Image forming apparatus and information processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can specify a replacement part at occurrence of abnormality.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a toner bottle T for forming an image on a sheet; a toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 that detects an abnormality in the rotation of the toner bottle T; a status storage unit 312 that stores information on the abnormality detected by the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308; and a CPU 300 that, when an abnormality is detected by the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308, refers to the status storage unit 312, and specifies a replacement part to solve the abnormality from the information on the abnormality and information on another abnormalities occurring within a predetermined period going back from the time point at which the abnormality occurs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for estimating the cause of a failure in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a multifunction peripheral, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc.

Background Art

[0002] An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet by forming a latent image and transferring it. When an abnormality occurs in such an image forming apparatus, it is difficult to determine in which process the abnormality occurred. Furthermore, a plurality of components may be related to one abnormality. When it is necessary to replace a component due to the occurrence of an abnormality, it is difficult to identify the component to be replaced, and the component must be replaced and tested in order until the abnormality is eliminated. Therefore, the amount of work from the occurrence of an abnormality to its recovery may increase. Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that reduces the amount of work of a service technician at the time of an abnormality by notifying a jam count value and displaying information regarding component replacement on an operation panel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, a counter for counting the usage status of components is provided, and components that need to be replaced are identified according to the count value. Alternatively, a failure notification device directly associated with a component is prepared to identify the replacement component.

[0005] When identifying replacement parts based on count values, if the count value is directly linked to the replacement part, such as for regularly replaced consumable parts, it is possible to determine whether or not the part needs to be replaced. However, it is difficult to determine whether or not a part needs to be replaced if it is not linked to a count value. Furthermore, if a sudden malfunction occurs that is not dependent on the count value, it is difficult to narrow down the candidates for replacement parts.

[0006] When a fault notification device is linked to multiple components, it becomes difficult to determine which component is a candidate for replacement. For example, in a configuration where multiple loads are connected to a single drive source, even if a fault notification device is linked to the drive source, it is unclear whether the drive source or one of the loads needs to be replaced.

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of identifying replacement parts in the event of an abnormality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of components for forming an image on a sheet; a detection means for detecting an abnormality; a storage means for storing information relating to the abnormality detected by the detection means; and a control means that, when an abnormality is detected by the detection means, refers to the storage means and identifies a replacement component to resolve the abnormality based on the information relating to the abnormality and information relating to other abnormalities that occurred within a predetermined period preceding the time when the abnormality occurred. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to identify replacement parts in the event of a malfunction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] Controller configuration diagram. [Figure 3](a) to (c) are diagrams illustrating the toner bottle. [Figure 4] Diagram illustrating the toner level detection unit. [Figure 5] (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams of the toner bottle rotation detection unit. [Figure 6] (a) and (b) are diagrams illustrating the process of replenishing toner and replacing toner bottles. [Figure 7] (a) to (d) are diagrams illustrating the relationship between error information and replacement parts. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating the process of identifying replacement parts. [Figure 9] Configuration diagram of the replacement parts identification system. [Figure 10] Configuration diagram of the control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0012] (Configuration of an image forming apparatus) Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 200 in this embodiment is a four-color full-color printer using an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus 200 in Figure 1 may be combined with other devices as appropriate to be configured as a copier, a multifunction printer, or a facsimile machine.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 200 forms an image on a sheet S based on a print signal acquired from an external device. The sheet S is a printable recording medium, such as plain paper, coated paper, OHT, or a label. The image forming apparatus 200 converts the acquired print signal into an image signal separated into four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The image forming apparatus 200 charges multiple photoreceptors corresponding to each color to a predetermined potential and exposes the charged photoreceptors based on the image signal of each color to form an electrostatic latent image of the color corresponding to each photoreceptor. The image forming apparatus 200 develops the electrostatic latent image with toner of the corresponding color to form a toner image on each photoreceptor and transfers the toner image from each photoreceptor to an intermediate transfer medium by superimposing it. The image forming apparatus 200 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer medium to the sheet S in one batch. The image forming apparatus 200 performs a thermal fixing process on the sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred and discharges the finished product outside the machine.

[0014] To perform the image forming process described above, the image forming apparatus 200 includes components such as image forming units Pa to Pd, an intermediate transfer belt 7 which is an intermediate transfer body, and a fuser 13. The image forming apparatus 200 is a tandem intermediate transfer system in which the image forming units Pa to Pd are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt 7. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is an endless belt provided on an intermediate transfer belt frame (not shown) and stretched by a plurality of rollers including a drive roller 18, a tension roller 17, and a secondary transfer inner roller 8. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is conveyed (rotated) in the R7 direction by the drive roller 18. The image forming units Pa to Pd each form toner images of different colors. In this embodiment, the image forming unit Pa forms a yellow (Y) toner image. The image forming unit Pb forms a magenta (M) toner image. The image forming unit Pc forms a cyan (C) toner image. The image forming unit Pd forms a black (K) toner image.

[0015] The image forming units Pa to Pd only differ in the color of the toner used and perform the same operations with the same configuration. Below, the image forming unit Pa that forms a yellow toner image will be described, and the descriptions of the image forming units Pb to Pd will be omitted. Also, in the following descriptions, when it is not necessary to distinguish colors, the suffixes a to d at the end of the reference numerals will be omitted.

