JPH08152817A - Control system for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provider a control system for image forming device capable of reducing downtime caused by the shortage of the stock of consumables. CONSTITUTION: This control system for an image forming device stores the number of toner supplying times and the stock amount of a toner cartridge in a copying machine in a data base for controlling a copying machine constructed in an external storage device. The data on the stock amount of the toner cartridge is updated according to the number of toner supplying times and the data on the stock is displayed on a status information screen 66.

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 management system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus management system for managing inventory data of consumables in the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In many cases, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine has a display means composed of a liquid crystal panel or an LED on its upper surface. When consumables such as paper and toner loaded in the apparatus are used up, this is detected and displayed on the above-mentioned display means to prompt the user to replenish.

However, in such an image forming apparatus, inventory management of consumable items on the user side is not performed. Therefore, even if the product is out of consumables such as running out of paper or toner, the image forming apparatus does not operate when there is no stock, and it is a so-called downtime until the corresponding consumables are delivered. . In a copying machine management system in which a copying machine having a communication function is connected to a host computer via a line, the host computer manages information such as toner empty count, toner overflow count, and total count of copying operations in each copying machine. Things exist.

[0004]

In the above-described copying machine management system, each copying machine communicates with the host computer at a set time and transmits operating data including data such as the number of toner emptys and the number of toner overflows. In this copying machine management system, the consumption amount of consumables is simply counted by simply counting the number of toner empty times. Therefore, the user does not manage the inventory of consumables, and the downtime described above cannot be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus,
An object of the present invention is to provide a management system of an image forming apparatus capable of reducing downtime due to the exhaustion of consumables.

[0006]

A management system for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a use data management section, an inventory management section, and a display means. The usage data management unit stores usage data of consumables in the image forming apparatus. The stock management unit stores stock data of consumables in the image forming apparatus and updates the stock data based on the usage data. The display means displays the inventory data of the inventory management unit.

The image forming apparatus has a usage data management unit, and also has a communication control unit for communicating with a host computer connected via a line and transmitting usage data. The host computer has an inventory management unit. It is also possible to adopt a configuration including the display means and the display means. Alternatively, the communication control unit may be configured to periodically communicate with the host computer.

Further, the usage data management unit may be configured to manage the usage data of the toner based on the toner empty signal generated by the image forming apparatus.

[0009]

In the management system for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the inventory management section stores inventory data of consumables in the image forming apparatus. The inventory data is updated based on the consumable use data stored in the use data management unit. The inventory data of the inventory management section is displayed by the display means. Therefore, the inventory data of the consumables in each image forming apparatus is visually displayed by the display means, and the delivery plan of the consumables can be planned as necessary.

If the image forming apparatus is provided with a communication control unit for communicating with a host computer connected via a line, the use data management unit manages the use data of the consumables in the image forming apparatus. The inventory data can be managed by the host computer, and the inventory management of consumable items in each image forming apparatus can be reliably performed. If the communication control unit is configured to periodically communicate with the host computer, the consumable usage data stored in the usage data management unit is transmitted to the host computer during the regular communication. It is possible to reliably manage the inventory of consumables in each image forming apparatus.

When the toner usage data is managed based on the toner empty signal generated by the image forming apparatus, it is possible to reliably manage the toner inventory in each image forming apparatus.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a management system for an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Here, a copying machine is assumed as the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of copying machines 1 is connected to the copying machine management device 2. Each copying machine management device 2 is connected to a host computer 4 via a line 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 is provided with an exposure section 5 for reading a document on the upper part thereof. The exposure unit 5 is composed of a light source, a mirror, a lens unit and the like. Further, an image forming unit 6 for forming a toner image of the read original is provided at the center of the copying machine 1. The image forming section 6 has a photosensitive drum 7 on the surface of which an electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 7, a charging device 8, a developing device 9, a transfer separation device 10, and a cleaning device 11 are arranged.

A paper feed unit 12 is provided below the copying machine 1. The paper feeding unit 12 includes a bypass table 13 provided on the right side of the copying machine 1 in FIG. 2 and three paper feeding cassettes 14, 15, 16 arranged vertically below the copying machine 1.
A large paper feed cassette 17 and a paper feed device 18 for feeding the paper stored in the bypass table 13 or the paper feed cassettes 14 to 17 to the image forming unit 6. A sensor (not shown) is provided at the front end of each of the paper feeding cassettes 14 to 17 on the paper feeding side, and the number of sheets conveyed from each paper feeding cassette can be detected by this sensor.

