Image forming apparatus and program

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which can reduce a leakage and an error of a reset operation of a counter in the time of component replacement.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus causes a display unit 140 to display an image showing a position of a cover of the own apparatus that is opened / closed by detecting the presence / absence of a failure and opening / closing of the cover, causes the display unit 140 to display an image showing the position of the cover of the own apparatus that is opened / closed and a position of a consumable supply when there is no occurrence of a predetermined failure and the cover related to the consumable supply is closed after being opened, and can receive a reset operation of a counter set for the consumable supply designated in the image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming apparatuses are provided with a mechanism for notifying users when it is time to replace consumables. For example, a sensor or the like is used to monitor the status of consumables, and a notification is sent when a replacement is detected. Another example is to determine the recommended replacement time, and identify and notify the user based on the last replacement date and time. In the latter case, when a part is replaced, it is necessary to reset a counter, which counts the elapsed date and time until the recommended replacement time and the number of executed jobs, by user operation or the like.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses that an image forming apparatus has an operator maintenance mode and a service mode for performing part replacement work as operation modes, and that in these modes, which are switched from normal mode by user operation, a replacement parts list is displayed, and that an operation can be performed on this display to clear a counter for a part selected from the replacement parts list.

[0004] Patent document 2 discloses an image forming device that, when it detects the occurrence of an event requiring part replacement, provides guidance to have the part replaced, and terminates the guidance notification when the cover opened to perform the replacement is closed and an instruction that the replacement is complete is received.

[0005] Prior art document 3 discloses an image forming apparatus in which, when the front cover is open, a button is displayed for registering that a consumable has been replaced with a new one, and operating the button resets a counter value indicating the amount of consumables used and executes image stabilization processing for the new consumables. It also discloses that, in this apparatus, when the front cover is closed after operating the button, image stabilization processing is executed first, even if there are jobs waiting at that time, and then the waiting jobs are executed in order, and that button operation is prohibited when the front cover is closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4974837 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-184797 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-156737 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] For consumables whose status cannot be detected, when the part is replaced, the counter for counting the date and time elapsed until the recommended replacement time, the number of executed jobs, etc. is reset by user operation, etc. However, if the counter reset operation is accepted when the device is in a special state, such as when the cover is open or when a mode has been entered by intentional operation, it will not be possible to correctly identify the recommended replacement time if the device returns to the normal state without performing the correct reset operation due to a missed reset or an incorrect reset target, etc.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce omissions or mistakes in resetting the counter when replacing parts by displaying information about consumables based on the state of the apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention according to claim 1 is a processor; The processor: Detects whether there is a fault and whether the cover is open or closed. When a cover related to a consumable item is opened and then closed without the occurrence of a predetermined failure, information about the consumable item is displayed on a display device, and a reset operation of a counter set for the consumable item can be accepted. death, When a predetermined event occurs while the information on the consumable item is being displayed on the display device, the display of the information on the consumable item is turned off; If the display of the information about the consumables is erased due to the occurrence of the event, the next time image formation processing is performed, the user is notified that the counter reset operation has not been accepted. The image forming apparatus The present invention according to claim 2 is The image forming device of claim 1 is characterized in that the processor causes the display device to display different information when a predetermined condition regarding consumables is met and an open cover is closed, and when the cover is closed without meeting the condition. The present invention according to claim 3 is The processor: displaying information indicating an open cover on the display device in response to opening or closing of the cover; When the condition is met and the cover is closed, information about the consumable is displayed; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when the cover is closed without satisfying the condition, the display of information indicating that the cover is open is turned off. The present invention according to claim 4 is 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condition is a condition regarding the replacement timing of the consumable item calculated by a method determined for each of the consumable items. Claim 5 The present invention provides a computer that: Functions to detect the presence or absence of obstacles and the opening and closing of the cover, a function of displaying information about a consumable item on a display device when a cover related to the consumable item is opened and then closed without the occurrence of a predetermined failure; a function of receiving a reset operation of a counter set for the consumable item for which the information is displayed; a function of erasing the display of the information on the consumable item when a predetermined event occurs while the information on the consumable item is being displayed on the display device; a function of notifying a user that the counter reset operation has not been accepted when the display of the information on the consumables is turned off due to the occurrence of the event, the next time image formation processing is executed; The program is characterized by realizing the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the invention of claim 1, by displaying information on consumables based on the state of the device, it is possible to reduce omissions and mistakes in resetting the counter when replacing parts. In comparison with a configuration in which the display of information about consumables continues even when an event occurs, the inconvenience of making it difficult to display information about the event that has occurred can be suppressed, and in comparison with a configuration in which image formation processing is performed without notification, the user can be notified that the counter reset operation has not been completed. do. According to the invention of claim 2, compared to a configuration in which the display is not changed according to the conditions regarding the consumables, it is possible to show the user information on whether or not the conditions regarding the consumables are met. According to the invention of claim 3, in comparison with a configuration in which the display is not changed according to the conditions relating to the consumables, it is possible to suggest that the normal state has been restored when the conditions are not met. According to the invention of claim 4, compared to a configuration in which the display is not changed according to conditions relating to the replacement timing of the consumables, it is possible to present information about the replacement timing of the consumables to the user. Claim 5 According to the present invention, by displaying information about consumables based on the status of the device in a computer on which the program of the present invention is installed, it is possible to reduce omissions and mistakes in resetting the counter when replacing parts. In comparison with a configuration in which the display of information about consumables continues even when an event occurs, the inconvenience of making it difficult to display information about the event that has occurred can be suppressed, and in comparison with a configuration in which image formation processing is performed without notification, the user can be notified that the counter reset operation has not been completed. do. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying an image forming apparatus in a stopped state in a normal mode. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying an image forming apparatus in a normal mode with some of its covers open. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen in a consumables replacement mode. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen when a consumable item selection operation is performed in a consumable item replacement mode. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a confirmation window is displayed on the UI screen of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation relating to a consumable replacement mode of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation relating to a consumable replacement mode of the image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] <Device configuration> 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which this embodiment is applied. Image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, an operation unit 130, a display unit 140, an image reading unit 150, an image forming unit 160, a communication unit 170, and an image processing unit 180. These functional units are connected to a bus 101, and exchange data via this bus 101.

