Image Forming Apparatus Maintenance Timing from Timeline Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with nozzle surface deterioration due to ink adhesion, which can lead to ejection failures, and maintenance timing is often determined inaccurately, leading to human errors and unnecessary expenses.

Innovation Solution

An operation information generating apparatus that collects and displays operation state and maintenance history information on a timeline, allowing users to determine optimal maintenance times based on actual usage and performance data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cleaning of nozzle surfaces is performed frequently to prevent ejection failure, then ejection reliability is improved, but nozzle surface deterioration accelerates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection reliabilityVSAvoidnozzle surface service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of operation state history information and maintenance history information to determine the optimal maintenance timing before actual maintenance is needed. This allows scheduling cleaning operations at precisely the right moment - early enough to prevent ejection failure but not so early as to cause unnecessary nozzle wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If maintenance timing is determined based on predetermined intervals, then maintenance scheduling is simplified, but maintenance timing accuracy deteriorates due to ignoring actual operation states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance scheduling simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously collects and analyzes operation state history information (such as number of printed sheets, standby time, and usage patterns) and maintenance history information, then uses this feedback to dynamically determine optimal maintenance timing. This replaces fixed predetermined intervals with data-driven timing that adapts to actual apparatus usage patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If operator manually determines maintenance timing based on learned knowledge, then flexibility is improved, but human errors such as omission occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance timing flexibilityVSAvoidmaintenance execution reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-diagnosis and self-scheduling of maintenance operations by automatically analyzing its own operation state history and maintenance history information. This eliminates reliance on operator knowledge and memory, preventing human errors such as omission while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to actual usage patterns through automated data-driven decision making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250227184A1Operation information generating apparatus and operation information generating method

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 KONICA MINOLTA INC

AI summary

An operation information generating apparatus includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor is configured to obtain operation state history information on an operation state of an image forming apparatus and maintenance history information on maintenance performed on an image former of the image forming apparatus, generate operation information in which the operation state history information and the maintenance history information are arranged on a timeline, and output the generated operation information to a terminal apparatus.