[0016] The image forming unit Pa has a configuration in which a charging device 2a, an exposure device 3a, a developing device 10a, a primary transfer unit T1a, and a drum cleaner 6a are arranged around a photosensitive drum 1a that is a photoreceptor.

[0017] The photosensitive drum 1a has a photosensitive layer formed on a grounded cylindrical conductive base tube and is rotationally driven clockwise in the figure around the drum axis. The charging device 2a is in the shape of a roller with an elastic layer formed around a conductive central axis. The charging device 2a is biased toward the photosensitive drum 1a and rotates passively while forming a nip with the photosensitive drum 1a. At this time, the charging device 2a uniformly charges the surface (photosensitive layer) of the photosensitive drum 1a to a predetermined potential by applying a charging bias from a charging high-voltage power source to the central axis.

[0018] The exposure device 3a is a laser scanner that scans and exposes the laser light emitted from a laser light emitting element in the drum axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1a via a polygon mirror and an fθ optical system. The laser light modulated by a drive signal generated based on an image signal is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 1a. As a result, a potential drop occurs in the portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a where the laser light is exposed, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1a.

[0019] The developing unit 10a comprises a stirring and transport section filled with a two-component developer consisting of a magnetic carrier and a non-magnetic toner, a developing sleeve, and a regulating member positioned at a predetermined gap from the developing sleeve. The developing sleeve is constructed by providing a conductive member around a fixedly positioned magnetic roller. The developer is stirred and transported in the stirring and transport section, causing the toner to be charged to a predetermined charge. The charged developer is carried and transported on the developing sleeve by the magnetic force of the magnetic roller and the rotation of the developing sleeve, and is adjusted to a predetermined thickness by the regulating member. The developer adjusted to the predetermined thickness on the developing sleeve is supplied to the photosensitive drum 1a.

[0020] The developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum 1a by applying a development bias from a high-voltage development power supply to the development sleeve. When a development bias is applied to the development sleeve, the electromagnetic force generated by the potential difference between the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1a and the development bias causes toner to move from the development sleeve to the photosensitive drum 1a. The toner that has moved to the photosensitive drum 1a adheres to the electrostatic latent image, developing the electrostatic latent image as a toner image. In this embodiment, negative polarity toner is used.

[0021] In the developer unit 10a, yellow toner is repeatedly supplied to the agitation and transport section from the toner bottle Ta, which is the developer supply container. This stabilizes the amount of toner (toner concentration) in the developer unit 10a at a predetermined standard amount. As a result, the developer unit 10a can stabilize the amount of toner that adheres to the photosensitive drum 1a. Similarly, magenta toner is supplied to the developer unit 10b from the toner bottle Tb. Cyan toner is supplied to the developer unit 10c from the toner bottle Tc. Black toner is supplied to the developer unit 10d from the toner bottle Td. In this embodiment, a two-component developer is used as an example, but the developer may be a one-component developer consisting only of magnetic toner or non-magnetic toner. Even in the case of a one-component developer, toner is supplied to the developer unit 10 from the toner bottle T, and the amount of toner it contains (toner concentration) stabilizes at a predetermined standard amount.

[0022] The primary transfer section T1a is equipped with a primary transfer roller positioned opposite the photosensitive drum 1a, with the intermediate transfer belt 7 in between. When the primary transfer roller is biased toward the photosensitive drum 1a, a primary transfer nip is formed between the photosensitive drum 1a and the intermediate transfer belt 7. By applying a primary transfer bias with the opposite polarity to the toner to the primary transfer roller, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7. Any toner that remains on the photosensitive drum 1a without being transferred is recovered by the drum cleaner 6a. The photosensitive drum 1a from which the remaining toner has been recovered by the drum cleaner 6a is used again for image formation.

[0023] The image forming units Pb to Pd form toner images of the corresponding colors on the photosensitive drums 1b to 1d by the same process as in the image forming unit Pa. A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1b. A cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1c. A black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1d. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is rotated at approximately the same surface speed as the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The toner images of each color formed in the image forming units Pa to Pd are aligned and superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 according to the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 7.

[0024] The image forming apparatus 200 is equipped with a paper feed cassette 60, a pair of paper feed rollers 61, a pair of registration rollers 62, and an outer secondary transfer roller 9 along the transport path on which the sheets S are transported, in order to feed the sheets S on which the image is formed. The outer secondary transfer roller 9 and the inner secondary transfer roller 8 form a secondary transfer section T2. ​​The paper feed cassette 60 stores the sheets S inside. The sheets S are frictionally separated by the pair of paper feed rollers 61 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming section Pa~Pd, and are fed and transported one sheet at a time to the transport path. The sheets S are transported to the pair of registration rollers 62 via the transport path. After correcting the skew of the sheets S, the pair of registration rollers 62 adjusts the timing and transports the sheets S to the secondary transfer section T2.