[0014] The control unit 110 controls the above-mentioned functional units in the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 110 is also a functional unit that executes various types of data processing. The control unit 110 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, which is a calculation means, and a random access memory (RAM) 112 and a read-only memory (ROM) 113, which are storage means. The RAM 112 is a main memory and is used as a working memory when the CPU 111 performs calculation processing. The ROM 113 holds programs and data such as pre-prepared setting values, and the CPU 111 reads the programs and data directly from the ROM 113 to execute processing. The programs and data are also stored in the storage unit 120. The CPU 111 loads the programs stored in the storage unit 120 into the RAM 112 and executes them.

[0015] In this embodiment, the CPU 111 of the control unit 110 reads and executes programs to realize various functions described below. The functions realized in this embodiment include display control of a UI (User Interface) screen in each operation mode described below, a function for accepting operations via the UI screen, and a counter function used to calculate when to replace or replenish consumables. Details of these functions will be described later. In the following description, the replacement of a consumable that requires replacement depending on the state (e.g., a photosensitive drum) and the replenishment of a consumable that requires replenishment depending on the state (e.g., toner or paper) are collectively referred to as "replacement." However, replacement and replenishment may be distinguished and described as "replacement and replenishment," "replacement or replenishment," etc.

[0016] The storage unit 120 is a functional unit that stores programs and data to be executed by the CPU 111 as described above, as well as various data generated by various operations, such as image data read by the image reading unit 150. The storage unit 120 is realized by a storage device such as a magnetic disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0017] The operation unit 130 is a functional unit that accepts user operations. The operation unit 130 is configured, for example, by hardware keys, a touch sensor that outputs a control signal according to the position pressed or touched by a finger, etc. The operation unit 130 may be configured as a touch panel that combines a touch sensor with a liquid crystal display that constitutes the display unit 140.

[0018] Display unit 140 is a functional unit that displays information images that present various information to the user, preview images of images to be processed, such as read or output, and operation images for the user to operate. Display unit 140 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal display. The above-described operation unit 130 and display unit 140 can be combined to be used as a user interface means for the user to input and output information to and from image forming apparatus 100.

