JPH07264313A - Managing device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically communicate with a maintenance engineer by providing a means which stores a communication method to the maintenance engineer and a communication means when a fault requiring a service call occurs in an image forming device. CONSTITUTION:When the fault occurs in the image forming device, a fault specification judging means issues a paging request when judging it as a serious fault. A control part 70 displays the service call on a display part 62, and also, reads out the telephone number of a paging device carried by a serviceman in charge stored in a storage area 72, and performs a dialing operation via a network control unit(NCU) 73 and a modem 74. When a line is connected, the ID of the image forming device, a fault code and every kind of operating data, etc., held by a storage part 71 are transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to easily communicate with the maintenance engineer of the image forming device without interposing an operator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a management device, and more particularly to a management device for an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine uses an LED.
A display unit such as a liquid crystal display device is provided, and when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus, the display unit is used to display a failure code, a failure location, and the like.
In the case of a trouble that can be solved by a simple repair work such as paper jam, the user can deal with the trouble according to the content displayed on the display unit. On the other hand, in case of complicated troubles, a specialized service person is called.

As a system having a configuration for calling a professional service person, there is a network system in which a plurality of copying machines are connected to a host computer of a service center by using a telephone line or the like and the operating state of each copying machine is monitored. Exists. In this case, when a trouble occurs in the copying machine, the copying machine automatically accesses the host computer and sends a trouble report. At the service center, the operator of the host computer contacts the service person and dispatches the service person for failure recovery.

[0004]

At the service center, the operator is required to receive a notification of trouble and dispatch a service person, so the work is complicated. Moreover, since it is necessary to always secure personnel as an operator, the maintenance cost of the network system is inevitably high.

An object of the present invention is to enable easy management of an image forming apparatus at low cost.

[0006]

An image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention includes a paging request generating means provided in the image forming apparatus and a method of transmitting to a paging apparatus owned by a person in charge of the image forming apparatus. And a communication means for calling the paging device.
The communication means calls the paging device based on the storage in the storage means when a paging request is generated by the paging request generation means.

When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, a failure type determination means for determining the type of failure that has occurred and the paging request generation means based on the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. It is preferable to further include a start-up determination means for determining whether or not to start up. Further, it is preferable that the communication unit transmits the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus. Further, it is more preferable that the communication means further includes a connection means to a public line.

Another image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention comprises a paging requesting means capable of issuing a paging request,
It has a host computer. The paging request means is provided in the image forming apparatus. The host computer stores the transmission method to the paging apparatus owned by the person in charge of the image forming apparatus and the storage in the storage section when receiving the paging request from the paging request section. And a communication means for calling the paging device.

It is preferable that a communication line for connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer is further provided. Further, based on the failure type determination means provided in the image forming apparatus for determining the type of failure that has occurred when the image forming apparatus fails, and the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. It is preferable to further include a start-up determination means for determining whether or not to activate the paging request generation means.

Further, the paging request includes a judgment result by the failure type judging means, and the communication means transmits the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus. Is preferred.

[0011]

In the management apparatus according to the present invention, when the paging request generation means provided in the image forming apparatus issues a paging request, the communication means calls the paging apparatus based on the storage of the storage means. At this time, since the storage unit stores the communication method to the paging apparatus owned by the person in charge of the image forming apparatus, the communication unit communicates with the paging apparatus owned by the person in charge.

With this, when a paging request is generated in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily contact the person in charge of the image forming apparatus without the intervention of the operator. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily manage the image forming apparatus at low cost. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the paging request generation means is activated based on the failure type determination means for determining the type of failure that has occurred and the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. The above-mentioned operation is more effective when the system further includes a start-up determination means for determining whether or not it is. Further, when the communication unit is adapted to transmit the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus, the above-described operation is further effective. Further, when the communication means has a connection means to a public line, the above-mentioned action becomes more effective.

In another image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention, when the paging request generation means provided in the image forming apparatus issues a paging request, the communication means provided in the host computer stores in the storage means. Call the paging device based on At this time, since the storage unit stores the communication method to the paging apparatus owned by the person in charge of the image forming apparatus, the communication unit communicates with the paging apparatus owned by the person in charge.

Thus, when a paging request is generated in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily contact the person in charge of the image forming apparatus without the intervention of the operator. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily manage the image forming apparatus at low cost. If the communication line connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer is further provided, the above operation becomes more effective. Further, based on the failure type determination means provided in the image forming apparatus for determining the type of failure that has occurred when the image forming apparatus fails, and the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. In the case where the system further includes a startup determination unit that determines whether or not to activate the paging request generation unit, the operation is further effective.
When the paging request includes a determination result by the failure type determination means, and the communication means transmits the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus, The action becomes more effective.