[0025] In the secondary transfer section T2, the secondary transfer outer roller 9 is biased toward the secondary transfer inner roller 8 with the intermediate transfer belt 7 in between, forming a secondary transfer nip between it and the intermediate transfer belt 7, and rotates in a driven manner. The sheet S supplied to the secondary transfer section T2 is gripped and conveyed by the secondary transfer nip. At this time, a secondary transfer bias with the opposite polarity to the toner is applied to the secondary transfer outer roller 9, so that the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7 is transferred onto the sheet S. Toner that remains on the intermediate transfer belt 7 without being transferred is collected by a belt cleaner 11 positioned opposite the tension roller 17 via the intermediate transfer belt 7. The intermediate transfer belt 7 from which the remaining toner has been collected by the belt cleaner 11 is used again for image formation.

[0026] The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fuser unit 13 by the secondary transfer outer roller 9. The fuser unit 13 is equipped with a pair of rollers containing heaters and melts and fixes the toner image on the sheet S by thermal compression. Multicolor toner images develop color during the melting and fixing process, resulting in a full-color image. The fuser unit 13 is equipped with a heater that serves as a heat source and is controlled to maintain an optimal temperature (fixing temperature) at all times. The sheet S with the fixed full-color image is discharged onto the output tray 63 as the output product.

[0027] In the case of double-sided image formation, a sheet S with an image printed on one side is inverted by the inversion transport mechanism 70 and transported to the register roller pair 62. By inversion, the sheet S is transported from the register roller pair 62 to the secondary transfer section T2, where an image is formed on the other side. In this way, the image forming apparatus 200 can form an image on a sheet based on a print signal.

[0028] (controller) Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the controller that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 200. The controller is an information processing device equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 300, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 301, and a memory 302. The controller also includes a motor drive unit 303 connected to the CPU 300, a toner bottle rotation detection unit 308, a cover opening / closing detection unit 309, a toner level detection unit 310, and an operation unit 311. The motor drive unit 303 is connected to a toner bottle drive motor 304. The toner bottle drive motor 304 is connected to a toner bottle T and a bottle cover 307. The bottle cover 307 is an openable / closable cover that prevents the toner bottle T from being touched from the outside except when it is being replaced.

[0029] The CPU 300 controls the operation of each component of the image forming apparatus 200 by executing computer programs stored in the ROM 301. The CPU 300 also has a function to identify replacement parts when an error occurs. For this purpose, the CPU 300 is equipped with a replacement part identification unit 313. The memory 302 is a work memory used when the CPU 300 executes processing. The memory 302 can also retain data using a battery (not shown) even when the image forming apparatus 200 is powered off. The memory 302 is provided with a status storage unit 312, which is a storage area where information about errors is stored.

[0030] The motor drive unit 303 drives the toner bottle drive motor 304 according to the control of the CPU 300. The toner bottle drive motor 304 is a drive source for exclusively driving the toner bottle T and the bottle cover 307. The toner bottle drive motor 304 is connected to the toner bottle T and the bottle cover 307 via a switching member, not shown, such as a flapper. When the switching member is connected to either the toner bottle T or the bottle cover 307, the driving force from the toner bottle drive motor 304 is transmitted to the one to which it is connected. Whether the toner bottle drive motor 304 drives the toner bottle T or the bottle cover 307 is determined by the CPU 300 controlling the switching member.

[0031] The toner bottle drive motor 304 rotates the toner bottle T when driven by the motor drive unit 303 with the switching member connected to the toner bottle T. As the toner bottle T rotates, toner is supplied from the toner bottle T to the developer unit 10. The toner bottle drive motor 304 drives the bottle cover 307 when the switching member is connected to the bottle cover 307 and driven by the motor drive unit 303. When replacing the toner bottle T, the motor drive unit 303 opens and closes the bottle cover 307 without rotating the toner bottle T, under the control of the CPU 300.

[0032] The toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 detects whether or not the toner bottle T is rotating and notifies the CPU 300 of the detection result. The cover opening / closing detection unit 309 detects the opening and closing of the bottle cover 307 and notifies the CPU 300 of the detection result. The toner remaining amount detection unit 310 detects the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle T and notifies the CPU 300 of the detection result.

[0033] The operation unit 311 is a user interface having an input interface and an output interface. The input interface is a key button, a touch panel, etc. The output interface is a display, a speaker, etc. The operation unit 311 displays images on the display under the control of the CPU 300. For example, the operation unit 311 displays an error on the display under the control of the CPU 300. The user can instruct the start of maintenance work on the image forming apparatus 200 via the input interface of the operation unit 311. When the operation unit 311 is instructed to start maintenance work via the input interface, it notifies the CPU 300 of the start of maintenance work.

[0034] (Toner bottle) Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the toner bottle T. Figure 3(a) is an external view of the toner bottle T. Figures 3(b) and 3(c) are explanatory diagrams of the internal structure of the toner bottle T. The toner bottle T comprises a storage section 207 for storing toner, a drive transmission section 206 to which rotational driving force is transmitted from the toner bottle drive motor 304 via a drive gear 223, and a cap section 222 that contains a component for discharging toner. The storage section 207 and the cap section 222 are in communication via the drive transmission section 206.