[0019] The image reading unit 150 is a functional unit that optically reads an image on a document. Examples of image reading methods include a CCD method in which light irradiated onto a document from a light source is reduced by a lens and reflected light is received by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a CIS method in which light irradiated onto a document in sequence from an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source is received by a CIS (Contact Image Sensor).

[0020] The image forming unit 160 is a functional unit that forms an image based on image data on a recording material such as paper using an image forming material. As a method for forming an image on a recording material, for example, an electrophotographic method is used in which toner is used as the image forming material and the toner attached to a photosensitive member is transferred to the recording material to form an image.

[0021] The communication unit 170 is a functional unit that transmits and receives commands and data to and from an external device. An interface according to the communication method with the external device is used as the communication unit 170. The connection with the external device may be via a network or may be a direct connection. The communication line may be a wired line or a wireless line.

[0022] The image processing unit 180 is a functional unit that includes a processor as a calculation means and a working memory, and performs image processing such as color correction and gradation correction on an image represented by image data. Note that the CPU 111 of the control unit 110 may serve as the processor, and the RAM 112 of the control unit 110 may serve as the working memory.

[0023] <Operation mode> The operation modes of the image forming apparatus 100 used in this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 has a normal mode, which is an example of a first operation mode, and a consumables replacement mode, which is an example of a second operation mode. The normal mode is the operation mode when the image forming apparatus 100 is in a normal operating state. The normal operating state is, for example, a state in which the power is turned on, the various components of the image forming apparatus 100 are started, and normal use such as printing out and reading images is possible. The consumables replacement mode is an operation mode for accepting operations required in response to replacement of consumables.

[0024] Consumables deteriorate and are consumed as the image forming apparatus 100 is used, and therefore need to be replaced or replenished at appropriate times. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a mechanism for notifying the user when it is time to replace the consumables. One such mechanism, for example, monitors the status of the consumables using a sensor or the like, and notifies the user when a state requiring replacement or replenishment is detected. The user is notified, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 140 urging the user to replace the consumables. In this case, when the target consumable is replaced or replenished, this is detected by a monitoring means such as a sensor, and the notification to the user is erased.

[0025] On the other hand, some consumables are not equipped with the above-mentioned monitoring means, and it is not possible to detect when replacement or replenishment is necessary. For these types of consumables, the recommended time for replacement or replenishment (called the "recommended replacement time") is determined in advance depending on the type of consumable. Then, the time for replacement or replenishment (called the "replacement time") for each consumable is determined based on information on the time since the last time the consumable was replaced or replenished (called the "last replacement date and time"). The time information is information used to determine when the consumable should be replaced.

[0026] The recommended replacement time and progress information are set according to the type of consumable. For example, if the consumable deteriorates or decreases over time, the recommended replacement time is defined by the amount of time that has elapsed since the consumable was replaced. The amount of time that has elapsed since the last replacement date and time is used as the progress information. Also, if the consumable deteriorates or decreases as jobs are executed in the image forming apparatus 100, the recommended replacement time is defined by the number of jobs that have been executed since the consumable was replaced. The number of jobs that have been executed since the last replacement date and time is used as the progress information. Note that these progress information items are merely examples, and various information may be used as progress information depending on the type of consumable. The progress information for each consumable is calculated using a method determined according to the type of consumable.

[0027] The replacement time for each consumable item is the time when the progress information from the last replacement date and time of that consumable item reaches the recommended replacement time. Image forming apparatus 100 notifies the user when it is time to replace that consumable item. The user is notified by, for example, displaying a message on display unit 140 urging the user to replace the consumable item.

[0028] As described above, when a consumable without a monitoring unit is replaced or replenished, a counter that counts the time until the next replacement of the consumable must be reset. This counter is reset, for example, manually by the user who replaced the consumable. In the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, a consumable replacement mode is provided to reduce the chance of the user forgetting to reset the counter or making an error.