On the downstream side of the image forming section 6 in the sheet conveying direction,
A paper discharge transport path 19 for transporting paper to the left side of the apparatus in FIG.
And a fixing device 20 for fusing and fixing the toner image on the paper.
And a discharge roller 21 for discharging the sheet at the time of fixing,
A paper discharge tray 22 for receiving paper is provided. Further, the copying machine 1 is provided with a control unit 31 shown in FIG. The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a RO.
It is composed of a microcomputer system including M, various drivers and various IOs. The input keys of the operation panel 23 and the display unit are connected to the control unit 31. Further, the control unit 31 is connected to a storage unit 32 that stores various operation data. The control unit 31 further includes a sheet feed number sensor 3 provided in each of the sheet feed cassettes 14 to 17.
3 is connected. The control unit 31 also includes a toner concentration detection sensor 34 that detects the toner concentration in the developing device 9.
Is connected. . This toner concentration detection sensor 34
Is provided in the developing device 9 for detecting the densities of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge in the developing device 9 and the carrier supplied in the hopper. The interface 35 connected to the control unit 31 is connected to the copying machine management device 2 and transmits a toner empty signal and the number of fed sheets for each sheet feeding cassette to the copying machine management device 2.

The copying machine management device 2 has a serial interface 41 connected to the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG.
have. Serial interface 41 is a CPU
It is connected to 42. The CPU 42 is composed of a so-called microcomputer system, and includes a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 43 and a ROM 4.
4, RAM 45, and a clock IC 46. N
The CU 43 is connected to a modem 47, and the modem 47 is connected to a public line.

As shown in FIG. 5, the host computer 4 has a CPU 51 and a RAM 5 connected to the CPU 51.
2, ROM 53 and input / output interface 54. A CRT 55 for display, an input keyboard 56, an external storage device 57, etc. are also connected to the CPU 51. The input / output interface 54 is provided with an input / output terminal such as RS232C, and is connected to the public line 3 via a communication modem 58. External storage device 57
Is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like, and a copying machine management database for managing operation data of each copying machine 1 transmitted via the public line 3 is constructed.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in the figure. Copier The copier 1 operates as shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1 and a command for setting the temperature of the fixing unit is generated. In step S2, it is determined whether or not the input key of operation panel 23 has been operated. If it is determined that the input key portion of the operation panel 23 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, a normal copy operation is performed based on the operation of the input key section of the operation panel 23. Step S4
Then, the number-of-paper-feeds data for each paper feed cassette based on the copy operation in step S3 is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2.

In step S5, it is determined whether the toner out of the developing device 9 is detected. The detection of the toner exhaustion can be determined by, for example, whether or not the toner density detected by the toner density detection sensor 34 provided in the developing device 9 is below a predetermined value. When the toner exhaustion is detected, the process proceeds to step S6.
In step S6, a display indicating that the toner is out is displayed on the display unit such as the liquid crystal display device or the LED provided on the operation panel 23. In step S7, a toner empty signal is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2. Step S8
Then, other processing is performed. In step S9, it is determined whether or not the power switch is operated. If the power is on, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the power is cut off, the operation of the copying machine 1 is stopped.

Copy Machine Management Device The copy machine management device 2 operates as shown in FIG. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the number-of-uses data for each paper feed cassette is received from the copying machine 1. When the number-of-uses data for each paper feed cassette is received from the copying machine 1, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12,
The number-of-uses data for each paper feed cassette stored in the RAM 45 is updated.

In step S13, it is determined whether a toner empty signal is received from the copying machine 1. When the toner empty signal is received, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the toner supply count stored in the RAM 45 is incremented. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the current time by the clock IC 46 is the regular communication time. When the regular communication time comes, the process proceeds to step S16. Step S
In 16, the communication with the host computer 4 is performed via the NCU 43, the modem 47 and the public line 3. Step S1
At 7, the host computer 4 transmits various operation data of the copying machine stored in the RAM 45 to the host computer 4. As the data to be transmitted, various operation data from the time of the previous regular communication to the present is transmitted, and includes the number of sheets used for each paper feed cassette and the consumption data of consumables such as toner supply count. Has been. In step S18, it is determined whether the reset signal from the host computer 4 has been received. When the reset signal is received from the host computer 4, the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, R
The number-of-uses data and the toner supply count for each paper feed cassette stored in the AM 45 are reset. In step S20, communication with the host computer 4 ends. After this, the process proceeds to step S21 and other processing is performed.

The operation of the host computer 4 when called by the host computer copying machine management device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S31, it is determined whether or not there is a call from the copying machine management device 2. If there is a call from the copying machine management device 2, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, various operation data of the copying machine 1 transmitted from the copying machine management device 2 are received. In step S33, the copying machine management set in the external storage device 57 is performed based on the usage number data for each paper feed cassette and the usage data of the consumables such as the toner supply count among the various operation data received in step S32. Update the usage data of the database. At the same time, the inventory data of the current consumables in the corresponding copying machine 1 is also updated. In step S34, based on the database of the external storage device 57, the inventory data of the copying machine 1 currently communicating is displayed using the CRT 55. Step S
35, the copy machine management device 2 currently communicating
Determines whether or not to reset the usage data of the consumable item stored in. This determination uses the display screen of the inventory data displayed in step S34 to wait for the operator of the host computer to make an input on the screen and then determine whether or not to reset. When performing the reset, the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the use data of the consumables, here, the used number data for each paper feed cassette and the reset signal for resetting the toner replenishment count are transmitted to the copying machine management device 2 which is currently communicating.

