbers 9 to 9 and alphabets A to F, arithmetic keys, cursor keys 30 for moving the cursor in the up, down, left and right directions on the screen of the display 302.
3a, enter to start execution of processing (ENTER)
A key 303b, a maintenance mode release key 303c for releasing the maintenance mode of the copying machine 1, and the like are provided.

The handy tool 3 configured as described above
00 is a component of the maintenance management system of the copying machine 1 and plays a role as a support means for the field work of the service person. That is, the handy tool 300 has a communication function for transferring data with the copying machine 1, an information storing function for storing information transferred from the copying machine 1 and information inputted by a service person, and a guide. Data G
A guidance for instructing a work procedure is displayed based on D, and a failure diagnosis and an automatic adjustment function are provided for sending a command signal for changing the set value of each part of the copying machine 1 as needed.

The serviceman connects the handy tool 300 to a host computer (not shown) at the service station and transfers the latest guide data GD to the handy tool 300 before going to the user for periodic inspection or troubleshooting. Let This guide data is sequentially updated based on the field information FD input to the host computer.

After this, the service person connects the handy tool 300 to the copying machine 1 at the user's end and transfers the status data CD indicating the condition from the memory 203 of the copying machine 1 to the handy tool 300 as shown in FIG. . Further, the information about the condition detected by the service person by the five senses is input to the handy tool 300 as the supplementary state data HCD.

The handy tool 300 has state data C
D, the supplemental state data HCD and the guide data GD are comprehensively determined, and guidance of the optimum work procedure corresponding to the condition is displayed. Then, the service person can proceed with the work accurately and quickly by following the guidance display. Further, from the handy tool 300, command information for changing the setting value of each part of the copying machine 1 according to a key input by a service person, and a command for changing the operation mode of the copying machine 1 from the maintenance mode to the normal mode. The signal is input to the copying machine 1.

Next, the main flow of the CPU 201 provided in the control circuit 200 of the copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be explained based on. As shown in FIG. 6, after the main flow is started by turning on the power, initial settings such as setting and clearing internal timers and flags of the CPU 200 to predetermined values are performed (S1), and the main flow is connected to the CPU 200. Ordinary inputs such as loads and signals that are present are collectively performed (S2). After that, it is determined whether or not the switch SW1 is on (S3), and if it is on, the operating state of the first internal timer (timer 1) set by initialization is checked (S4). The timer 1 is a timer which is started by setting a predetermined value by initial setting, and is stopped once the count is finished. On condition that the timer 1 is counting, the presence or absence of a connection signal indicating that the handy tool 300 is connected to the copying machine 1 via the cable 401 is checked (S
5) If there is a connection signal, it is further checked whether or not the connection flag indicating that the communication from the handy tool 300 has been received is on (S6). When there is a connection signal and it is confirmed that the communication from the handy tool 300 is received, the flag Flag1 for executing the maintenance program is set (S7), and the maintenance mode is entered.

In the maintenance mode, as shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the maintenance mode has been input using the release key 303c (S8), and if it has been input, the flag Flag1 is reset (S9). ), If not input, confirm that the connection signal is not turned off (S1
0: NO), and after confirming that the connection flag is on (S11: YES), the maintenance program is executed (S12).

When it is confirmed that the handy tool 300 is detached from the copying machine 1 and the connection signal is turned off (S10: YES), or the communication between the handy tool 300 and the copying machine 1 is made as described later. When the connection flag is off without being executed for a predetermined time (S11: N
In (O), the flag Flag1 is reset (S9) as in the case where the end of the maintenance mode is input, and the process proceeds to the end of the maintenance mode.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the maintenance mode end processing, it is determined whether or not the second internal timer (timer 2), which is set while the communication of the handy tool 300 is normally received, has timed up. Is determined (S
13). If the time is up, it means that communication of the Handy Tool 300 has been interrupted for a certain period of time.
The connection flag indicating that the communication with the handy tool 300 is normally performed is reset (S14), the process returns to the data input / output stage (S2), and the processes after S2 are repeated.

If it is determined that the switch SW1 of FIG. 7 is on (S3), it is determined whether the flag Flag1 is set (S15) and set. If so, it is assumed that the maintenance mode has already been entered, and the maintenance mode is entered. If not set, go to normal mode.

On the other hand, the first internal timer (timer 1)
In the step (S4) of determining whether is being counted,
If it is determined that the count has ended, a step of determining whether the flag Flag1 is set to 1 through a reception interrupt prohibition process (S21) for prohibiting an interrupt of a reception interrupt process (S100) described later. The process moves to (S15).

As shown in FIG. 10, in the normal mode, the state of the switch SW1 is checked (S16), and if it is off, it is determined whether or not the connection signal is on (S1).
7). When it is confirmed that the connection signal is on, it is confirmed whether or not the connection flag is on (S18). If the connection flag is on, the flag Flag1 is set (S19), and the maintenance mode end processing ( The process proceeds to S13, S14).

When the switch SW1 is on (S1
6) If the connection signal is off (S17) or if the connection flag is off (S18), the normal program is executed (S20). On the other hand, when the handy tool 300 is connected to the copying machine 1 and data is transferred from the handy tool 300 and received by the CPU 201 of the copying machine 1, an internal interrupt signal is generated, and the CPU 201 performs the process currently being executed. And the reception interrupt process (S
100) is executed.