[0029] The image forming apparatus 100 transitions from the normal mode to the consumables replacement mode when a predetermined condition is met when the cover of the housing of the image forming apparatus 100 is opened and then closed. The conditions for transitioning to the consumables replacement mode include the following: when the cover of the consumables installation area is opened, a consumable-related fault has occurred in the image forming apparatus 100; there is a consumable that is close to its replacement date; and there is no fault other than a consumable-related fault. Examples of faults other than a consumable-related fault include a paper jam. When these conditions are met and the cover of the image forming apparatus 100 is closed, the image forming apparatus 100 transitions from the normal mode to the consumables replacement mode. Upon transitioning to the consumables replacement mode, the image forming apparatus 100 displays a specific UI screen on the display unit 140. This UI screen displays information such as the location of the consumables and allows the user to reset a counter used to count the progress information of the consumables. Details of the UI screen will be described later.

[0030] On the other hand, if the cover of image forming apparatus 100 is closed without satisfying the above conditions, image forming apparatus 100 does not transition from normal mode to consumables replacement mode. In normal mode, an open cover of image forming apparatus 100 is treated as a fault, and a notification screen is displayed on display unit 140 to notify the user of the location of an open cover. When the cover is closed, the notification screen is cleared. Therefore, different displays are displayed on display unit 140 depending on whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 transitions to consumables replacement mode when the cover is closed.

[0031] After switching to the consumable replacement mode, when a reset operation of the counter for counting the elapsed information of the consumable is performed using the UI screen displayed on the display unit 140, the counter is reset, and the image forming apparatus 100 returns from the consumable replacement mode to the normal mode. Also, even when the reset operation is not performed, when a predetermined event occurs in the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 returns from the consumable replacement mode to the normal mode. As an event that triggers the return to the normal mode (referred to as the "return trigger"), various events may be set such that the operation in the normal mode is required when the event occurs. For example, it may be that the execution of a job performed in the normal mode such as printing output of an image is instructed, the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned off, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the power saving mode, or a preset time has elapsed without performing the reset operation. These events are merely examples, and the events that trigger the return may be set assuming various scenarios in which it is desired to shift from the consumable replacement mode to the normal mode.

[0032] <Example of UI screen display> The UI screen displayed on the display unit 140 of the image forming apparatus 100 in the consumable replacement mode will be described. In the present embodiment, an image simulating the appearance of the image forming apparatus 100 (referred to as the "apparatus image") is displayed on the display unit 140 to indicate the position of the opened and closed cover. Also, the position of the consumable inside the housing covered by the cover is indicated by an image (referred to as the "consumable image"), and on this consumable image, a selection operation of the counter to be reset is accepted. Hereinafter, the display screen of the display unit 140 in several scenarios will be described, including the state of shifting from the normal mode to the consumable replacement mode. In the following description, it is assumed that the consumable does not have the monitoring means described above.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying image forming apparatus 100 in a stopped state in normal mode. Fig. 2 shows device image 141a of image forming apparatus 100 and text area 142a. Text area 142a displays a message saying "Stopped," indicating the status of image forming apparatus 100. Device image 141a shown in Fig. 2 shows image forming apparatus 100 as viewed from the front side.

[0034] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying image forming device 100 in normal mode with some of its covers open. In FIG. 3, device image 141b showing the position of the open cover and text area 142b are displayed. Text area 142b displays a message indicating the status of image forming device 100: "Cover is open."

[0035] Here, it is assumed that the two covers on the right side of image forming device 100 are open when viewed in the same orientation as device image 141a in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the corresponding cover in device image 141b is shown in a color different from the other parts (represented by shading in the figure). Also, in Fig. 3, a mark (a cross in a circle) is added near the cover shown in a color different from the other parts to visually attract attention, and the same mark and a message "Check cover (front cover (right) of main body)" that prompts the user to check the cover are displayed in text area 142b.

[0036] Next, if the cover that was open is closed without satisfying the transition condition from the normal mode to the consumables replacement mode, image forming apparatus 100 returns to the stopped state in the normal mode. Therefore, the display on display unit 140 becomes the same as the display shown in FIG. 2. In contrast, if the transition condition to the consumables replacement mode is satisfied and the cover is closed, image forming apparatus 100 transitions to the consumables replacement mode. Then, a UI screen is displayed on display unit 140.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen in the consumables replacement mode. The example shown in FIG. 4 shows a UI screen when image forming apparatus 100 transitions from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the consumables replacement mode. FIG. 4 displays device image 141c showing the position of the cover after it has been closed from the open state, text fields 142c and 144a, and consumables image 143a showing the installation positions of consumables inside the housing of image forming apparatus 100. Text field 142c displays a message saying "Consumables replacement mode," indicating the current operating mode of image forming apparatus 100. Furthermore, text field 144a displays a message saying "Please select the consumables you replaced," prompting the user to select a consumable.

