JPH096192A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the omission of execution of an end operation by continuing a display for showing that maintenance work is being executed, up to the execution of the end operation, when a starting operation means is operated. CONSTITUTION: In a starting key 96 on a control panel OP, an LED 96A for displaying the validity/invalidity of the ON operation (depressing) of the key 96 is incorporated. In other words, the LED 96A is lighted in orange for instance, during the invalid period of depressing (a copying operation period, a warm-up period just after power was supplied or the like) and in green for instance, during the valid period of depressing. When a serviceman executes the ON operation (touching) of a starting button ZB21 in a maintenance picture P2, it is switched to an operation picture for actual maintenance work and the LED 96A starts to flicker. The flickering of the LED 96A is continued up to the execution of the ON operation (touching) of an end button ZB22. When a panel resetting key 94 is depressed, the picture returns to a standby picture P1.

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 having a special operation mode for maintenance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multifunctional image forming apparatus represented by a digital copying machine, a display device capable of displaying an arbitrary screen such as a liquid crystal display is incorporated in its operation panel. By switching the contents of the screen display,
The layout of the operation panel can be simplified, and the interactive form can be adopted to improve operability.

Some devices of this type have a maintenance operation screen for a serviceman to make various adjustments, in addition to a general operation screen for the user to set the operation. During maintenance work, the service person alternately displays the maintenance operation screen and the general operation screen. That is, after performing a manipulation such as displaying the maintenance operation screen and instructing to change the image forming condition, switching to the general operation screen and instructing image formation, and confirming the operation state by looking at the actually formed image. A series of work such as, is repeated as necessary until the operating state becomes appropriate.

On the other hand, conventionally, for the purpose of enhancing after-sales service, a service network has been constructed in which an image forming apparatus under the control of an individual user and a management apparatus in a service center are connected by a communication line.

The image forming apparatus sends data indicating an operating state and a use state to the management apparatus at a predetermined time or when there is a request from the management apparatus. The data is used to judge the necessity of maintenance work, judge the necessity of replenishing consumables, and the like.

Further, when a service person performs maintenance work, data indicating the start time and end time of the work is sent to the management device, and the required time (maintenance time) for the maintenance work for each image forming device at the service center. Is grasped.

When the maintenance time is managed by data communication as described above, an operation for specifying the start time and the end time of the maintenance work is performed. That is, the serviceman pushes the start button in the maintenance operation screen, for example, when starting the work. This allows
The current time indicated by the built-in clock is automatically stored as the start time. Then, the serviceman presses the end button in the maintenance operation screen when the work is completed. In response to this, the end time is automatically stored similarly to the start time. It is also possible to notify the management device immediately of the pressing of the start button and the end button, and the management device can store the start time and the end time.

[0008]

However, in the prior art,
When the service person displays the general operation screen and confirms the operation, and if the result is appropriate, the maintenance end operation that should actually be performed is not actually performed, that is, the maintenance operation after the operation confirmation. It was easy for a serviceman to forget to perform a series of operations to display a screen and press the end button. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for the management device to reliably grasp the maintenance time.

The present invention has been made in view of this problem, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent the omission of the termination operation in the maintenance work.

[0010]

An apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises start operation means for specifying the start time of maintenance work and end operation means for specifying the end time of maintenance work. The image forming apparatus,
In response to the operation of the start operation means, a display indicating that the maintenance work is in progress is started, and then the display is continued until the operation of the end operation means is performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the start operation means for specifying the start time of the maintenance work, the end operation means for specifying the end time of the maintenance work, and the start operation means are specified. An image forming apparatus comprising: a data communication unit for notifying an external device of the start time and the end time specified by the end operation unit, wherein maintenance work is performed in response to an operation of the start operation unit. It is configured to start the display indicating that there is something and to continue the display until the operation of the end operation means is performed thereafter.

[0012]

When the start operation means is operated, the display indicating that the maintenance work is being performed is continued regardless of the operation mode until the end operation means is subsequently operated. That is, until the operation of the end operation means is performed, the caution information prompting the operation is issued.

[0013]

1 is a schematic diagram of a management system MS according to the present invention. The management system MS is a data communication system in which the image forming apparatus 1 and the management apparatus 2 are connected via the telephone line network 3.

The image forming apparatus 1 comprises a copying machine 1A and a data terminal (communication terminal device) 1B.
It is installed under the user of copier 1A. The data terminal 1B is connected to the telephone line network 3 via a connection device 3A such as a modem.