[0035] The storage section 207 has a recess 205 that protrudes inward. The recess 205 is formed spirally around the outer circumference of the storage section 207. The recess 205 transports the toner inside the storage section 207 toward the discharge section 212 as the storage section 207 rotates. The storage section 207 and the drive transmission section 206 are connected, and as the drive transmission section 206 rotates, the storage section 207 also rotates as a whole. The cap section 222 includes a discharge section 212 having a discharge port 211 for discharging toner, a pump section 210 for discharging the toner inside the discharge section 212 from the discharge port 211, and a reciprocating member 213 for extending and retracting the pump section 210.

[0036] The drive transmission unit 206 has a projection 220 and a cam groove 214. The cam groove 214 is formed around the entire circumference of the drive transmission unit 206 in the direction of rotation of the drive transmission unit 206. The cam groove 214 and the projection 220 are integrally configured and rotate together as the drive transmission unit 206. The rotational driving force transmitted from the toner bottle drive motor 304 to the drive transmission unit 206 of the toner bottle T via the drive gear 223 causes the drive transmission unit 206 and the housing unit 207 connected to the drive transmission unit 206 to rotate.

[0037] The cap portion 222 is restricted from rotating, so even if the drive transmission portion 206 rotates during installation, it will not rotate in response. The outlet 211, pump portion 210, and reciprocating member 213 are also restricted from rotating in the same way as the cap portion 222. Therefore, even if the drive transmission portion 206 rotates, the outlet 211, pump portion 210, and reciprocating member 213 will not rotate.

[0038] A rotation-restricting groove is formed on the inside of the cap portion 222. The rotation-restricting groove restricts the rotation of the reciprocating member 213 when the drive transmission unit 206 rotates. To this end, the reciprocating member 213 engages with the rotation-restricting groove as the drive transmission unit 206 rotates. The reciprocating member 213 is connected to the pump portion 210, and a claw portion (not shown) engages with the cam groove 214 of the drive transmission unit 206. As the drive transmission unit 206 rotates, the reciprocating member 213 moves along the cam groove 214 while its rotation is restricted. As a result, the reciprocating member 213 reciprocates in the direction of arrow X (the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle T).

[0039] The reciprocating member 213 is connected to the pump unit 210. As the reciprocating member 213 moves back and forth, the pump unit 210 repeatedly extends and compresses. Specifically, when the reciprocating member 213 moves in the direction of arrow X, the pump unit 210 extends. As the pump unit 210 extends, the internal pressure in the toner bottle T decreases, air is drawn in from the outlet 211, and the toner in the outlet 212 is loosened. When the reciprocating member 213 moves in the opposite direction to arrow X, the pump unit 210 compresses. As the pump unit 210 compresses, the internal pressure in the toner bottle T increases, and the toner accumulated at the outlet 211 is supplied to the developer unit 10 from the outlet 211. In other words, the toner bottle drive motor 304 functions as a drive source that extends and retracts the pump unit 210 by rotating the mounted toner bottle T.

[0040] The cap portion 222 is equipped with a sealing member 222b that seals the outlet 211. By sealing the outlet 211 with the sealing member 222b, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking out of the outlet 211 in the toner bottle T. The sealing member 222b is removed when the toner bottle T is mounted in the image forming apparatus 200. When the sealing member 222b is removed, the outlet 211 of the toner bottle T is opened.

[0041] Figure 3(b) shows the pump section 210 of the toner bottle T in its maximum extended state. Figure 3(c) shows the pump section 210 of the toner bottle T in its maximum compressed state. The pump section 210 is a bellows-shaped pump made of resin whose volume changes with expansion and contraction. Specifically, the pump section 210 is composed of alternating "mountain fold" sections and "valley fold" sections arranged repeatedly along the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle T.

[0042] The cam groove 214 is formed with two peaks and two valleys in the order of valley → peak → valley → peak. The pump section 210 extends to its maximum extent while the position of the cam groove 214 in which the reciprocating member 213 engages changes from a valley to a peak. The pump section 210 compresses to its maximum extent while the position of the cam groove 214 in which the reciprocating member 213 engages changes from a peak to a valley. When the position of the cam groove 214 in which the reciprocating member 213 engages is a valley, the pump section 210 maintains a state of maximum compression. Due to this configuration, in this embodiment, the toner replenishment operation is performed twice during one rotation of the toner bottle T. In one replenishment operation, the pump section 210 starts in a state of maximum compression, extends, compresses, and ends in a state of maximum compression again.

[0043] (Toner level detection unit) Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the toner level detection unit 310. Here, a capacitive type toner level detection unit 310 is described, but any method is acceptable as long as it can detect the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle T. A bottle cover 307 is positioned behind the toner bottle T in the insertion direction. The bottle cover 307 is opened and closed when the toner bottle T is replaced.

[0044] The toner level detection unit 310 includes two detection electrodes 306a and 306b located near the toner bottle T. The two detection electrodes 306a and 306b are positioned to sandwich the entire toner bottle T's storage area 207. The detection electrodes 306a and 306b function as capacitors and have capacitance corresponding to the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle T. When a voltage is applied to the detection electrodes 306a and 306b, they accumulate charge corresponding to their capacitance. The CPU 300 acquires a voltage corresponding to the charge accumulated on the detection electrodes 306a and 306b as a detection signal. The CPU 300 can detect the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle T based on the acquired detection signal.