In this reception interrupt process (S100), first, an interrupt prohibition process for prohibiting interrupts of other processes is performed (S101), and then whether or not the received data is regular data (data due to noise or the like). Check whether there is any abnormality in the above, whether it is defined data, etc. (S10
2) If the data is legitimate, the connection flag is set (S103) and the timer 2 is reset (S10).
4) stores the received data in the memory 203 (S10
5) After performing an interrupt permission process for canceling the inhibition of the interrupt of another process (S106), the process returns to the main routine to restart the previously interrupted process.

As described above, when the timer 2 is continuously set while the data from the handy tool 300 is normally received, and when the communication is interrupted, the timer 2 is timed up after a predetermined time elapses. The connection can be confirmed by the presence / absence of communication with the handy tool 300. The data transmission from the handy tool 300 to perform the reception interrupt process may be performed only in response to the operation of the key group 303, or may be automatically performed at a fixed cycle. Good.

The first internal timer (timer 1)
In the step (S4) of determining whether is being counted,
If it is determined that the counting is completed,
Although it may move to the step (S15) of judging whether or not the flag Flag1 is set to 1, in this embodiment,
After the reception interruption prohibition processing (S21) for prohibiting the interruption of the reception interruption processing (S100), the process shifts to the step (S15) of judging whether the flag Flag1 is set to 1 or not. As a result, when the switch SW1 is turned on, the reception interrupt process (S100) cannot be interrupted after the count of the timer 1 is completed, and the connection flag is not set after the maintenance mode being executed is completed (S103). , Maintenance mode will not be executed. If the switch SW1 is turned off, the operation in the normal mode is started for the time being, the handy tool 300 is connected to the copying machine 1 by the cable 401, and the reception interrupt processing (S100) is performed at an arbitrary timing. By interrupting, the connection flag is set (S103), the flag Flag1 is set to 1 (S19), and the maintenance mode can be entered (S2).
S3, SS15).

In the above embodiment, the connection signal is obtained by grounding the pull-up resistor 205 built in the communication interface 204 of the copying machine 1 in the communication interface 306 of the handy tool 300 via the cable 401. A switch is provided inside the connector to which the cable 401 is connected, and when the cable 401 is connected, the switch is turned on and a connection signal can be output, or a connection signal can be output from the output port of the CPU 301 of the handy tool 300. Is.

Alternatively, the connection signal may not be detected and only the presence or absence of received data may be detected. In this case, switching between the maintenance mode and the normal mode can be controlled only by the wiring required for communication. As described above, when the handy tool 300 is connected to the copying machine 1 by the cable 401 and the data is transmitted from the handy tool 300, the operation mode of the copying machine 1 is automatically switched to the maintenance mode so that various maintenance work can be performed. On the other hand, when the data transmission from the handy tool 300 is interrupted for a certain time or more, the maintenance mode end instruction is input, or the connection of the handy tool 300 itself is released, the copying machine 1 is automatically operated. The operation mode of is returned to the normal mode, and becomes a state where it is normally used as a copying machine.

[0039]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the main body is provided with the connection state detecting means for detecting the connection state of the external device, and the main body is based on the detection result of the connection state detecting means. Either the normal mode or the maintenance management mode is selected and executed.Therefore, it is not necessary to switch the operation mode from the normal mode to the maintenance management mode by the internal switch of the main body and the cover is opened. It is possible to switch from the normal mode to the maintenance management mode without having to change the condition by opening the cover, and it is possible to reliably obtain accurate guidance on the work procedure.

Further, if the connection of the external device is cut off or the communication from the external device is interrupted, the maintenance mode is automatically returned to the normal mode. Therefore, the trouble of returning to the maintenance mode is avoided and the maintenance mode is When it is released, it is surely returned to the normal mode, and there is no risk of forgetting to return the operation mode. In particular, in the present invention, when the connection state monitoring by the connection state detection means is limited to a predetermined period during operation of the main body,
It is possible to reduce the processing load after the lapse of the period, and it is possible to easily suppress the loop time to a fixed value of about 5 ms or less.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view showing the configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a handy tool.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the handy tool.

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram of a connection signal output circuit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of data communicated between a handy tool and a copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a part of a main flow of the copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a part of a main flow of the copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a part of a main flow of the copying machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a part of a main flow of the copying machine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a reception interrupt process of the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copier 201 CPU 204 communication interface 205 pull-up resistor 300 Handy Tool 306 Communication interface

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Takano             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kentaro Nagatani             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomokazu Kato             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Keiichi Nomura             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Maruta             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka             Kokusai Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for performing maintenance management by connecting an external device having a communication interface to a main body having a communication interface, wherein the main body is provided with a connection state detecting means for detecting a connection state of the external device. The image forming apparatus is configured to select and execute one of the normal mode and the maintenance management mode based on the detection result of the connection state detection unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein monitoring of the connection state by the connection state detection means is limited to a predetermined period during operation of the main body. 3. The connection state detection means is configured to determine that the connection with the external device has been released when a predetermined end signal is received from the external device. 1. The image forming apparatus according to 1.