The management device 2 includes an information processing device 2A such as a personal computer, a display 2B, and a printer 2.
C, keyboard 2D, and connection device 2E,
It is installed at the maintenance service center of copier 1A.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of communication in the management system MS. The management device 2 periodically requests the image forming device 1 to transfer data. In response to this request, the image forming apparatus 1 transfers the maintenance data DM accumulated since the previous communication to the management apparatus 2 and, when the transfer is completed, notifies the management apparatus 2 to that effect. The frequency of communication is appropriately determined according to the actual situation, such as once a day or once a week.

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view showing the mechanical structure of the copying machine 1A. The copying machine 1A is a digital copying machine and is an image reader unit I which is a basic constituent unit.
Along with the R and page printer unit PR, an automatic double-sided document feeder (A
A DFR) 500 and a sheet re-feeding device 600 are provided.

The image reader unit IR includes a scanning system 10 for reading a document placed on the document glass 18 in a subdivided manner, a quantization of photoelectric conversion signals output from the scanning system 10 and a signal corresponding to various image forming modes. The image processing unit 20 performs processing and a memory unit 30 that stores image data corresponding to a document. An operation panel OP described later is provided on the upper surface of the image reader unit IR.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism, and includes a scanner 19 having a document irradiation lamp 11 assembled therein, fixed mirrors 13a and 13b, and a condenser lens 1.
4, an image sensor 16, and a scan motor M2 that drives the scanner 19. The image processing unit 20 is composed of an A / D conversion unit, a shading correction unit, a scaling processing unit, an image quality correction unit, and the like.

The page printer unit PR has a developing / transferring system 70 having a print head 60 having a semiconductor laser 62 as a light source, a photosensitive drum 71, a developing device 73a and the like.
A, a fixing / discharging system 70B having a fixing roller pair 84, a discharging roller 85, and the like, and various rollers and the conveyor belt
3C, and a printed image is printed on a sheet by an electrophotographic process based on the image data transferred from the image reader unit IR. Below the page printer unit PR, two paper cassettes 80a, 8 capable of storing several hundreds of papers are provided.
0b is provided.

The automatic double-sided document feeder 500 conveys a document set on a document feed tray 510 with a conveyor belt 506.
The document is conveyed onto the document glass 18 by means of, and the document after reading is discharged onto the document discharge tray 511 by the discharge rollers 509.

For example, when copying a plurality of originals, the user of the copying machine 1A sets the originals so that the front surface (the surface having the image) faces upward. For both single-sided copying and double-sided copying, the document feed tray 510
Each of the above originals is pulled out one by one from the bottom original,
It is placed accurately at a predetermined position on the original glass 18 with its surface facing downward. Then, in the case of single-sided copying, after the reading is completed, the original document is conveyed in the left direction in the drawing and is ejected so that the upper surface becomes the front surface. In the case of double-sided copying, the original fed to the left after the front side is read is reversed by the reversing roller 507 and returned to a predetermined position on the original glass 18, and is discharged after the back side is read. It

Further, the re-feeding unit 600 is provided in order to completely automate double-sided copying and composite copying, that is, to eliminate the need for manual feeding, and the paper ejected from the page printer unit PR. Is temporarily stored, the front and back are reversed in the case of double-sided copying, and the front and back are not reversed in the case of composite copying, and the paper is sent back to the page printer unit PR. In the double-sided copy and the composite copy, the sheet conveyance system 70C of the page printer unit PR conveys the returned sheet to the transfer position again.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel OP. The operation panel OP includes a liquid crystal touch panel 91,
Numeric keypad 9 for entering numerical values such as the number of copies and magnification
2. Clear key 9 to initialize the numerical value input state
3, a panel reset key 94 for initializing all designated contents, a stop key 95 for stopping copying,
A start key 96 for instructing the start of copying, a copy mode select key 97, and a paper size select key 98 are arranged. The liquid crystal touch panel 91 is provided for a variety of operation mode setting operations and a status display including abnormal displays such as jams and paper empty.

The start key 96 has a built-in LED 96A for displaying the validity / invalidity of the ON operation (depression) of the start key 96. That is, the LED 96A is illuminated in, for example, orange during a period in which the depression is invalid (a warm-up period during the copying operation or immediately after the power is turned on), and is illuminated in green during the standby period in which the depression is valid.