[0045] (Toner bottle rotation detection unit) Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. The toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 in this embodiment is an optical sensor having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light-emitting unit. The toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 detects the rotation of the toner bottle T by a change in the light-receiving state of the light-receiving unit due to a flag 204 provided near the toner bottle T.

[0046] The flag 204 is an L-shaped bent member that swings around the rotation axis 204a. The bent portion of the flag 204 contacts the drive transmission unit 206 of the toner bottle T due to its own weight. The flag 204 swings around the rotation axis 204a by contacting the projection 220 of the drive transmission unit 206. As a result, the free end, which is the tip of the flag 204, contacts the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. In this state, the light from the light-emitting part of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 is shielded and not received by the light-receiving unit. When the flag 204 does not contact the projection 220 of the drive transmission unit 206, the light from the light-emitting part of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 is not shielded and is received by the light-receiving unit.

[0047] In this way, the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 can detect whether or not the flag 204 is in contact with the projection 220. By detecting the contact between the flag 204 and the projection 220, the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 can detect the rotation phase (rotation angle) of the toner bottle T. In other words, the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 can detect the rotation phase of the toner bottle T by detecting the position where the projection 220 of the toner bottle T contacts the flag 204.

[0048] Figure 5(a) shows the state in which the flag 204 is in contact with the drive transmission unit 206. In this case, the flag 204 does not block the light from the light-emitting part of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. Therefore, the light-receiving unit receives the light emitted from the light-emitting part. The amount of light received by the light-receiving unit is above the threshold. The toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 outputs a high-level (H) signal because the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit is above the threshold. In other words, the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 sends a high-level signal to the CPU 300 while the flag 204 is in contact with the drive transmission unit 206.

[0049] Figure 5(b) shows the state in which the flag 204 is in contact with the projection 220. In this case, the flag 204 blocks the light from the light-emitting part of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. As a result, the light-receiving part does not receive the light emitted from the light-emitting part. The amount of light received by the light-receiving part becomes less than the threshold. The toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 outputs a low-level (L) signal because the amount of light received by the light-receiving part is less than the threshold. In other words, the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 sends a low-level signal to the CPU 300 while the flag 204 is in contact with the projection 220.

[0050] The CPU 300 detects the position of the protrusion 220 based on the level of the signal acquired from the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. This allows the CPU 300 to detect the rotation phase of the toner bottle T. After the signal output from the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 changes from a low level to a high level, the pump unit 210 of the toner bottle T begins to extend. While the signal output from the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 remains at a high level, the pump unit 210 begins to compress after passing through a fully extended state. Before the signal output from the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308 changes from a high level to a low level, the pump unit 210 transitions to a fully compressed state. In other words, while the flag 204 is in contact with the drive transmission unit 206, the pump unit 210 compresses and supplies toner to the developer unit 10.

[0051] (Toner replenishment process, toner bottle replacement process) Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the toner replenishment and toner bottle T replacement process. Figure 6(a) is a flowchart representing the toner replenishment process. Figure 6(b) is a flowchart representing the toner bottle T replacement process.

[0052] First, the toner replenishment process will be explained. The CPU 300 determines whether or not toner replenishment is necessary based on the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 (S101). The amount of toner in the developer unit 10 is detected by a sensor (not shown) provided in the developer unit 10. If replenishment is not necessary (S101:N), the CPU 300 continues to determine whether or not toner replenishment is necessary. If replenishment is necessary (S101:Y), the CPU 300 starts toner replenishment control (S102).

[0053] When the CPU 300 starts toner replenishment control, it drives the toner bottle drive motor 304 using the motor drive unit 303 to perform the toner replenishment process as described in Figure 3. At the same time, the CPU 300 monitors whether the toner bottle T is rotating in a predetermined manner based on the detection result of the toner bottle rotation detection unit 308. In this way, the CPU 300 determines whether or not a rotation error has occurred in the toner bottle T (S103).

[0054] If the CPU 300 determines that no rotation error has occurred in the toner bottle T (S103:N), it monitors the rotation of the toner bottle T until toner replenishment is complete (S105:N). Completion of toner replenishment is determined, for example, when the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 exceeds a predetermined amount. Once toner replenishment is complete (S105:Y), the CPU 300 terminates the toner replenishment process.

[0055] If the CPU 300 determines that a rotation error (abnormality) has occurred in the toner bottle T (S103:Y), it displays the rotation error (toner bottle rotation error) on the operation unit 311 to notify the user of the rotation error (S104). The CPU 300 also saves information regarding the rotation error that occurred in the status storage unit 312 in the memory 302. With the above, the CPU 300 terminates the toner replenishment process.

[0056] Next, the toner bottle replacement process will be explained. The CPU 300 determines whether or not the toner bottle T needs to be replaced based on whether or not the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 increases due to the toner replenishment process (Figure 6(a)) (S201). If the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 increases (S201:N), the CPU 300 monitors the increase in the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 until the toner replenishment process is completed.

