JPS63301974A - Display device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and distinctly discriminate a trouble by dividing a trouble code into plural blocks and repeatedly displaying respective blocks of the trouble code in order at every block unit. CONSTITUTION:The number of copies set by an up key 3 and a down key 4 is displayed on a display part 7 in the normal state, and the displayed number of copies is counted down by one at every time of terminating one copying and the updated number of copies is displayed. When an improper state such as jamming or trouble of a device itself is detected, the trouble code corresponding to the detected improper state is displayed on the display part 7. In a display example, the trouble code consists of a code (classification code) indicating the trouble classification such as J or C and a two-digit numerical value (position code) indicating the position where trouble occurs, and the classification code and the position code are repeatedly displayed in order. Thus, the occurrence of trouble is easily and distinctly recognized to prevent the complication on a console panel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, particularly a display apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer image reader, or a facsimile machine. , relates to a display device of an image forming apparatus that displays a trouble code based on the detection result.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a display device 1 of an image forming apparatus, when an improper state such as a malfunction of the jam device itself is detected inside the apparatus, the detected improper state is displayed in accordance with the detection result. type,
A multi-digit trouble code consisting of symbols and numbers indicating the occurrence location etc. is displayed on the 7-segment display installed on the operation panel to inform the operator and service personnel of the status of the copying machine. Such devices require as many indicators as there are digits in the trouble code.

Nowadays, image forming devices such as copying machines are becoming more and more multi-functional, and the mechanisms and circuits of the devices are becoming more and more complex. When trying to do this, the number of digits in the trouble code inevitably increases.However, in conventional display devices such as those described in -, the number of display devices required increases as the number of digits in the trouble code increases. This also increases the complexity of the operation panel and increases the cost of the device itself.

Therefore, in order to solve the inconvenience mentioned in -, we decided to
Japanese Patent No. 9582 proposes a display device for a copying machine that serves both as a display for displaying the number of copies and a display for displaying a trouble code indicating an inappropriate state of the copying machine.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention (In this case, 1) Although the disadvantages such as the complexity of the operation panel and the increased cost of the device itself can be solved to some extent, the number of copies and the trouble caused by the same display unit are reduced to some extent. Because the code is displayed, it is difficult to distinguish between the number of copies displayed and the trouble code displayed.This inconvenience is particularly noticeable for general operators when it comes to image forming devices such as copying machines. .

Therefore, the present invention aims to display trouble codes with fewer displays (thereby solving the inconveniences such as complicating the operation panel and increasing costs, as well as making it easier for the operator to identify the rough code). An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for an image forming apparatus that can perform the following functions.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a plurality of state detection means for detecting whether each part of the image forming apparatus is in an inappropriate state. The type of inappropriate state detected based on the detection result is shown. In a display device of an image forming apparatus that displays a multi-digit trouble code consisting of symbols and/or numerical values, etc., the trouble code is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the two trouble codes are sequentially and repeatedly displayed for each block. It is characterized by

Embodiment FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing the operation panel of a copying machine. In the figure, (1) is the print key for starting the copying operation, (2) is the clear stop key for interrupting the copying operation and returning the number of copies to the standard state, (3)
4) is an up key and a down key for setting the number of copies to increase or decrease the set number of copies; (5) is an exposure level adjustment knob for changing the light amount level of the exposure lamp in order to adjust the density of the copied image; 6) is an LED that lights up during copying operation or when a jam is detected to indicate that the print key (1) is prohibited from being accepted, and (8) is an LED that indicates that a jam has occurred. , (7) is a display unit that displays the number of copies and trouble codes.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the display section (7) is capable of displaying two-digit numbers or symbols, and consists of two seven-segment displays (7a) and (71)).

Display ySvS (7) displays the number of copies set using the up key (3) and down key (4) in the normal state, and the displayed number of copies changes every time one copy is completed. The remaining number of copies is displayed.

On the other hand, if an inappropriate state of the copying machine, such as a jam or a failure of the apparatus itself, is detected, a trouble code corresponding to the detected inappropriate state is displayed on the display section (7). below,
This trouble code and its display method will be described below. Regarding the detection of the above-mentioned inappropriate state, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5
5-96963 (jam detection), etc., and since these known techniques can be utilized in the present invention, illustrations and detailed explanations will be omitted.

Figure 2 (a) + (+1) l (C) shows the display section (7
) shows an example of trouble code display. The trouble code is made up of a symbol indicating the type of draft (hereinafter referred to as the type code) such as "J" or tt C" and a two-digit number indicating the location where the draft occurs (hereinafter referred to as the position code). By displaying this trouble code on the display section (7) on the operation panel, the operator is clearly notified of the occurrence of the drubbing, the type of trouble, and the location where the drubbing has occurred.

Figure 2 (a) shows how the trouble code 5J05'' is displayed on the 7-segment display (7a) sequentially starting from the most significant digit by - character, and between the display of each symbol and numerical value, In this method, a state in which nothing is displayed for a certain period of time is provided, and then the trouble code is displayed repeatedly in sequence. Figure 2 (b) shows another display method, in which the trouble code is displayed sequentially (from the highest digit). KoゝゝJ // , S
Display S Q //, +L 5 //, and then
A state is provided in which the trouble code is not displayed for a certain period of time, and then the trouble code is repeatedly displayed in sequence starting from the higher digit. FIG. 2(C) shows yet another display method, in which the trouble code is divided into blocks of type code and position code, and the type code and position code are repeatedly displayed in sequence.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of the copying machine according to the present invention. In the figure, (CPU) is a microcomputer, and the program stored in the ROM (not shown) and various keys on the operation panel, etc. Depending on the output port (
From POO), (POI), (PO2)...
Exposure lamp, charger, transfer charger...
Outputs element control signals for each part of the copying machine, such as...