In this embodiment, the LED 96A
During the maintenance period, which will be described later, as shown in FIG.
For example, it blinks at a cycle of about 0.5 to several seconds. Blinks green during the period when it should be lit in green, and blinks orange during the period when it should be lit in orange.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of switching operation screens. The display content of the liquid crystal touch panel 91 switches according to the operation. Warm-up after turning on the power is over,
When the copy becomes possible, a standby screen p1 which is one of the general operation screens for the user to specify a desired copy condition is displayed. The standby screen p1 is composed of a message ZM1 indicating that copying is possible, a word ZM2 indicating the setting state of the number of copies, and operation buttons ZB11 to 13 corresponding to three setting items.

With the standby screen p1 displayed,
The user can specify the desired copy conditions.
For example, use the numeric keypad to set the number of copies to the default value of 1.
It can be changed to a value other than. The number of copies. When the start key 96 is pressed, copying of the number of sheets set at that time is started.

If a specific ID code (maintenance code) is entered with the ten keys while the standby screen p1 is displayed, the maintenance screen p2 is displayed instead of the standby screen p1. However, the general user is not informed of the maintenance code, and only the service person can call the maintenance screen p2.

The maintenance screen p2 has a start button ZB21 for specifying the start time of the maintenance work,
It is composed of an end button ZB22 for specifying the end time. When the service person performs an on operation (touch) of the start button ZB21, the operation screen is switched to a substantial maintenance work and the above LE
D96A starts blinking. The blinking of the LED 96A continues until the end button ZB22 is turned on (touched).
When the panel reset key 94 is pressed while the maintenance screen p2 is displayed, the displayed content is the standby screen p1.
Then, it becomes possible to specify the copy condition.

In the following, the operation key and the operation button on the screen are not distinguished, and the operation of turning them on is expressed as "turn on". Further, “on edge” is used as a term meaning immediately after the operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control system 100 of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing a procedure of communication between CPUs in the control system 100. The control system 100 includes first to ninth CPUs 101 that are microprocessor units.
To 109. These CPUs 101-109
During this period, serial communication is performed by interrupt processing, and commands, reports, and other data necessary for control are exchanged.

The CPU 101 controls the operation panel OP, and the CPU 102 controls each part of the image processing section 20. The CPU 103 is responsible for drive control of the scanning system 10, and CP
U104 is the image forming mechanism 5 in the page printer unit PR.
Takes control of 0. The CPU 105 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of the control system 100 and setting operation modes. The CPU 106 is a memory unit 30 including an image memory 35.
Take control of. CPU 107 is an automatic double-sided document feeder 5
00, and the CPU 108 controls the re-feeding device 600. Finally, the CPU 109 is the data terminal 1
Takes control of B.

The CPU 101 sequentially notifies the CPU 105 of the content of the operation on the operation panel OP. And CP
The display of the operation panel OP is controlled after waiting for the instruction from U105. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in response to the panel reset key 94 being turned on, the CPU 101 sends a reset report indicating that the key is turned on to the CPU 105. Upon receiving the reset report, the CPU 105 sends a reset command to the CPU1.
Send to 01. After receiving the reset command, CP
U101 returns the contents of the screen display to the standby screen p1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the start button ZB21
Alternatively, when the end button ZB22 is turned on, the CPU
The 101 sends a maintenance start report or a maintenance end report to the CPU 105. CPU 105
Predetermined data corresponding to each report is transmitted to the CPU 107 of the data terminal 1B. CPU 107
Displays the reception completion report C when the data reception is completed.
Send to PU105.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the data terminal 1B. The data terminal 1B includes the above-described ninth CPU 109 and switch group 19 for operation setting.
0, EPROM 192 storing programs, static RAM 193 backed up by battery, non-volatile RAM 194, clock circuit 195 backed up by battery, and RS232C interface 19
6. The clock circuit 195 is provided to notify the management device 2 of the start time and the end time of the maintenance work.

The CPU 109 is connected to the fifth CPU 105 connected via the serial interface 110 and executes data processing for communication with the management device 2. That is, as described above, based on the data transferred from the copying machine 1A in response to the start button ZB21 and the end button ZB22 being turned on, maintenance data having a format suitable for communication with the management apparatus 2 is created. The created maintenance data is stored in the data terminal 1B regardless of whether the copying machine 1 is powered on or not until the transfer to the management device 2 is completed.

The operation of the control system 100 relating to the display peculiar to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart. [Operation of First CPU 101] FIG. 10 shows the operation panel OP.
3 is a main flowchart of the CPU 101 that is responsible for the control of FIG.