[0057] If the amount of toner in the developer unit 10 does not increase (S201:Y), the CPU 300 determines that there is no toner left in the toner bottle T itself. In this case, the CPU 300 determines that the toner bottle T needs to be replaced and displays a toner bottle T replacement instruction screen on the operation unit 311 to prompt the user to replace the toner bottle T. The replacement instruction screen displays the bottle replacement button and the "close bottle cover" button, which can be selected (pressed) by the operation unit 311.

[0058] The user replaces the toner bottle T according to the display on the operation unit 311. To do this, the user presses the bottle cover replacement button displayed on the operation unit 311. When the CPU 300 receives information from the operation unit 311 indicating that the bottle cover replacement button has been pressed, the motor drive unit 303 controls the toner bottle drive motor 304 to open the bottle cover 307 (S202). The cover opening / closing detection unit 309 starts detecting whether the bottle cover 307 is properly open or not in response to the pressing of the bottle cover replacement button. Based on the detection result of the cover opening / closing detection unit 309, the CPU 300 can confirm whether the bottle cover 307 is properly open.

[0059] The user inputs a request to close the bottle cover 307 via the operation unit 311 after the replacement of the toner bottle T is complete. To this end, the CPU 300 opens the bottle cover 307 and then waits for the input of the close request from the operation unit 311 (S203:N). The request to close the bottle cover 307 is input, for example, by pressing the "Close Bottle Cover" button displayed on the operation unit 311.

[0060] When the CPU 300 receives a request to close the bottle cover 307 (S203:Y), the motor drive unit 303 closes the bottle cover 307 (S204). Based on the detection result of the cover opening / closing detection unit 309, the CPU 300 checks whether the bottle cover 307 is properly closed (S205). If the bottle cover 307 is properly closed (S205:Y), the CPU 300 terminates the toner bottle replacement process.

[0061] If the bottle cover 307 is not properly closed (S205:N), the CPU 300 determines that an opening / closing error (abnormality) has occurred with the bottle cover 307 (S206). Similarly, when the bottle cover 307 is opened, the CPU 300 also determines whether the bottle cover 307 is properly open and determines if an opening / closing error has occurred. For this reason, the S206 process also includes a determination of opening / closing errors when the bottle cover is open. The CPU 300 displays the occurrence of an opening / closing error (bottle cover opening / closing error) on the operation unit 311 to notify the user of the error (S207). The CPU 300 also saves information regarding the bottle cover opening / closing error that occurred in the status storage unit 312 in the memory 302. With the above steps completed, the CPU 300 terminates the toner bottle replacement process.

[0062] (Parts replacement) Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between error information and replacement parts. Figures 7(a), (b), and (c) illustrate the log of error information stored in the status storage unit 312 in the memory 302 during the processing shown in Figure 6. The log of error information includes ID 601, date and time of occurrence 602, cumulative page count at the time of the error 603, and error 604 indicating the content of the error. ID 601 identifies the error (abnormality) that occurred. Date and time of occurrence 602 represents the date and time when the occurrence of the error was detected. Cumulative page count 603 is the number of times the image forming apparatus 200 formed an image (job count value) at the time the occurrence of the error was detected. In this embodiment, error 604 is either a rotation error of the toner bottle T or an opening / closing error of the bottle cover 307.

[0063] Figure 7(d) shows a table that manages replacement parts associated with an error. This table also manages the patterns of parts to be replaced within a replacement part (replacement patterns) when the replacement part is composed of multiple components. Here, replacement part 611 is managed in relation to replacement part pattern 610. Multiple replacement patterns are set for a single error. This table is stored, for example, in memory 302.

[0064] The CPU 300 refers to these logs and tables to identify the component causing the error when an error occurs. The CPU 300 notifies the user via the operation unit 311 that the identified component is a replacement part that needs to be replaced. The specific process is explained in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the process of identifying replacement parts. The CPU 300 performs the replacement part identification process using the replacement part identification unit 313.

[0065] This section explains the case where a bottle cover opening / closing error occurs on "2021 / 6 / 15 13:02" with occurrence date and time 602 in Figure 7(a). The replacement part identification unit 313 of the CPU 300 analyzes which part of the image forming apparatus 200 should be replaced by referring to the past logs in Figure 7(a). The cause of the bottle cover opening / closing error is one of the following: the toner bottle drive motor 304 used to open and close the bottle cover 307, the bottle cover 307, or the cover opening / closing detection unit 309. Through analysis, the part that needs to be replaced is identified.

[0066] The replacement parts identification unit 313 checks whether a toner bottle rotation error occurred during a predetermined period prior to the timing of the bottle cover opening / closing error, "2021 / 6 / 15 13:02" (S301). The replacement parts identification unit 313 performs this process by referring to the log stored in the status storage unit 312. The predetermined period is determined by time information and the cumulative page count 603 (job count). For example, if time information is used, the predetermined period is within one hour of the occurrence date and time 602 from the time the error occurred. If the cumulative page count 603 is used, the difference from the cumulative page count 603 at the time the error occurred is within 1000.