[0038] In the example shown in Fig. 4, the same cover as that displayed in a different color (shading) in the example of Fig. 3 is displayed in a different color from the other parts of device image 141c. Also, on the UI screen, the cover is displayed in a different color from the display color of the open cover on the screen that notifies the open state of the cover shown in Fig. 3 (the cover is displayed in a different shade than in Fig. 3). Because the cover displayed in this different color is a cover that has been opened once and then closed, this display on the UI screen indicates that there is a possibility that consumables installed inside were replaced or replenished when the cover was opened.

[0039] Furthermore, consumable image 143a displays the interior of the housing corresponding to the cover shown in a different color in device image 141c. This consumable image 143a showing the interior of the housing depicts images of consumables at positions corresponding to the actual placement of the consumables inside the housing. The UI screen in consumable replacement mode can accept a user's selection operation for the consumables displayed in this consumable image 143a. For example, if operation unit 130 of image forming device 100 is realized as a touch panel, the user selects a consumable by touching the image portion of the consumable to be selected on the UI screen (in other words, the replaced consumable). When the user performs a consumable selection operation, preparations are made to reset a counter for counting progress information for the selected consumable.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen when a consumable selection operation is performed in the consumable replacement mode. The example shown in Fig. 5 shows a UI screen in which several consumables have been selected from the state shown in Fig. 4. In the consumable image 143b in Fig. 5, the selected consumables are displayed in a color different from the unselected consumables (in the figure, the selected consumables are represented by a thick line).

[0041] 5, text indicating the name of the selected consumable is displayed in text field 144b to the right of consumable image 143b. In the example shown in FIG. 5, consumables such as "Toner Cartridge Yellow 2" and "Toner Recovery Bottle 1" are selected. By referring to the UI screen shown in FIG. 5, the user can visually confirm whether the user selected the correct consumable based on the location information of the consumables shown in device image 141c and consumable image 143b and the name of the consumable displayed in text field 144b. Also, a button object 145 for resetting a counter for counting progress information for the selected consumable is displayed below text field 144b (in the figure, the text "Execute Counter Reset" is displayed). When the user selects button object 145 on the UI screen, a separate window (referred to as a "confirmation window") is displayed, prompting the user to confirm whether to reset the counter.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a confirmation window is displayed on the UI screen of FIG. 5. The confirmation window 146 shown in FIG. 6 displays message text "Replacement time will be reset. Are you sure?", as well as a button object 146a for resetting the counter and a button object 146b for canceling the reset. When the button object 146a is selected, the counter corresponding to the consumable selected on the UI screen of FIG. 5 is reset. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 transitions from the consumable replacement mode to the normal mode, and the screen of the display unit 140 returns to the state shown in FIG. 2. On the other hand, when the button object 146b is selected, the confirmation window 146 disappears from the screen of the display unit 140, and the UI screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed again.

[0043] <Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 100> 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of image forming apparatus 100 in the consumables replacement mode. When a fault occurs in image forming apparatus 100 and one of the covers is opened, control unit 110 (see FIG. 1) detects the open state of the cover based on a signal from a sensor provided on each cover (S701). Control unit 110 then displays an image (see FIG. 3) showing the open cover on display unit 140 (S702). Control unit 110 also determines whether the fault is related to consumables. Examples of faults related to consumables include running out of toner or paper, or malfunctions due to deterioration of other consumables. For example, information about faults related to consumables is stored in advance in storage unit 120 (see FIG. 1), and when a fault is detected, control unit 110 refers to the stored information to determine whether the fault is related to consumables.