After performing the initial setting (# 11), the CPU 101 repeatedly executes key input processing, command input processing, report output processing, display processing, and other processing for each cycle defined by the internal timer. (# 12
~ # 18).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the key input process of FIG. Key input processing includes processing for accepting general operations that can be performed by the user (# 131), acceptance processing for maintenance screen calling operation (# 132), acceptance processing for maintenance start / end operation (# 133), and other processing. (# 134). Other processing includes reception processing of various operations related to maintenance.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the general operation acceptance process. In this subroutine, in response to the panel reset key 94 being turned on, the CPU 101 sets a reset report output request RQ1 in preparation for notification to the CPU 105 (# 1311, 1).
312). That is, the data indicating the presence / absence of a request is written in a predetermined work area. As a result, in the report output process (step # 15 of FIG. 10) executed thereafter, a reset report indicating that the panel reset key 94 is turned on is sent to the CPU 105. The symbol "←" in the figure
"1" means "set" a request or flag.

If the panel reset key 94 is not on edge, a report output request is set according to the operation of a key or button other than the panel reset key 94 (# 1313).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the acceptance processing of the maintenance screen calling operation. In the acceptance processing of the maintenance mode designating operation, the CPU 101 sets the screen switching request RQp2 in preparation for displaying the maintenance screen p2 in response to the input of the above-mentioned maintenance code (# 1321, 1322). As a result, the maintenance screen p2 is displayed in the subsequent display processing (step # 16 in FIG. 10).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of a maintenance start / end operation acceptance process. In this subroutine, the CPU 101 first checks the screen flag Fp2 (# 1330).

When the screen flag F80 is set, it means that the maintenance screen p2 is displayed. In this case, in response to the start button ZB21 being turned on (# 1331), the maintenance display request RQm corresponding to the display unique to the present invention is set (# 1332), and the maintenance flag indicating that the maintenance period is being performed. Fm is set (# 1333), and maintenance start report output request RQs is set (# 1334). Here, the maintenance period is a period from when the start button ZB21 is turned on to when the end button ZB22 is turned on, and is a period for which the time required for the maintenance work is measured.

If the start button ZB21 is not on edge (# 1331), the maintenance flag Fm is checked (# 1335). When the maintenance flag Fm is set, it means that the maintenance work has already started. In this case, the end button ZB
In response to the turning on of 22 (# 1336), the maintenance display request RQm is reset (# 1337), the maintenance flag Fm is reset (# 1338), and the maintenance completion report output request RQe is set (# 133).
9). The symbol "← 0" in the figure means "reset" the request or flag.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the command input processing of FIG. When the CPU 101 receives the reset command, the screen switching request RQp1
Is set (# 141, 142). When another command is received, input processing corresponding to the received command is performed (# 143).

FIG. 16 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the report output process of FIG. When the reset report output request RQ1 is set, the CPU 101 resets the reset report output request RQ1 (# 152) and sends the reset report to the CPU 105 (# 153). If the reset report output request RQ1 is not set, the process corresponding to the output request of the report other than the reset report is performed (# 15).
4).

FIG. 17 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the display processing of FIG. If the screen switching request RQp1 is set (# 161), the CPU 101
The request RQp1 is reset (# 162), the screen flag Fp2 is reset (# 163), and the standby screen p1 is displayed (# 164).

When the screen switching request RQp2 is set (# 165), the request RQp2 is reset (# 166) and the screen flag Fp2 is set (# 16).
7), the maintenance screen p2 is displayed (# 168).

If another screen switching request RQpx is set (# 169), that request RQpx is requested.
Is reset (# 170), the screen flag Fp2 is reset (# 171), and the requested screen is displayed (#
172).

After switching the screen in response to the request as described above, it is checked whether or not the maintenance display request RQm is set (# 173). Then, when the maintenance display request RQm is set, the maintenance display processing for clarifying that the maintenance is being performed so that the service person does not forget to press the end button ZB22 during maintenance (# 174).
I do.

If the maintenance display request RQm is not set, a special display corresponding to the maintenance period is canceled and a maintenance display stop process (# 175) for returning the display form of the operation panel OP to the normal form is performed.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of the maintenance display process. In this routine, the LED 96A of the start key 96 blinks as shown in FIG.

First, when the LED 96A is on (# 1740), it is checked whether or not the first timer T1 which is a counter for defining the length of the blinking lighting period is set (# 1741A). If not set, an initial value is set in the first timer T1 (# 1742).
A), the first timer T1 is updated (the count value is decremented) (# 1743A). If the first timer T1 has already been set, the first timer T1 in the middle of the timing
Is updated (# 1743A). The first timer T1 is updated once per cycle of the main routine of the CPU 101.