[0067] In Figure 7(a), as shown in IDs "100" and "101", toner bottle rotation errors occur within a predetermined period (S301:Y). Since the toner bottle rotation error occurs before the bottle cover opening / closing error occurs, it can be inferred that the replacement part is the toner bottle drive motor 304. For this reason, replacement part 611 becomes replacement part pattern "1". The replacement part identification unit 313 determines that replacement part 611 is replacement part pattern "1" (S302).

[0068] The CPU 300 displays the replacement part associated with replacement part pattern "1" in Figure 7(d) on the operation unit 311 (S306). This completes the process of identifying the replacement part.

[0069] This section explains the case where a bottle cover opening / closing error occurs on "2021 / 7 / 15 13:02" as shown in Figure 7(b). The replacement part identification unit 313 of the CPU 300 analyzes which part the image forming apparatus 200 should replace by referring to the past logs in Figure 7(b).

[0070] The replacement parts identification unit 313 checks whether a toner bottle rotation error occurred during a predetermined period prior to the timing of the bottle cover opening / closing error, "2021 / 7 / 15 13:02" (S301). The replacement parts identification unit 313 performs this process by referring to the log stored in the status storage unit 312. The predetermined period is as described above.

[0071] In Figure 7(b), no toner bottle rotation errors occurred during the specified period (S301:N). Therefore, the replacement parts identification unit 313 checks whether any other bottle cover opening / closing errors occurred during the specified period prior to the timing of the bottle cover opening / closing error, "2021 / 7 / 15 13:02" (S303). The replacement parts identification unit 313 performs this process by referring to the log stored in the status storage unit 312. The specified period is as described above.

[0072] In Figure 7(b), as shown in IDs "200" and "201", bottle cover opening / closing errors occurred within a predetermined period (S303:Y). The fact that bottle cover opening / closing errors occurred without a toner bottle rotation error suggests that the replacement part is either the bottle cover 307 or the cover opening / closing detection unit 309. For this reason, replacement part 611 becomes replacement part pattern "2". The replacement part identification unit 313 determines that replacement part 611 is replacement part pattern "2" (S304).

[0073] The CPU 300 displays the replacement part associated with replacement part pattern "2" in Figure 7(d) on the operation unit 311 (S306). This completes the process of identifying the replacement part.

[0074] This section explains the case where a bottle cover opening / closing error occurs with occurrence time 602 "2021 / 7 / 25 13:02" as shown in Figure 7(c). The process up to S303 is the same as the process when a bottle cover opening / closing error occurs with occurrence time 602 "2021 / 7 / 15 13:02" as shown in Figure 7(b). In Figure 7(c), as shown by ID "300" and ID "301", no bottle cover opening / closing errors occurred within the predetermined period (S303:N). For this reason, the replacement part identification unit 313 determines that replacement part 611 is replacement part pattern "3" (S305). This is because replacement part 611 cannot be identified because no error occurred at the predetermined timing before the bottle cover opening / closing error occurred. The CPU 300 displays the replacement part associated with replacement part pattern "3" in Figure 7(d) on the operation unit 311 (S306). With this, the replacement part identification process is completed.

[0075] In the above process, for bottle cover opening / closing errors, the component that caused the error is identified, including errors that occurred in a predetermined period in the past. In the case of bottle cover opening / closing errors, the toner bottle drive motor 304, bottle cover 307, and cover opening / closing detection unit 309 are the causes of the error. In this embodiment, by including past errors in the cause identification, the component that caused the error is identified from these components. This process allows for accurate identification of the component that caused the abnormality when it occurs, enabling a rapid response to the abnormality.

[0076] (modified version) In the example above, the replacement part is identified using a log of error information stored in the status storage unit 312 within the memory 302. This process is performed within the image forming apparatus 200. This example describes a case where this process is performed by an information processing device located outside the image forming apparatus 200. Here, we describe a case where the processing is performed by an information processing device connected to the image forming apparatus 200 via a network.

[0077] Figure 9 is a diagram of the configuration of a replacement parts identification system that identifies replacement parts for the image forming apparatus 200 using an external information processing device. The replacement parts identification system 800 comprises one or more image forming apparatuses 801 and 802, a server 803, and a management device 804. In this case, two image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 are installed in the replacement parts identification system 800. The image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 are configured with a network interface added to the image forming apparatus 200, and they create deliverables by forming images on a sheet S.

[0078] The image forming apparatuses 801 and 802, server 803, and management device 804 can communicate with each other via a network. Here, the network is the Internet 805. The network may also be a telecommunications line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network). Server 803 and management device 804 function as information processing devices that collect data from the image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 and identify replacement parts for the image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 based on the collected data.

[0079] The image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 each save error information logs in the status storage unit 312 of the memory 302 by the process shown in Figure 6. The image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 each periodically send the logs stored in the status storage unit 312 to the server 803.

[0080] Server 803 stores logs acquired from image forming apparatuses 801 and 802, separately for each apparatus that acquired the logs. For example, Server 803 stores the acquired logs after adding identification information to identify the source. Alternatively, Server 803 may prepare separate storage areas for each image forming apparatus 801 and 802 in advance and store the acquired logs in the corresponding storage area. Server 803 transmits the stored logs to Management Device 804 upon request from Management Device 804.

