JPH08152818A - Control device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily provide feedback information to a development side by obtaining history information on the occurrence of jamming in detail. CONSTITUTION: This control device 3 is a device which diagnoses the jamming circumstances of a copying machine 4, and is provided with a paper information recording means, a jamming detecting means and a jamming history diagnosing means. The paper information recording means time-sequentially and successively records carrying information on paper carried in the copying machine 4 and information associated with the paper in carrying order. The jamming detecting means is a means for detecting that the paper jamming occurs in the copying machine 4. When the jamming detecting means detects the occurrence of the jamming, the jamming history diagnosing means diagnoses the jamming history based on the information recorded in the paper information recording means.

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 apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus management apparatus for diagnosing a jam condition of the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device on an operation panel, and when a paper jam or jam occurs in the apparatus,
The location of the jam can be displayed using this display unit. By the way, a copying machine management system is recently provided in which a plurality of copying machines are managed by a host computer of a service center. In this system, the host computer monitors the operating state of each copying machine connected to the host computer. In this case, a management device is connected to the copying machine, and this management device stores the time of occurrence of the jam, the date, and the total count of the copying machine at the time of occurrence, and when a certain number of data are collected, these Send management data to the host computer. On the side of the host computer, by obtaining these pieces of information, it is possible to obtain history information of when and where the jam occurred.

[0003]

When the conventional copying machine management system as described above is used, jam history information can be obtained, so that a jam occurs at any place in the copying machine and at what frequency. It is possible to manage what to do.
However, in the conventional management system, the date and time of the jam occurrence,
Although the location and the cause are known, it is impossible to obtain more detailed information such as what kind of paper size and what kind of conveyance path frequently causes a jam. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the mechanism of the jam occurrence, and it is difficult to provide feedback to the development side.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate providing feedback information to the development side by obtaining detailed jam occurrence history information.

[0005]

An image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for diagnosing a jam condition of an image forming apparatus, and includes a sheet information recording unit, a jam detecting unit, and
And a jam history diagnosis means. The sheet information recording unit is a unit that sequentially records the transport information of the sheet transported in the image forming apparatus and the information related to the sheet in a time series according to the transport order. The jam detecting means is means for detecting that a paper jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus.
The jam history diagnosing means is means for diagnosing the jam history based on the information recorded in the paper information recording means when a jam occurrence is detected by the jam detecting means.

The image forming apparatus is preferably connected to a host computer for managing the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a line. Further, it is preferable to further include diagnostic information storage means for storing the jam history diagnostic information. When the image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed stages for respectively storing paper and a paper detection switch for detecting the passing state of the paper in the paper transport path, the paper information recording means is It is preferable to record the position information of the paper feed stage fed into the forming apparatus, the size information of the paper, and the on / off information of the paper detection switch.

When a jam occurrence is detected by the jam detecting means, a signal indicating the position of the paper remaining in the image forming apparatus is sent to the image forming apparatus based on the information recorded in the paper information recording means. It is preferable to further include a sheet retention position transmitting means for transmitting.

[0008]

In the image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention, the conveyance information of the sheet conveyed in the image forming apparatus and the information related to the sheet are sequentially recorded in the sheet information recording means in time sequence according to the conveyance order. Will be recorded. If the jam detecting unit detects that a jam has occurred in the image forming apparatus,
The jam history is diagnosed based on the information recorded in the paper information recording means.

Here, since the jam history is diagnosed not only based on the location and date and time of the jam, but also based on the information related to various sheets and their transportation, the mechanism of the jam can be clarified, and the root of the jam occurrence can be understood. The cause can be identified and information can be easily fed back to the development side. When the image forming apparatus is connected to the host computer, the jam history can be easily managed. Further, since jam history information can be obtained from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, it is possible to more easily clarify the cause of jam occurrence.