[0044] If the fault that has occurred is a fault related to consumables (YES in S703), control unit 110 turns on the consumables replacement mode flag in the mode control function to transition to consumables replacement mode (S706). Then, control unit 110 stores information about the open cover (in the figure, this is referred to as "cover open position information") in a storage unit such as storage unit 120 or RAM 112 (S707). In this case, it is presumed that the reason the cover of image forming apparatus 100 was opened was to replace a consumable related to the fault.

[0045] On the other hand, if the fault that has occurred is not a fault related to a consumable item (NO in S703), the control unit 110 next determines whether there is any consumable item that is close to due for replacement. The consumable item being close to due for replacement means, for example, that the difference between the progress information (counter value) for that consumable item and the recommended replacement time set for that consumable item is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

[0046] If there is a consumable item that is close to the time to replace (YES in S704), the control unit 110 next determines whether any failures other than those related to the consumable item (referred to as "other failures") have occurred. Examples of other failures include paper jams. Rather than targeting all failures other than those related to the consumable item, some failures may be set in advance as other failures, and the control unit 110 may determine whether the failure that has occurred corresponds to the set other failures.

[0047] If no other failure has occurred (YES in S705), control unit 110 turns on the consumables replacement mode flag in the mode control function to transition to the consumables replacement mode (S706). This is because it is presumed that the reason the cover of image forming apparatus 100 was opened when there was a consumable that was close to needing replacement and no other failure had occurred is to replace the consumables. Then, control unit 110 stores information about the open cover (in the figure, this is referred to as "cover open position information") in a storage unit such as storage unit 120 or RAM 112 (S707).

[0048] On the other hand, if the fault that has occurred is not a fault related to consumables (NO in S703) and there are no consumables that are close to needing replacement (NO in S704), it is presumed that the reason the cover of image forming apparatus 100 was opened was not to replace consumables. Therefore, control unit 110 does not transition to the consumables replacement mode and does not turn on the consumables replacement mode flag in the mode control function. Also, even if there are consumables that are close to needing replacement (YES in S704) and another fault has occurred (NO in S705), it is presumed that the reason the cover of image forming apparatus 100 was opened was to resolve the other fault that has occurred. Therefore, control unit 110 does not transition to the consumables replacement mode and does not turn on the consumables replacement mode flag in the mode control function.

[0049] Next, when the covers that were open in S701 are closed, the control unit 110 detects the closed state of the covers based on signals from the sensors provided on each cover (S708) and determines whether all covers of the image forming apparatus 100 are closed. If an open cover remains (NO in S709), the fault of an open cover still remains, so the process returns to S708.

[0050] When all covers are closed (YES in S709), the control unit 110 determines whether the consumables replacement mode flag is ON. If the flag is OFF (NO in S710), the operation in the consumables replacement mode is not performed, and the display on the display unit 140 is set to the normal mode image (see FIG. 2) (S720).

[0051] When the consumable replacement mode flag is ON (YES in S710), the control unit 110 transitions to the consumable replacement mode (S711) and displays the UI screen for the consumable replacement mode (see FIG. 4) on the display unit 140 (S712). When the user selects a consumable on the UI screen and performs a reset operation (YES in S713), the control unit 110 resets the counter for the selected consumable (S714). In the example described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the reset operation is, for example, an operation of selecting button object 145 in FIG. 5 and button object 146a in FIG. 6.

[0052] After resetting the counter for the selected consumable item, control unit 110 transitions the operation mode of image forming apparatus 100 to the normal mode (S719). Then, control unit 110 causes display unit 140 to display the image in the normal mode (see FIG. 2) (S720).

[0053] Furthermore, after displaying the UI screen on display unit 140, control unit 110 waits for the counter to be reset and determines whether an event set as a trigger for ending the consumable replacement mode has occurred. Here, four events are detected: execution of a job performed in normal mode, powering off image forming apparatus 100, transitioning image forming apparatus 100 to power saving mode, and the lapse of a preset time. If any of these events is detected (YES in any of S715 to S718), control unit 110 transitions to normal mode (S719) and displays the image of normal mode (see FIG. 2) on display unit 140 (S720). On the other hand, if none of these events is detected (NO in any of S715 to S718), control unit 110 waits for a reset operation or detection of one of these events. When the set time is reached, the result of S718 is YES, so the control unit 110 transitions to the normal mode and displays an image in the normal mode (S719, S720).