[0015]

In Embodiment] FIG. 1 showing a copying machine which employs an embodiment of the first embodiment the present invention, the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1 is fixed platen 2, the document pressing is on the document table 2 3 is provided so that it can be opened and closed.

Inside the copying machine main body 1, an exposure unit 4 for reading a document is provided on the upper portion thereof. The exposure unit 4 is composed of a light source, a mirror, a lens unit and the like. An image forming unit 5 for forming a toner image of a read original is provided at the center of the copying machine main body 1. The image forming section 5 has a photosensitive drum 6 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 6, a charging device 7, a developing device 8, a transfer separation device 9 and a cleaning device 10 are arranged.

A paper feeding section 11 is provided below the copying machine main body 1. The paper feeding section 11 includes a bypass table 12 provided on the right side of the copying machine main body 1 in FIG. 1, and three paper feeding cassettes 13 arranged vertically below the copying machine main body 1.
14, 15 and a large paper feeding cassette 16 arranged on the right side of the paper feeding cassettes 13, 14, 15 and the paper stored in the bypass table 12 or the paper feeding cassettes 13 to 16 is conveyed to the image forming unit 5. Paper feeding device 17 for
It consists of and. The paper feeding device 17 has paper feed rollers 18 to 21 for taking out the uppermost paper in the paper feed cassettes 13 to 16 and sorting rollers 22 to 25 for separating the taken out papers one by one. is doing.

On the downstream side of the image forming section 5 in the sheet conveying direction,
Paper discharge transport path 30 for transporting paper to the left side of the apparatus in FIG.
And a fixing device 31 for fusing and fixing the toner image on the paper.
And a discharge roller 32 for discharging the sheet at the time of fixing,
A paper discharge tray 33 for receiving the paper is provided. The fixing device 31 includes a heat roller 3 having a heater inside.
4 and a pressure roller 35 that can be pressed against the heat roller 34.

An operation panel 60 is arranged at the upper part of the copying machine main body 1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 60 is provided with a key input section 61 and a display section 62. A numeric keypad 63, a print key 64, a clear stop key 68, etc. are arranged in the key input section 61. Further, the display unit 62 has a numerical value display unit 65 for displaying the number of copies and a service man code, and an LED display unit for displaying paper jam, toner replacement, paper replenishment, paper feed roller replacement time, and the like. 66 and a liquid crystal display 67 for displaying various information are arranged.

Further, the copying machine main body 1 is provided with a control unit 70 shown in FIG. The control unit 70 includes a CPU,
It is composed of a microcomputer system including RAM, ROM, various drivers, and various IOs. Control unit 7
0 indicates the input key section 61 and the display section 6 of the operation panel 60.
2 is connected. A storage unit 71 that stores various operation data is connected to the control unit 70. The storage unit 71 is provided with a communication information storage area 72 that stores a communication method when a failure occurs. The storage area 72 stores the telephone number of the mobile paging device carried by the service person in charge of this copying machine. Further, the storage area 72 stores a failure code that needs repair by a service person. The control unit 70 further includes a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU).
73 is connected, and is connected to a public line (not shown) via a communication modem 74.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the start of the copy operation is instructed by the operation of the print key 64, the exposure unit 4 reads the image of the document on the document table 2, and the desired paper is fed from the paper feed cassettes 13 to 16 or the bypass table 12 to the image forming unit 5. Is supplied to. In the image forming section 5, the image read from the original is used as a toner image and transferred to the supplied paper. The sheet on which the image has been transferred undergoes a fixing process by the fixing device 31, and is then ejected to the sheet ejection tray 33.

On the other hand, during the operation of the copying machine, the failure processing operation shown in FIG. 4 is executed. In FIG. 4, in step S1, it is determined whether or not a failure has occurred. This judgment is made based on various known sensors (not shown) arranged in the copying machine. When a failure occurs, the determination in step S1 becomes Yes, and the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the corresponding failure code is specified,
A display according to the failure is performed on the display unit 62. This step S
2, the code of the fault currently occurring and the storage area 7
Compare with the code of the failure that needs to be repaired by the service person stored in 2.