When a diagnostic information storage means for storing the jam history diagnostic information is further provided, more information can be obtained. When the image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed stages and a paper detection switch for detecting a passing state of paper, position information of the fed paper feed stages and paper size information, On / off information of the paper detection switch is recorded as paper information. In this case, it becomes clear which paper from which paper feed stage, which size of paper causes jam frequently, and the cause of jam occurrence becomes easy to understand.

If a signal indicating the position of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the image forming apparatus by the information recorded in the sheet information recording means when a jam occurs,
The jam processing on the image forming apparatus side becomes easy.

[0012]

1 is a system block diagram of a copying machine management system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This system includes a host computer 1, a plurality of management devices 3 and a copying machine 4 connected to the host computer 1 by a public line 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 1 includes a CPU 10 and a ROM connected to the CPU 10.
11, a RAM 12 and an input / output interface 13. The CPU 10 also has a display CRT.
14, a keyboard 15, and a storage unit 16 including a hard disk or the like are connected. The input / output interface 13 is provided with an input / output terminal such as RS232C, and is connected to the public line 2 via a communication modem 16.

A management device 3 connected to the copying machine
As shown in FIG. 3, has a CPU 20, a ROM 21, a RAM 22 and an input / output interface 23 connected to the CPU 20. In addition, this management device 3
Is connected with a timer IC 24 connected to the CPU 20 and a modem 25. The modem 25 is connected to the public line 2 via a network control unit (NCU) 26.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of the copying machine 4. An automatic document feeder 31 is provided above the copying machine 4. On the right side of the copying machine 4 in the drawing, a manual paper feed unit 32, paper feed cassettes 33 and 34, and a large paper feed cassette 35 are arranged in this order from the top. Also, the discharge tray 3 is on the left side of the figure.
6 are arranged. An image forming unit 40 including a photoconductor drum and the like is arranged in the center of the copying machine 4. Further, a document reading device 41 for reading the image information of the document is arranged above it. Further, a sheet feeding / conveying device 42 is arranged between each sheet feeding cassette and the image forming section 40,
A paper discharge conveyance device 43 is arranged on the downstream side of the image forming section 40. A fixing device 44 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge and transport device 43
Between the fixing device 44 and the paper discharge tray 36, a branching device 45 that discharges the paper to the paper discharge tray 36 side or conveys the paper downward, and a discharge roller 37 are arranged. A reversing device 46 for reversing the sheet is arranged above the branching device 45. An intermediate tray 47 is arranged in the lower space of the copying machine 4, an intermediate conveying path 48 is arranged between the intermediate tray 47 and the branching device 45, and further, between the intermediate tray 47 and the paper feeding conveying device 42. An intermediate paper feed path 49 is provided in the.

A control block diagram of the copying machine 4 is shown in FIG.
The copying machine 4 has a CPU 50. CPU50
A ROM 51, a RAM 52, and an input / output interface 53 are connected to the. In addition, the CPU 50
An operation panel 54 including various keys and a display unit, a sheet detection switch 55 provided on each sheet conveyance path, and other input / output units are connected. And the CPU of this copying machine 4
The management device 3 is connected to the device 50 via the input / output interface unit 53.

Next, the operation will be described. When the print key for starting the copy operation is pressed, the automatic document processor 3
The document is conveyed onto the document table by the number 1. The image information of the document is read by the document reading device 41, and a desired sheet is conveyed from the paper feed cassette to the image forming unit 40. In the image forming section 40, the image read from the document is used as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to the supplied paper. The sheet on which the image is transferred is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing device 44 and then discharged to the branching device 45 side. When the double-sided copy mode is selected, the sheet is once fed from the branching device 45 to the reversing device 46 to reverse the sheet, and then the sheet is sent to the intermediate tray 47 side via the intermediate conveying path 48. Then, the document is inverted on the automatic document feeder 31 side, and then the sheet is sent from the intermediate tray 47 side to the image forming section side through the intermediate sheet feeding path 49. Then, the image is transferred to the back surface of the paper, and after the fixing process is performed, the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 36 side.