[0054] <Operation when the counter is not reset> Here, consider a case where the consumable counter presented on the UI screen for the consumable replacement mode is not reset and the system returns to normal mode. For example, this may occur when the system transitions to normal mode due to the occurrence of any of the events in S714 to S717 in FIG. 8 . In this case, it is possible that a counter that should be reset is not reset. Therefore, when the control unit 110 transitions to normal mode due to the occurrence of such an event and turns off the display of the UI screen for the consumable replacement mode, it may notify the user that the counter reset operation has not been accepted at an appropriate timing, such as when the image forming apparatus 100 next executes a job. Specifically, this notification may be issued after the execution of the job shown in S715, when the image forming apparatus 100 is started after being powered off in S716, or when the image forming apparatus 100 returns to normal mode after being powered off in S717. Alternatively, the notification may be issued periodically after the elapse of a set time in S718. The user may be notified, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 140. At this time, together with the message, an image indicating the location of the target consumable may be displayed on display unit 140, as in the UI screens for the consumable replacement mode shown in Figures 5 and 6. In response to this notification, the user may operate operation unit 130 of image forming apparatus 100 to display the UI screen for the consumable replacement mode on display unit 140, and perform an operation to reset the counter.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, in the image showing an open cover (see FIG. 3), the open cover is displayed in a color different from the other parts of the device image. Similarly, in the UI screen (see FIG. 4), the portion corresponding to the position of the consumable to be reset is displayed in a color different from the other parts. Furthermore, in the UI screen, the consumable selected to be reset is displayed in a color different from the other consumables. These display modes may be any display mode that allows the position of the open cover, the position of the consumable, and the selected consumable to be identified, and are not limited to the configuration using different display colors as described above. For example, the cover or consumable to be identified may be displayed with a brightness or contrast different from the other parts.

[0056] In the above embodiment, when the cover of the housing of image forming apparatus 100 is opened or closed, even if there are consumables that need to be replaced soon, if another fault has occurred, the image forming apparatus does not enter the consumables replacement mode. In contrast, if there are consumables that need to be replaced soon, the image forming apparatus may enter the consumables replacement mode when the cover is closed, regardless of whether there are any other faults. Various other modifications and alternative configurations that do not deviate from the scope of the technical concept of the present invention are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 100... image forming apparatus, 110... control unit, 111... CPU, 112... RAM, 113... ROM, 120... storage unit, 130... operation unit, 140... display unit, 141a to 141c... apparatus images, 143a to 143b... consumable images, 150... image reading unit, 160... image forming unit, 170... communication unit, 180... image processing unit

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: Detects whether there is a fault and whether the cover is open or closed. When a cover related to a consumable item is opened and then closed without the occurrence of a predetermined failure, information about the consumable item is displayed on a display device, and a reset operation of a counter set for the consumable item can be accepted. When a predetermined event occurs while the information on the consumable item is being displayed on the display device, the display of the information on the consumable item is turned off; When the display of the information about the consumables is turned off due to the occurrence of the event, the image forming apparatus notifies the user that the counter reset operation has not been accepted the next time image forming processing is executed.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor causes the display device to display different messages depending on whether a predetermined condition regarding consumables is met and an open cover is closed, or whether the cover is closed without meeting the condition.

3. The processor: displaying information indicating an open cover on the display device in response to opening or closing of the cover; When the condition is met and the cover is closed, information about the consumable is displayed; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if the cover is closed without satisfying the condition, the display of the information indicating that the cover is open is erased.

4. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condition is a condition regarding the replacement timing of the consumable item calculated by a method determined for each of the consumable items.

5. On the computer, Functions to detect the presence or absence of obstacles and the opening and closing of the cover, a function of displaying information about a consumable item on a display device when a cover related to the consumable item is opened and then closed without the occurrence of a predetermined failure; a function of receiving a reset operation of a counter set for the consumable item for which the information is displayed; a function of erasing the display of the information on the consumable item when a predetermined event occurs while the information on the consumable item is being displayed on the display device; a function of notifying a user that the counter reset operation has not been accepted when the display of the information on the consumables is turned off due to the occurrence of the event, the next time image formation processing is executed; A program characterized by realizing the above.

Images