JPH06102724A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To predict and discover fault from the level and frequency of noises generated from the device. CONSTITUTION:A local oscillator 306 is controlled by sweep frequency regulation signal outputted from CPU 200. The noises generated from various elements constituting a copying machine is caught by a loop antenna 301 provided inside the copying machine and the generated noise frequency and the noise level are detected through an amplifier 302, a mixer 303, a wave detector 304 and a low-pass filter 305. Whether the various elements are at a normal level, a level predicting a possibility of the generation of fault or a fault level is judged based on the detected frequency of noise and the noise level and a warning is displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image for detecting a trouble occurring in the apparatus and predicting the trouble from the level and frequency of noises generated from elements constituting the apparatus. Forming apparatus

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in copying machines, printers, etc., the operating state of each element constituting the apparatus is monitored by various sensors, the check of driving speed, the check of voltage supplied to the element, etc. When a failure occurs, the equipment is protected by stopping it, and the status of trouble and failure is properly grasped to facilitate maintenance and inspection.

Further, from the driving portion of each element constituting the apparatus and the driving circuit (for example, a motor, a charging charger, an exposure lamp lighting circuit, etc.), different intensities,
Frequency noise is generated, which may add a noise signal to the control circuit and cause the control circuit to malfunction. Therefore, various preventive measures are taken so that the control circuit does not malfunction even if noise occurs by shielding the periphery of the control circuit or shifting the generation timings of the control signals from each other.

[0004]

However, since the conventional detection of troubles and failures is carried out by various sensors, check of driving speed, check of voltage supplied to the element, etc., the apparatus is constructed. It cannot be detected until the element that does not operate normally or fails and stops operating. For this reason, for example, if the motor is vibrating or if the motor is overloaded, electrical troubles etc. that do not immediately lead to failure will not be detected. It was not possible to prevent the failure stop in advance because it was not possible to predict in advance.

In order to prevent malfunction of the control circuit due to noise generation, it is impossible to shield all control circuits or shift the generation timing of all control signals by design. Even with such noise countermeasures, it was not possible to completely prevent the influence of noise. The present invention is intended to solve such a problem.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. According to the invention of claim 1, in an image forming apparatus composed of a plurality of elements, a predetermined amount generated from each element of the image forming apparatus. Noise detecting means for detecting noise of the frequency, noise intensity comparing means for comparing the intensity of the noise detected by the noise detecting means with a predetermined reference value stored in advance, and a comparison result by the noise intensity comparing means. It is characterized by further comprising: determining means for determining the state of the element in which the noise has occurred, and informing means for informing the state of the element in which the noise has occurred, based on the determination result of the determining means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in an image forming apparatus including a plurality of elements including a control circuit for controlling the operation of the apparatus, noise of a predetermined frequency generated from each element of the image forming apparatus is detected. Based on the comparison result by the noise detection means, the noise intensity comparison means for comparing the intensity of the noise detected by the noise detection means with a predetermined reference value stored in advance, and the control based on the comparison result by the noise intensity comparison means. It is characterized by comprising a judging means for judging the state of the circuit, and a notifying means for notifying the state of the control circuit based on the judgment result of the judging means.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the state of the element can be determined from the frequency of the noise and the intensity of the noise generated from the element forming the device, and the element in which the abnormality has occurred can be specified and notified. Further, in the invention of claim 2, the state of the control circuit of the device affected by the noise is judged from the frequency of the noise and the intensity of the noise generated from the elements constituting the device, and the control circuit in which the abnormality has occurred is specified. Can be notified.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described below.

First, the structure of the copying machine management system will be described. FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of the copying machine. The machine body 1 is placed on a paper feed unit 21, and an automatic document feeder 51 is provided on the machine body 1. A photosensitive drum 2 is arranged in the center of the inside of the machine body 1. The photosensitive drum 2 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow so that the image forming area is uniformly charged by the eraser lamp 3 and the charging charger 4. The exposure optical system 5 exposes the image of the document positioned on the platen glass 6 on the upper surface of the machine body 1 to the charged surface, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document image is formed.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the developing device 7,
Alternatively, it is developed by 8 to form a visible image. The visible image on the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred by the transfer charger 9 onto the transfer sheet fed at the transfer portion facing the transfer charger 9.

The transfer unit is fed from either a transfer sheet manually inserted from a manual sheet feed port 22 provided in the machine body 1 or each of the sheet feed cassettes 23 to 25 mounted on the sheet feed unit 21. The transfer sheet is fed, and the image is transferred. The transfer sheet onto which the image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 2, sent to the fixing device 11 by the conveyor belt 10 and subjected to fixing processing, and then discharged to the paper discharge tray 12.