In such a copying operation, a failure that may normally occur is a paper jam that occurs in the paper feed rollers 18 to 21, the photosensitive drum 6, the paper discharge conveyance path 30, the fixing device 31, the discharge roller 32, and the toner in the developing device 8. Consumption of paper, cassette 1
3 to 16 is the consumption of paper. When such a system trouble occurs, the numerical value display section 6 of the display section 62.
Display the code corresponding to 5. Further, in order to help the general user understand, the explanation is displayed on the LED display section 66. In the case of a paper jam, a display corresponding to the position where the paper jam has occurred is also displayed. Since such an error can be dealt with even if the operator has a low knowledge level, the above-described display is provided on the display unit 62 so that anyone can deal with it. . At this time, a specific operation method is displayed on the liquid crystal display 67.

On the other hand, in the case of a serious trouble that can be dealt with only by professional service personnel (those who have advanced equipment knowledge) among the operators, a code corresponding to the numerical value display section 65 of the display section 62. While displaying
The liquid crystal display 67 displays an explanation to call the service person. Here, the liquid crystal display 67 does not display a specific operation method.

In step S3, it is determined based on the judgment in step S2 whether or not the failure currently occurring requires repair by a professional service person. In step S3, the currently occurring failure is
If it is judged that repair by a service person is necessary,
Control goes to step S4. In step S4, the telephone number of the mobile paging device of the responsible service person stored in the storage area 72 is read. Next, in step S5, the step S5 is performed via the NCU 73 and the modem 74.
The dialing operation of the telephone number read in 4 is performed. In step S6, data such as the ID of the copying machine and the failure code is transmitted to the portable paging device, and the communication ends.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not there is a reset input by the operator. While there is no reset input, the process returns to step S3. If it is determined in step S7 that the reset input has been made, the set value is initialized and the failure processing is ended. Second Embodiment The present invention can also be implemented by a configuration in which a plurality of copying machines 100 are connected to a host computer 80 of a service center via a public line 88 (or a private line) as shown in FIG.

In this case, the host computer 80 includes a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a ROM 83 and an input / output interface 84 connected to the CPU 81, as shown in FIG. This CPU 81 has a CRT 8 for display.
5, an input keyboard 86, an external storage device 87, etc. are also connected. RS23 for the input / output interface 84
Input / output terminals such as 2C are provided and connected to the public line 88 via a communication modem (not shown).

Each copying machine 100 normally operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S11, it is determined whether or not a copy operation has been performed by the operator. Here, when the key input unit 61 of the operation panel 60 is operated, the process proceeds to step S12 and the key input unit 6 is operated.
The normal copy operation according to the operation 1 is performed. Step S
If it is determined in 11 that the copy operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13,
It is determined whether or not the current time is the time of regular communication.
In the copying machine 100, when the regular communication time set in advance and stored in the storage unit 71 is reached, the process proceeds from step S13 to step S14 to communicate with the host computer 80. In step S15, a data transmission / reception operation such as transmitting various operation data from the time of the previous regular communication to the present to the host computer is performed. Step S13
If it is determined that the current time is not the regular communication time in,
Then, the process proceeds to step S16, and another general process is performed.

When a failure occurs in the copying machine 100, the failure control as shown in FIG. 8 is performed. In step S21, it is determined whether or not a failure has occurred. This judgment is made based on various known sensors (not shown) arranged in the copying machine. When a failure occurs, the determination in step S21 becomes Yes, and the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the corresponding failure code is specified, and a display corresponding to the failure is displayed on the display unit 62 (the same as step S2 in FIG. 4).

In step S23, it is determined whether or not the presently occurring failure is a failure that can be easily repaired by the processing by the user (the same as step S3 in FIG. 4). If it is determined that the failure can be repaired by the user, the process directly proceeds to step S25,
Wait for the reset input by the operator. When it is determined in step S23 that the repair by the user is impossible, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, communication with the host computer 80 is performed, and the model number,
Send the code of the fault currently occurring and other data. In step S24, when the information indicating that the service person is being called (step S35 in FIG. 9) is received during the communication with the host computer 80, the display section 62 indicates that the service person in charge is being contacted. Display as shown.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a reset input by the operator. While there is no reset input, the process returns to step S23. If it is determined in step S25 that the reset input has been made, the set value is initialized and the failure processing is ended. On the other hand, the host computer 80 determines whether or not there is a call (step S24) by the copying machine 100 in step S31 of FIG. If the call is received, the process proceeds from step S31 to step S32.

In step S32, the failure data is received from the copying machine 100 and it is determined whether or not the currently occurring failure can be repaired by remote control. Step S3
When it is determined that the repair can be performed by the remote operation in 2, the process proceeds to step S33, and the repair processing by the remote operation is performed via the communication line 88. When it is determined in step S32 that the repair processing by remote operation is impossible,
Control goes to step S34.