While the paper is being conveyed in the copying machine 4, a paper detection switch is arranged in the middle of each conveyance path, and the passage of the paper is detected by turning the paper detection switch on and off. If the paper detection switch does not turn off after a lapse of a predetermined time after turning on, it is determined that a jam has occurred, that fact is displayed on the operation panel, and the copying operation is stopped.

Various kinds of information in such copying operation are sent to the management device 3 side. The management device 3 stores various management data according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and transmits it to the host computer 1 side via the public line 2. In the management device 3, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not it is the reception of regular management data that is periodically sent. Further, in step S2, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating that a jam has occurred is received.

If it is determined that normal data has been received, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S3. In step S3, the received data is stored in the RAM 22. As this normal management data, as shown in FIG. 8, data indicating from which paper feed cassette the paper is fed, data indicating the size and direction of the paper, and data provided in the paper conveyance path. It also includes ON / OFF data of each sheet detection switch. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the paper has passed through the inside of the copying machine 4 normally. Whether or not the sheet has normally passed is determined by whether or not all the sheet detection switches on the transport path preset in the management device 3 have been normally turned on and off. If it passes normally, the process proceeds to step S5, and the stored data is reset.
On the other hand, when it is not recognized that the vehicle normally passed, the process proceeds to step S2.

When a signal indicating a jam is input,
The process moves from step S2 to step S6. Step S
In FIG. 6, the jam history is determined from the data stored in the RAM 22 of the management device 3, that is, the size of the paper supplied from which paper feed cassette, the size of the paper, and the position on the transport path where the paper is transported. Diagnose whether it is stopped. Next, in step S7, the history diagnosis information is transmitted to the host computer 1 side. Further step S
In 8, the signal is transmitted to the copying machine 4 to display the position of the sheet staying inside the copying machine 4 at the jam occurrence point on the display unit on the operation panel 54. Next, in step S9, these data are reset to prepare for reception of the next data.

Here, two-sided copies of two double-sided originals (one A4 size original and one A3 size original) are printed at the same size.
Consider an example of making a copy. In addition, the upper sheet feeding cassette 3
3 and A4 size paper in the lower paper feed cassette 34
It is assumed that 3 size sheets are set. Further, the sheet detection switch includes a sheet feeding / conveying device 42, a registration roller portion in front of the image forming section 40, a sheet conveying device 43, a fixing device 44, a branching device 45, an intermediate tray 47, a discharge roller 37.
Are provided in the vicinity of each.

In such an operation mode, at the time of front surface image formation, the paper is conveyed from the paper feed cassettes 33 and 34 to the paper ejection conveyance device 43 through the paper feed conveyance device 42 and the registration rollers in front of the image forming section 40. And the fixing device 4
After passing through 4, the data is input to the branching device 45 and further stored in the intermediate tray 47. Then, at the time of forming the back side image, the paper is conveyed from the intermediate tray 47 to the paper feeding and conveying device 42,
Similar to the previous operation, the sheet is conveyed from the registration rollers of the image forming section 40 to the fixing device 44 through the sheet discharge conveying device 43 and is discharged to the discharge tray 36.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing the above flow. In FIG. 8, ◯ shown at the top of each line indicates a course through which the paper sheet will pass. Also, the circles in the lower part of each row indicate that the paper has actually passed.
Here, in the case of serial numbers 1 to 3 in FIG. 8, since all the paper detection switches are normally turned on and off, RA is actually
It is erased from above M22. Further, since the serial numbers 7 to 8 have not yet entered the paper feeding operation, they do not actually exist in the RAM 22.