[0081] Figure 10 is a configuration diagram of the management device 804. The management device 804 comprises a CPU 901, memory 902, storage 903, network interface (I / F) 904, and operation unit 906. The CPU 901, memory 902, storage 903, and network I / F 904 are communicated together via a system bus 905.

[0082] The CPU 901 controls the operation of the entire management device 804. The memory 902 stores the startup program for the CPU 901 and the data necessary for the execution of the startup program. The storage 903 is a storage device with a larger capacity than the memory 902, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage 903 stores control programs and the like that executed by the CPU 901.

[0083] The CPU 901 executes a startup program stored in memory 902 when the management device 804 is started. The startup program is a program that deploys the control program stored in storage 903 to memory 902. The CPU 901 executes the control program deployed in memory 902 and performs various controls. The CPU 901 also communicates with other devices such as the server 803 via the internet 805 using the network interface 904. The operation unit 906 has the same functions as the operation unit 311. The operation unit 906 notifies the CPU 901 of the instruction to start identifying replacement parts. The operation unit 906 also displays the results of the replacement part identification under the control of the CPU 901.

[0084] The CPU 901 executes the process shown in Figure 8 to identify the replacement part. When the CPU 901 receives an instruction from the operation unit 906 to start identifying the replacement part, it obtains error logs for the image forming apparatuses 801 and 802 from the server 803. The instruction to start identifying the replacement part includes information indicating which image forming apparatus the process is for. This information is, for example, the identification information of the image forming apparatus. The CPU 901 obtains a log from the server 803 corresponding to this information.

[0085] The CPU 901 analyzes the acquired logs to identify replacement parts for the image forming apparatuses 801 and 802. If the identification results in action being required, the CPU 901 displays the action details on the operation unit 906. Alternatively, the CPU 901 displays the action details on the operation unit 311 of the image forming apparatus that requires part replacement. In this way, the replacement part identification system 800 can identify the appropriate replacement parts and instruct maintenance work when an error occurs in the managed image forming apparatuses 801 and 802.

[0086] As described above, the image forming apparatus 200 of this embodiment uses information on other errors within a predetermined period preceding the time the error occurred to identify replacement parts to resolve the error. Therefore, it is possible to accurately identify replacement parts, which would be difficult with information on the error alone. This process enables accurate identification of replacement parts even for parts other than regularly consumable parts and for errors that occur unexpectedly.

Claims

1. An information processing device that communicates with an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus includes a drive means, a first load, a second load, a drive transmission mechanism that selectively transmits drive of the drive means to the first load and the second load, a first detection means used to detect whether the first load has been driven normally, a second detection means used to detect whether the second load has been driven normally, and a memory that stores information regarding an abnormality that occurs in the image forming apparatus; the information processing device includes a control unit that determines an abnormal portion of the image forming device, and a display unit that displays the abnormal portion determined by the control unit, The control means if a first type abnormality, indicating that the first load has not been driven normally, occurs during a predetermined period prior to the occurrence of a second type abnormality, indicating that the second load has not been driven normally, the drive means is determined to be an abnormal part; If the first type abnormality does not occur and a second type abnormality occurs during the predetermined period, the second detection means is determined to be an abnormal part. Information processing device.

2. The control means determines that the second load is also the abnormal part when the first type abnormality has not occurred and the second type abnormality has occurred during the predetermined period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the control means determines that both the drive means and the second detection means are the abnormal parts when neither the first type abnormality nor the second type abnormality occurs within the predetermined period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the memory stores a cumulative number of sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming apparatus when the abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus; The predetermined period is determined based on the cumulative number of sheets. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The memory stores date and time information when the abnormality occurred in the image forming apparatus, The predetermined period is determined based on the date and time information. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, A drive means; A first load; A second load; and a drive transmission mechanism that selectively transmits the drive of the drive means to the first load and the second load; a first detection means for detecting whether the first load is normally driven; a second detection means for detecting whether the second load is normally driven; a memory for storing information regarding an abnormality occurring in the image forming apparatus; A control unit for determining an abnormal portion of the image forming apparatus; a display means for displaying the abnormal part determined by the control means, The control means if a first type abnormality, indicating that the first load has not been driven normally, occurs during a predetermined period prior to the occurrence of a second type abnormality, indicating that the second load has not been driven normally, the drive means is determined to be an abnormal portion; If the first type abnormality does not occur and a second type abnormality occurs during the predetermined period, the second detection means is determined to be an abnormal part. Image forming device.

7. The control means determines that the second load is also the abnormal part when the first type abnormality has not occurred and the second type abnormality has occurred during the predetermined period. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

8. the control means determines that both the drive means and the second detection means are the abnormal parts when neither the first type abnormality nor the second type abnormality occurs within the predetermined period. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

9. the memory stores a cumulative number of sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming apparatus when the abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus; The predetermined period is determined based on the cumulative number of sheets. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

10. The memory stores date and time information when the abnormality occurred in the image forming apparatus, The predetermined period is determined based on the date and time information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

Images