A manual feed table 26 is provided in the manual feed port 22.
Is provided so that the transfer sheet, which is manually fed, is guided as necessary. Also, each paper cassette 2
The sheets 3 to 25 are detachably set in the sheet feeding ports 27 to 29 provided on the entire peripheral wall of the sheet feeding unit 21, and are fed by selectively driving the sheet feeding rollers 30 to 32. Paper mouth 2
It is possible to feed a predetermined one of the transfer sheets in the sheet feeding cassettes 23 to 25 set in the sheets 7 to 29.

The manual feed table 26 and the paper feed cassette 23 to
The transfer sheet fed from No. 25 is the transfer rollers 35-4.
It is conveyed by 2 toward the transfer part. The transferred transfer sheet is sent to a timing roller 45 which is in a stand-by state in a stopped state, and the tip end is aligned to prevent the inclination with respect to the transfer direction.
The feeding timing to the transfer portion is adjusted according to the driving start timing of the above, so that the front end of the visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 and the front end of the transfer sheet coincide with each other.

The automatic document feeder 51 is provided on the platen glass 6 so as to be openable and closable. Automatic document feeder 5
1 is electrically connected to the fuselage 1 and when it is detected by a switch (not shown) that it is closed at a predetermined position,
The controls of the machine body 1 and the automatic document feeder 51 are associated with each other, and the operation mode of the machine body 1 is switched to the automatic document conveying mode.

In the automatic document feeding mode, the start key 52 provided in the automatic document feeding device 51 is operated to keep the machine body 1 in the standby state.
1 starts the operation, and the document tray-5 of the document sending section 55
The original set in 3 is sent out between the platen glass 6 of the next conveying section 56 and the conveying belt 57 on the next, and is conveyed to a predetermined exposure position on the platen glass 6 by the conveying belt 57 and stopped. Let At this time, a start signal is issued from the automatic document feeder 51 to the machine body 1 to start the copying operation.

When the final exposure operation for the original document at the exposure position is completed, a signal to that effect is issued from the machine body 1 to the automatic original document feeder 51, and the automatic original document feeder 51 discharges the original document by the conveyor belt 57. It is discharged onto the tray 54.

The exposure optical system 5 is of the Miller-Skiyan type, and the copying magnification can be changed by moving the projection lens 61 in the optical axis direction. The first slider 64 having the illumination light source 62 and the first mirror 63 is V / m.
While the scanning operation is performed at a speed of (V: peripheral speed of photosensitive drum, m: copy magnification), second and third mirrors 65 and 66 are used.
The second slider 67 which has a speed of V / 2m moves at a speed of V / 2m to keep the optical path length according to each magnification during scanning constant.

The machine body 1 has an automatic paper selection mode (APS mode) for automatically selecting the size of the transfer sheet and an operator as modes for selecting the transfer sheet during copying. And a manual mode for setting the size of the transfer sheet.

In the APS mode, the copy magnification is fixed, the optimum transfer sheet size is discriminated from the original size and the copy magnification, and the corresponding paper feed port is automatically selected, and the selected paper feed port is selected. Feed the transfer sheet from.

The manual mode is a copy magnification and a transfer sheet.
The size can be arbitrarily selected.

In order to detect the size of a document in the APS mode, etc., a document is inserted near the document insertion port of the transport section 56 of the automatic document transport device 51 regardless of the size or orientation of the document to be inserted. A document length sensor 72 that is arranged so that it can be detected and that detects the size of the document in the conveying direction, that is, the document length, and the width of the document that is inserted,
A document width sensor 73 that takes two states of non-detection is provided,
By receiving the detection signals from the two sensors 72 and 73 on the machine body 1 side, the size and orientation of the document can be identified.

The document size detecting mechanism is not limited to this, and various known ones can be adopted.

Further, the paper feeding unit 21 has the above-mentioned respective modes.
Paper feed ports 27 to 27 in order to provide a copy sheet of a size automatically selected by the printer or manually selected.
Sensors 75 to 77 for detecting the presence or absence of the transfer sheet in the sheet feeding cassettes 23 to 25 set in 29, and sensors 78 to 8 for detecting the remaining amount of the set transfer sheet.
0, and sensors 81 to 83 for detecting the size of the transfer sheet accommodated therein are provided. Further, sensors 84 to 86 are also provided for detecting when the paper is fed from the paper cassettes 23 to 25 set in the paper feed ports 27 to 29.