Now, suppose that a jam has occurred at the portion marked with J in FIG. In this case, only the data of serial numbers 4 to 6 are stored on the RAM 22. Then, it can be seen that three sheets remain in the copying machine. Further, the main cause of the jam is the jam history information that the jam occurs in the fixing unit when the A4 size sheet is conveyed from the intermediate tray 47. Further, in the copying machine, one sheet of A3 size is provided between the sheet detection switch of the registration roller section and the sheet detection switch of the sheet discharging and conveying apparatus section, and the A3 size sheet is attached to the sheet detecting switch section of the sheet feeding and conveying apparatus. You can see that one is left. In step 8 of FIG. 6, these pieces of information are displayed on the display unit.

As described above, the detailed history of the jam can be diagnosed by referring to the data shown in FIG. 8, so that the root cause of the jam can be found and these can be fed back to the development side. This makes it easy to eliminate the cause of the jam. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 7, the host computer 1 side determines whether or not the regular communication from the management device 3 is received in step S10. In step S11, it is determined whether or not jam history diagnosis information has been sent. If it is determined that data has been received during regular communication, another process is executed. If it is determined that the jam history information is received, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S12. In step S12, the sent history diagnosis information is stored in the storage unit 16.

Since the jam history diagnosis information is stored in the storage unit 16 of the host computer 1 in this way, it is possible to know the tendency of jam occurrence from a large amount of data and to more accurately determine the cause of jam occurrence. In the present embodiment, since the table shown in FIG. 8 is created in time series, the detailed history can be known by simply recording the state of the input paper detection switch.

[Other Embodiments] (a) Although the jam history diagnosis is performed in the management device 3 in the above embodiment, various data are transmitted to the host computer 1 side, and the jam history diagnosis is performed by the host. It may be performed in the computer 1. (B) The present invention is not limited to the copier management system.
The invention can be similarly applied to other image forming apparatuses such as printers and facsimile machines.

[0029]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus management apparatus according to the present invention, the jam history is diagnosed based on the information related to various sheets and their transportation, so that the jam mechanism can be clarified. It is easy to find the root cause of the occurrence. If the jam history diagnosis means is provided in the host computer to which the image forming apparatus is connected, the jam history can be easily managed. Also,
The jam history information from the plurality of image forming apparatuses facilitates more accurate elucidation of the cause of the jam occurrence.

When the storage means for jam history diagnosis information is provided, more information can be obtained. When the positional information of the fed paper feed stage, the size information of the paper, and the ON / OFF information of the paper detection switch are recorded as the paper information, a more detailed jam occurrence mechanism can be easily clarified.

When a signal indicating the position of the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the image forming apparatus when a jam occurs, the jam processing on the image forming apparatus side becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a copying machine management system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a management device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the copying machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a management device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a host computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host computer 3 Management device 4 Copier 10, 20, 50 CPU 55 Paper detection switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A management apparatus for an image forming apparatus for diagnosing a jam condition of the image forming apparatus, wherein the information on the sheet conveyed in the image forming apparatus and the information related to the sheet are time-sequentially according to a conveyance order. Information recording means for sequentially sequentially recording, a jam detecting means for detecting occurrence of paper jam in the image forming apparatus, and a paper information recording means for detecting jam occurrence by the jam detecting means An image forming apparatus management apparatus comprising: a jam history diagnosing unit that diagnoses a jam history based on the information recorded in the. 2. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is connected to a host computer for managing a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a line. 3. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising diagnostic information storage means for storing the jam history diagnostic information. 4. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed stages for accommodating paper sheets, and a paper detection switch for detecting a passing state of the paper in the paper conveyance path. 4. The recording means records position information of a paper feed stage fed into the image forming apparatus, size information of paper, and ON / OFF information of the paper detection switch. A management device for an image forming apparatus as described. 5. When a jam occurrence is detected by the jam detecting means, a signal indicating the position of the paper remaining in the image forming apparatus is sent to the image forming apparatus based on the information recorded in the paper information recording means. The image forming apparatus management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet retention position transmission unit that transmits the sheet retention position to the apparatus.