In addition, the input port of the microcomputer (CPU) (
Signals are input from the jam detection sensor and the abnormality detection sensor of each element of the copying machine, and when the microcomputer (CPU) detects an improper state such as a jam or abnormality of each element, the detection result (this base) is input. In addition to controlling each element of the copying machine, the display section (7) displays trouble codes.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main part of the processing procedure of the microcomputer (CPU0) for displaying troubles using the display method shown in FIG.

In step #1, it is determined whether or not a jam has occurred. Here, if it is determined that a jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step #2, and if no jam has occurred, the process proceeds to step #17. In step #2, a trouble code corresponding to the jam that has occurred is set in the memory. In step #3, it is determined whether the timer T-JT set in step #8 or step #19, which will be described later, has ended. The timer T-JT is a timer that specifies the cycle at which each symbol and numerical value of the trouble code is displayed.When it is determined in step #3 that the timer T-JT has ended, the process advances to step #4 and the display section (7 ) is turned off.Next, in step #5, the display mode is set to “0”.
〃 Determine whether or not.

Here, the display mode determines which symbol or numerical value of the trouble code is displayed; when the display mode is "0", the type code is displayed, and when the display mode is "1", the position code is displayed. When the display mode is "2", the lower digits of the position code are displayed, and when the display mode is "3", the lower digits of the position code are displayed.
In this case, the display (7a) is turned off. If it is determined in step #5 that the display mode is "0", step #5
Proceeding to step 6, the display (7a) displays the type code of the trouble code set in step #2. Here, since a jam has occurred, the type code displayed is ゝゝJ〃. In step #6, change the display mode to
〃, proceed to step #8 and set the above-mentioned timer T-J.
Set T. In step #5, the display mode is set to ゝゝ0〃
If it is determined that it is not, the process proceeds to step #9, and it is determined whether the display mode is "1". If it is determined that the display mode is "1" in step #9, the process proceeds to step #9.
Proceed to IO, and display the upper digit of the position code in the trouble code set in step #2 on the display (7a). In step #ll, the display mode is set to ``2'', and the process proceeds to step #8, where timer T-JT is set.

If it is determined in step #9 that the display mode is not 112, the process advances to step #12 and the display mode is 112.
// Determine whether or not. If it is determined in step #12 that the display mode is "2", the process proceeds to step 13 and the display (7a) displays the lower digit of the position code in the trouble code set in step #2.Next Then proceed to step #14 and change the display mode to ゝゝ3〃
Then, in step #8, timer T-JT is set. If it is determined in step #12 that the display mode is not 112 //, the process proceeds to step #15, the display (7a) is turned off, and the process proceeds to step #16-10=. In step #16, the display mode is set to 0 again.
, the process advances to step #8 and sets timer T-JT. On the other hand, if it is determined in step #l that no jam has occurred, the set number of copies is displayed on the display section (7) in step #17, and the process proceeds to step #18. In step #18, the display mode is set to ``0'', and in step #19, a timer l'-JT is set.

As explained above, if the number of the above processing steps is delayed, if a doodle occurs, the trouble code is displayed repeatedly starting from the highest digit, as shown in Figure 2(b)1. Operators and service personnel can clearly recognize the occurrence of drafts, and a multi-digit draft code can be displayed with a small number of display devices, which solves problems such as complication in operation channels. can.

In addition, when displaying trouble codes using the display method shown in FIG. 2(a), step # of the flowchart in FIG.
It is good to provide a timer processing step between 4 and step #5 to define the time when the display section (7) is turned off, and to execute the processes from step #5 after a certain period of time when the display section (7) is turned off. It's the second one
When displaying trouble codes using the display method shown in Figure (C) 1, all position codes are displayed in step #10 of the flowchart in Figure 4, and steps #12 and #1 are performed.
3. Processing #14 may be omitted. As described above, the flowchart for displaying trouble codes using the display methods shown in Figures 1 and 2 (a) and (C) can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, so a specific flowchart is provided. Omitted.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention includes a plurality of state detection means for detecting whether each part of an image forming apparatus is in an inappropriate state, and detects the detection result of the state detection means. A display device of an image forming apparatus that displays a multi-digit trouble code consisting of symbols and/or numbers indicating the type of improper condition detected based on the , since the above trouble codes are displayed repeatedly in sequence every block, the display of the trouble code at the time of a drag is a flick display, which allows operators and service personnel to clearly recognize the occurrence of a drag. , it is possible to display multi-digit trouble codes with a small number of display devices, and the problem of clutter on the operation panel can be solved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of an operation panel of a copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is a plan view of a display section on the operation panel,
Figures 2 (a), (b), and (C) are diagrams showing trouble code display methods, Figure 3 is a block diagram of the copying machine control section, and Figure 4 is the display method of Figure 2 (b). 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when displaying a trouble. (1)...Print key, (7)...Display section, (
7a), (7b)...7 segment display, (cpu
)...Microcomputer. Applicant: Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Figure 1 (a) Figure 1 (,?)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of state detection means are provided to detect whether each part of the image forming apparatus is in an inappropriate state, and an improper state detected based on the detection result of the state detection means is provided. indicating the type,
In a display device of an image forming apparatus that displays a multi-digit trouble code consisting of symbols and/or numerical values, the trouble code is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the trouble code is sequentially and repeatedly displayed in each block. A display device of an image forming apparatus characterized by: 2. The trouble code is comprised of a type code indicating the type of the improper state and a position code indicating the location where the improper state has occurred, and the trouble code is divided into two blocks: the type code and the position code. A display device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1.