On the other hand, the manual feed port 22 of the machine body 1 is provided with a manual feed sensor 87 for detecting the manual feed of the transfer sheet, and a manual feed for detecting the feed of the manual transfer sheet. A paper sensor 88 is provided.

A sensor 89 is also provided for detecting that the transfer sheet fed from each of the paper feed ports 27 to 29 and the manual paper feed port 22 reaches just before the timing roller 45. The timing at which the timing roller 45 is turned on is set by detecting the transfer sheet by the sensor 89.

A main motor 91 for driving the copying mechanism is provided in the machine body 1, and a separate paper feeding motor 92 is provided in the paper feeding unit 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the machine body 1 is provided with an operation panel 101. In FIG. 2, 102 is a print key for starting copying, and 103 to 112 are 1 to
Numeric keypad for registering 0, 113 clear for the number of copies,
Clear Stopkey for stopping copy operation, 11
Reference numeral 4 is a mode selection key for selecting the APS mode, AMS mode, and each of the various modes, 115 and 116 are copy magnification up keys, and 117 and various down messages. On the LCD display that displays
When the transfer sheet of the optimum size selected by the number of copies, the set magnification, and the APS mode is not set in any of the paper feed ports 27 to 29, the transfer sheet of the optimum size for this selection is selected. It is used, for example, to indicate to the operator the paper feed port where the printer should be set.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit for controlling the copying machine. The control circuit is constituted by a CPU 200, and its input port has various sensors for detecting the operating states of various elements constituting the copying machine, signals from various keys provided on the operation panel 101, and the like.
A detection signal from a noise detection circuit 300, which will be described later, etc. is inputted, and an operation command signal to various elements constituting the copying machine for executing a copying operation is provided from an output port thereof, which is provided on the operation panel 101. The LCD display unit 117 outputs a display command signal for displaying the number of copies and the like, a display command signal for displaying the detected operating state of the copying machine, a trouble state, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a noise detection circuit 300 for detecting noise generated from the copying machine. In the figure,
Reference numeral 301 denotes a loop antenna installed at an appropriate position in the copying machine. A noise radio wave generated from the copying machine is caught by the loop antenna 301 and a noise signal is output to an output terminal. This noise signal is amplified by the amplifier 302, input to the mixer 303 together with the sweep frequency signal output from the local oscillator 306, the noise signal of the specific frequency determined by the sweep frequency is separated, and detected by the detector 304. To be done. This circuit configuration is the same as the circuit configuration of the heterodyne radio receiver, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The signal detected by the wave detector 304 is further separated by a low-pass filter 305 into a signal in a required frequency range, which is input to the CPU 200 to determine an abnormal state based on a noise level. A voltage signal that determines the sweep frequency of the local oscillator 306 is output from the CPU 200,
The oscillation frequency of local oscillator 306 is determined. Note that C
The local oscillator 306 may be omitted by directly generating a signal of the required sweep frequency from the PU 200.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the noise level with respect to the frequency detected by the noise detection circuit, that is, an example of the noise spectrum. The solid line shows the noise spectrum when the copying machine is operating normally, and the broken line shows the noise spectrum when there is an abnormality in the copying machine. Generally, the higher the noise level, the higher the possibility that the noise source has failed, and the noise generated from the noise source may be added to the peripheral control circuits, causing abnormal operation of the control circuits. Will be more likely.

The noise level when the copying machine is operating normally and the noise level when an abnormality is occurring differ depending on the noise frequency. FIG. 6 shows an example of the noise level in the normal operating range with respect to the frequency and the noise level in the abnormal state. For example, the noise frequency is 10
In the range up to 0kHz, the noise level is 1.0
If the noise level is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0, the normal level (level A), if the noise level is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0, there is a possibility of occurrence of abnormality. This is a trouble level (level C) at which it is determined that an abnormality has occurred.

When the noise level is at the above-mentioned prediction level (level B), a warning is displayed on the serviceman display section of the copying machine, and noise level information for each frequency section is transmitted to the service center. A warning shall be displayed.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the noise detection circuit 300. For example, when a motor abnormality is detected, a noise signal generated on the electric wire of the motor power supply circuit is transmitted to the filter 31.
1, through the comparator 312, the comparator 313 and C
It is input to the PU 200.

The comparators 312 and 313 compare the noise signal with the reference noise level signal. When the noise signal is higher than the reference noise level signal, the signal L is output. When the noise signal is lower than the reference noise level signal, the signal L is output. Output H. The filter 311 is a filter excluding noise signals generated from devices other than the detection target (here, the motor), and is a filter that passes only noise signals of a specific frequency generated from the detection target.