FIG. 9 shows an operation information screen of the copying machine 1 displayed in step S34 of FIG. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram of the operation information screen 61 displaying the operation data of the copying machine 1 being updated. The copy machine 1 is at the top of the operation information screen 61.
A user display field 62 indicating the installation location of is formed. A model display column 63 is provided below the user display column 62 and shows information such as the model of the copying machine 1. Below the model display column 63, an operation data display column 64 showing the date and time when the data was last collected, the total count of copying operations, the maintenance count, etc. is provided. Also,
The operation data display field 64 is provided with an information selection button 65. By selecting the information selection button 65 on the screen, more detailed operation data can be displayed. For example, when the status information button is selected from the information selection buttons 65 shown in FIG. 9A, the status information screen 66 shown in FIG. 9B is displayed. The status information screen 66 has an information display column 67 for displaying status information such as the number of toner empty, the number of toner overflow, the average toner empty number, the average toner overflow number, and a reset selection button 68 for displaying a reset screen. are doing. In this case, the status information displayed in the information display column 67 indicates toner usage data, and is updated based on the usage data transmitted from the copying machine management device 2 during communication.
When the reset selection button 68 is selected on the screen, FIG.
The reset button display screen 69 as shown in (c) is displayed. On the reset button display screen 69, an empty count reset button 70 and an overflow count reset button 71 are displayed. This reset button display screen 6
When the reset of the toner empty count or the toner overflow count is selected in 9, a reset signal is transmitted to the copying machine management device 2 which is currently communicating.

The toner consumption can be calculated based on the number of toner emptys and the number of toner overflows, but the toner consumption can be calculated by counting only the number of toner emptys. It is also possible to omit step S35 and always send a reset signal during communication. In this case, the toner empty number stored in the RAM 45 of the copying machine management device 2 is always reset during the regular communication. As the toner empty count of the copying machine 1 stored in the external storage device 57 of the host computer 4, the toner replenishment count transmitted from the copying machine management device 2 at the time of regular communication is input, and the copying machine 1 is always equipped with it. The value obtained by subtracting the toner empty count from the stock quantity of the toner cartridges present is the current stock quantity. For example, assuming that the copying machine 1 always has four toner cartridges in stock, if the number of toner empty times updated by the regular communication from the copying machine 1 is 4, the stock quantity on the user side is 0.
It is thought that it has become. Therefore, it becomes possible to make a delivery plan for delivering the toner cartridge to the user based on the information display field 67 after the regular communication.

Although it is considered here that the delivery plan is made based on the inventory quantity of the toner cartridge, the user always prepares based on the number of used sheets of each size transmitted from the copying machine management device 2. It is also possible to set the stock amount to be kept, display the number of used sheets of each size on the CRT on the host computer 4 side, and make a delivery plan for the sheets.

[0026]

In the image forming apparatus management system according to the present invention, the inventory data of the consumables managed by the inventory management unit is updated based on the usage data of the consumables in the image forming apparatus. It is possible to reliably manage the inventory of goods. When the image forming apparatus includes a communication control unit that communicates with a host computer connected via a line, the usage data of the consumables in the image forming apparatus is transferred from the use data management unit to the host via the line. The inventory of consumables in each image forming apparatus can be managed by the host computer, and the inventory of consumables can be surely grasped on the host computer side. Therefore, the host computer can formulate a delivery plan for the consumables to the user, and the downtime of the image forming apparatus can be surely reduced.

In the case where the communication control unit provided in the image forming apparatus is configured to periodically communicate with the host computer, the usage data of the consumable item is transferred to the host computer by utilizing this regular communication. It is possible to transmit the data, which makes it possible to reliably manage the inventory data of consumables in each image forming apparatus. When the toner usage data is managed based on the toner empty signal generated by the image forming apparatus, it is possible to reliably manage the inventory quantity of the toner cartridge which is one of the consumable items in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, downtime in the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a management system of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

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

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a copier management device.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of a copier management device.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of the host computer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation information screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier 2 Copier management device 3 Public line 4 Host computer 23 Operation panel 33 Paper feed number sensor 34 Toner density detection sensor 43 NCU 47 Modem 55 CRT 57 External storage device 61 Operating information screen 66 Status information screen 69 Reset button display screen

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

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A usage data management unit that stores usage data of consumables in an image forming apparatus, an inventory that stores inventory data of consumables in the image forming apparatus, and updates the inventory data based on the usage data. An image forming apparatus management system comprising: a management unit; and a display unit that displays inventory data of the inventory management unit. 2. The image forming apparatus includes the usage data management unit, and a communication control unit that communicates with a host computer connected via a line and transmits the usage data. The image forming apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the host computer includes the inventory management unit and the display unit. 3. The management system for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication control unit periodically communicates with the host computer. 4. The management of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usage data managing unit manages toner usage data based on a toner empty signal generated by the image forming apparatus. system.