In step S34, the host computer 80 dials the mobile paging device carried by the service person in charge of the copying machine 100 who received the call. When the line is connected, the model number of the copying machine 100 that received the call, the fault code that has occurred, and the like are transmitted. In step S35, the copying machine 10 that received the call
A message to the effect that the service person in charge is contacted is sent to 0.

The host computer 80 is a copying machine 100.
The operation as shown in FIG. If a request for regular communication is received from the copying machine 100, the determination in step S41 is Yes, and step S4 is performed.
Move to 1. In step S42, the copying machine 100
It is determined whether or not it is time to perform maintenance such as repair or replacement of parts, by combining the data received from (step S15) and past operation data. Step S4
When it is determined in 2 that it is time to perform maintenance, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, it is determined whether processing can be performed by remote control from the host computer 80. If you determine that processing is possible by remote control,
Control goes to step S44. In step S44, maintenance processing is performed by remote control via the communication line 88. If it is determined in step S43 that the process by remote control is impossible, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, it is determined whether maintenance work by a professional service person is required.
If you decide that maintenance work is possible by a simple work by the user without requiring a service person,
Control goes to step S46. Here, the instruction contents of the maintenance work to the operator (user) are displayed on the copying machine 10.
Send to 0.

If it is determined in step S44 that maintenance work by a service person is necessary, the process proceeds to step S47. In step S47,
Call the telephone number of the mobile paging device carried by the service person in charge of the copying machine 100,
Send the model number of, the required maintenance work code, etc.

In step S48, the line connection with the copying machine 100 is terminated and the regular communication is terminated. [Other Embodiments] It is also possible to store individual failure histories in the storage unit 71 of the copying machine and judge whether or not to dial the service person based on this.

[0038]

With the management apparatus according to the present invention, when a paging request is generated in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily contact the person in charge of the image forming apparatus without the intervention of an operator. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily manage the image forming apparatus at low cost.

When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, the paging request generation means is based on the failure type determination means for determining the type of failure that has occurred and the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. In the case where the system further includes a startup determination means for determining whether or not to start
The above effect becomes more remarkable. Further, when the communication unit is configured to transmit the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus, the effect becomes more remarkable. Further, when the communication means has a connection means to a public line, the above effect becomes more remarkable.

In another image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention, when the paging request generating means provided in the image forming apparatus issues a paging request, the image forming apparatus can be simply operated without the intervention of an operator on the host computer side. It becomes possible to contact the person in charge. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily manage the image forming apparatus at low cost.

If a communication line connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer is further provided, the above effect becomes more remarkable. Further, based on the failure type determination means provided in the image forming apparatus for determining the type of failure that has occurred when the image forming apparatus fails, and the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. When the paging request generation means is further activated, the effect is more remarkable. Further, the paging request is determined by the failure type determination means. Including the result, when the communication unit transmits the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus, the effect becomes more remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a copying machine in which a first embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of control components of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an image forming network in which a second embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a host computer of the image forming network.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of the copying machine of the image forming network.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of the copying machine of the image forming network.

FIG. 9 is a control flowchart of a host computer of the image forming network.

FIG. 10 is a control flowchart of a host computer of the image forming network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 61 input key unit 62 display unit 70 control unit 71 storage unit 72 storage area 73 NCU

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Inanaka 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A paging request generation unit provided in an image forming apparatus, a storage unit that stores a transmission method to a paging apparatus owned by a person in charge of the image forming apparatus, and a paging request generated by the paging request generation unit. When it occurs, based on the memory in the storage means,
An image forming apparatus management apparatus, comprising: a communication unit that calls the paging apparatus. 2. When a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus,
Further, a failure type determination means for determining the type of failure that has occurred, and a start determination means for determining whether or not to activate the paging request generation means based on the failure type determined by the failure type determination means. The management device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is provided. 3. The management apparatus for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit transmits the failure type of the image forming apparatus to the paging apparatus after calling the paging apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit further includes a connection unit to a public line. 5. A paging request means, which is provided in the image forming apparatus, capable of issuing a paging request, a storage means for storing a transmission method to the paging apparatus owned by a person in charge of the image forming apparatus, and the paging request means. And a host computer having a communication unit that calls up the paging device based on the storage in the storage unit when receiving a paging request from the image forming device management apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a communication line connecting the image forming apparatus and the host computer. 7. A failure type determination means, which is provided in the image forming apparatus, for determining the type of failure that has occurred when the failure occurs in the image forming apparatus, and a failure type determined by the failure type determination means. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: a start determination unit that determines whether or not to activate the paging request generation unit based on the above. 8. The paging request includes a judgment result by the failure type judging means, and the communication means, after calling the paging device,
The management device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the failure type of the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the paging apparatus.