The reference noise level signal V1 of the comparator 312 is compared with the comparator 312 in order to judge whether the abnormality has occurred in the equipment, or whether the abnormality has occurred at the prediction level (level B) or the trouble level (level C). Set lower than the reference noise level signal V2 of the input signal 313 (V1 <V2
) The state of abnormality is determined by whether the output signals of the two comparators are H or L.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the comparator 3
12 and the output of the comparator 313 are both H (meaning that the noise signal is less than the reference noise level signal V1), the device is determined to be normal, and the output of the comparator 312 is L. -The output of 313 is H
If so (meaning that the noise signal is higher than the reference noise level signal V1 and lower than the signal V2), the device is determined to be at the prediction level (level B), and the comparator 31
2. If both outputs of the comparator 313 are L (meaning that the noise signal is above the reference noise level signal V2), the device is judged to be at the trouble level (level C).

When the noise level is at the above-mentioned prediction level (level B), a warning is displayed on the serviceman display of the copying machine and the frequency division is displayed on the service center, as described above. Send noise level information for each
A warning shall be displayed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the noise detection circuit 300 in the case where a plurality of detection targets are connected to a common power supply line. The combination of the filter and the comparator described in FIG. 7 is connected to the power supply line. The noise level can be detected for each detection target by connecting a plurality of filters and passing only the noise signal of the specific frequency generated from the specific detection target by the filter.

That is, the filter 321 (filter A) allows, for example, only noise of a specific frequency generated from the exposure lamp to pass therethrough, and the filter 331 (filter B), for example, only noise of a specific frequency generated from the charging charger. The noise signal that has passed through the filter 321 is generated by the two comparators 32.
2. The comparator 323 compares the reference noise level signals with the respective reference noise level signals, and the noise signal passed through the filter 331 is divided into two comparators 332, 33.
3 is compared with the respective reference noise level signals. As a result, the state of the device such as the exposure lamp and the charging charger connected to the common power supply line can be determined from the frequency and the noise level of the generated noise.

When the noise frequency and noise level for determining the state of the equipment are set, not only the noise source is directly determined, but also the reference noise that can be used to determine the operation abnormality of the control circuit or the like affected by the noise. By setting the level, it is possible to predict the abnormality of the control circuit affected by noise.

For example, when a control circuit relatively vulnerable to noise is arranged near the motor which may generate relatively high level noise, the motor is used as a source of a certain frequency range. If noise exceeding a predetermined level is detected, it is not determined that there is a motor trouble, and noise originating from the motor is added to the control circuit and the control circuit is not operating normally. It is determined and treated as a trouble at the prediction level (level B).

As described above, if the noise source cannot be specified even if an abnormality is detected from the noise frequency and the noise level, for example, even if it is determined that the motor noise exceeds the reference noise level, any noise is detected. -In some cases, it may not be possible to identify whether or not the data (multiple motors are often used) is abnormal. In such a case, an abnormal component (motor) can be specified by sequentially driving the components (motors) one by one and determining the noise frequency and noise level.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a configuration in which the copying machine is managed by the service station management device.
The (plurality) of CPUs are connected to the communication line 400 via the modem 401 and the telephone 402, and the CPUs of the management device 500 are also connected to the communication line 400 via the modem 404 and the telephone 403. A signal indicating the state of the copying machine detected by the copying machine 1 and processed by the CPU of the copying machine (including a signal indicating a normal level, a prediction level, and a trouble level)
Is transmitted to the CPU of the management device 500 via the communication line 400 and notified to the serviceman of the service station. Based on the signal indicating the state of the copying machine, the serviceman can make a schedule for maintenance, inspection and repair of the corresponding copying machine and carry out the schedule.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the outline of the processing executed by the CPU of the copying machine. First, when the power is turned on, the program is started, and initial settings such as memory clear and standard mode setting are performed (step S1). Then, an internal timer that defines the length of one routine is set, and clocking is started (step S2).

Input processing such as an input signal from a key switch on the operation panel 40, various switches arranged inside the copying machine, a sensor, etc. is executed (step S3). next,
It is determined whether the print switch is ON (step S
4) If it is ON, processing necessary for the copy operation, that is, control of various operation unit groups such as paper feed control, scanning control, photosensitive drum control, and developing device control is executed (step S5).

Abnormality detection processing based on the abnormality detection signal from the noise detection device (step S6), display processing for displaying abnormality and other information on the display panel of the copying machine (step S6).
7) The communication process with the service station management device is executed (step S8). It waits for the internal timer to finish measuring time (step S9), and returns to step S3. Details of the abnormality detection process (step S6), the display process (step S7), and the communication process (step S8) will be described later.

Next, the details of the abnormality detection processing shown in step S6 of the flow chart shown in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. Here, the abnormality detection circuit shown in FIG. 4 is used.

First, while outputting a voltage signal for changing the sweep frequency to change the frequency, the detected noise level is compared with a normal level (level A) (see FIG. 6) with reference to an abnormal level (normal). It is determined whether or not there is a certain noise frequency (not at the level) (step S61). When a noise frequency of an abnormal level is found, the abnormal portion is judged from the frequency (step S62).

It is determined whether or not the noise frequency of the abnormal level is the prediction level (level B) (step S63). If it is at the predictive level, a trouble predictive code corresponding to the trouble is set (step S64). If not at the predictive level, the trouble level is set. Therefore, the trouble code corresponding to the trouble is set (step S64). S65), and returns to the main routine. If no abnormal level noise frequency is found in step S61, the copying machine is in a normal operating state, and the set trouble prediction code is set.
Delete the trouble code and trouble code (step S66), and return to the main routine.

The step S of the flow chart shown in FIG.
The details of the display process shown in 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the setting of the trouble code is judged (step S71). If the trouble code is set, the trouble content according to the set trouble code is operated on the copying machine. LCD display unit 1 on panel 101
Display at 17 (step S72) and return to the main routine. If the trouble code is not set in the judgment of step S71, the setting of the trouble prediction code is judged (step S73). If the trouble prediction code is set, the trouble set is set. The content of the trouble prediction corresponding to the prediction code is displayed on the operation panel 101 of the copying machine.
The CD 117 is displayed on the display (step S74), and the process returns to the main routine. If the trouble prediction code is not set in the judgment of step S73, there is nothing to be displayed in the normal operation, and the process immediately returns to the main routine.

The step S of the flow chart shown in FIG.
Details of the communication processing relating to the trouble among the communication processing shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, normal communication processing with the management apparatus, for example, communication processing relating to the operating states of various elements of the copying machine, communication processing such as various instructions from the management apparatus to the copying machine is performed (step S81). Next, it is judged whether or not the trouble code is set and whether or not the trouble prediction code is set (steps S82 and S84).
When the trouble code is set, the trouble code is transmitted to the management device, and when the trouble prediction code is set, the trouble prediction code is transmitted to the management device (steps S83 and S85). ). Then, a process of transmitting other information to the management device and a process of receiving a signal transmitted from the management device to the copying machine are executed (step S
86, S87), and returns to the main routine.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, a failure occurs depending on the frequency and noise level of noise generated from various elements forming the image forming apparatus, the operating state of each element, and the noise level. The operating state of the control circuit that may occur is determined. This allows
Before various elements fail or the control circuit malfunctions to render the image forming apparatus inoperable, it is possible to predict the occurrence of a failure or malfunction of the control circuit, and take countermeasures at an early stage. No inconvenience to the user. Further, since the serviceman can also perform the maintenance and inspection of the device before the occurrence of the failure, the maintenance and inspection work can be executed systematically and the work load can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the outline of the configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a noise detection circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between noise frequency and noise level.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a noise frequency range, a noise level, and a state of an element.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another example of the noise detection circuit.

8 is a determination diagram in the noise detection circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a detection circuit that detects noise generated from a plurality of elements connected to a common power supply.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a combined state of a copying machine and a management device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing executed by the CPU of the copying machine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of abnormality detection processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of display processing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of communication processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier 101 Operation Panel 117 LCD Display 200 CPU 300 Noise Detection Circuit 301 Loop Antenna 302 Amplifier 303 Mixer 304 Detector 305 Low-pass Filter 306 Local Oscillator 400 Communication Line 500 Management Device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/23 Z 9186-5C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus composed of a plurality of elements, noise detecting means for detecting noise of a predetermined frequency generated from each element of the image forming apparatus, and intensity of noise detected by the noise detecting means. A noise intensity comparison means for comparing with a predetermined reference value stored in advance, a determination means for determining the state of an element that has generated noise based on the comparison result by the noise intensity comparison means, and a determination result of the determination means And an informing unit for informing the state of the element that has generated the noise based on the image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of elements including a control circuit for controlling the operation of the apparatus, and noise detecting means for detecting noise of a predetermined frequency generated from each element of the image forming apparatus, A noise intensity comparison unit that compares the intensity of noise detected by the noise detection unit with a predetermined reference value stored in advance, and a determination that determines the state of the control circuit based on the comparison result by the noise intensity comparison unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a unit and a notifying unit that notifies the state of the control circuit based on the determination result of the determining unit.