When the timing of the first timer T1 ends (# 1
744A), turn off the LED 96A (# 1745A),
An initial value is set in the second timer T2 that defines the length of the light-off period (# 1746A).

Next, when the LED 96A is off (# 1740), it is checked whether or not the second timer T2 is set (# 1741B). If not set, the initial value is set to the second timer T2 (# 1
742B) and updates the second timer T2 (# 1743).
B). If the second timer T2 has already been set,
The second timer T2 during the timekeeping is updated (# 1743).
B). Then, when the timing of the second timer T2 ends ((#
1744B) and turns on the LED 96A (# 1745).
B), an initial value is set in the first timer T1 (# 174
6B).

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the maintenance display stop processing. In this routine, the CPU 10
1 turns on the LED 96A, and the first timer T1 and the second timer T1
A clear process for canceling the setting of the timer T2 is performed (# 17
52-1753).

[Operation of Fifth CPU 105] FIG. 20 is a main flowchart of the CPU 105 that controls the image forming apparatus 1.

After the initial setting (# 51), the CPU 105 carries out the report input process, the command output process, and the data terminal 1 for each cycle defined by the internal timer.
The reception process in the communication with B, the transmission process in the communication with the data terminal 1B, and other processes are repeatedly executed (# 52 to # 58).

FIG. 21 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the report input process of FIG. Upon receiving the reset report, the CPU 105 sets the reset command output request RQ2 (# 531, 532). When another report is received, the process corresponding to the received report is performed (# 533).

FIG. 22 is a flow chart summarizing the contents of the command output process of FIG. When the reset command output request RQ2 is set (# 541), the CPU 105 resets the request RQ2 (# 5).
42), and sends a reset command to the CPU 101 (# 543). Then, the reset command output request RQ
If 21 is not set, processing corresponding to the output request of a command other than the reset command is performed (# 5
44).

[Operation of Ninth CPU 109] FIG. 23 is a main flowchart of the CPU 109 which controls the data terminal 1B.

After the initial setting (# 91), the CPU 109 receives the data from the copying machine 1A, processes the data, and manages the management device 2 at every cycle defined by the internal timer.
To the management apparatus 2, the transmission processing to the copying machine 1A, and other processing are repeatedly executed (# 92 to # 99).

In the above embodiment, in order to prompt the service person to turn on the maintenance end button ZB22,
Although the display form in which the LED 96A of the start key 96 blinks irrespective of the display content of the liquid crystal touch panel 91 has been illustrated, other forms can prevent omission of the maintenance end operation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 24, "Maintenance in progress! ! It is conceivable to incorporate a character string ZM80 indicating a maintenance period such as “” into the general operation screen including the standby screen p1. Then, by performing negative / positive inversion in which the character color and the background color of the character string ZM80 are periodically switched, the character string ZM80 can be made conspicuous. According to the character string ZM80, the user can easily understand the meaning of the display.

Further, as shown in FIG. 25, when a numerical LED 99 having two or more digits is arranged on the operation panel OPa to display the number of copies, etc., the highest digit is 0.
Characters (“H” in the figure) other than the numbers 9 to 9 may be displayed. The LED 99 may blink.

Further, the entire screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 91 can be made to blink in a cycle in which the display contents can be read. If color display is possible, the background color of the maintenance period may be set to a color different from that of other periods. You may emit an electronic sound.

In the above embodiment, the data terminal 1B may be arranged inside the copying machine 1A. Copier 1
The configurations of A and the data terminal 1B are not limited to the illustrated example. The present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as printers and facsimile machines.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the maintenance data MD indicating the maintenance time is transmitted to the external management apparatus 2 has been described, but a mode in which the maintenance time is measured and stored inside the image forming apparatus 1 is also considered. To be In this case, if the measured maintenance time is displayed in response to a specific operation, the service person or the user can know the maintenance time in a timely manner.
In addition, when counting the number of troubles such as jams as reference information for maintenance, by excluding the troubles that occurred during the maintenance time measurement, the necessity of maintenance based on the reference information can be determined more accurately. It can be anything.

[0071]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention,
It is possible to prevent a situation in which the service person forgets to perform the maintenance end operation, and it is possible to more accurately manage the maintenance time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the omission of the notification of the end time of the maintenance work to the external device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of communication in a management system.

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view showing the mechanical structure of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of switching operation screens.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a control system of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure of communication between CPUs in a control system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure of communication between CPUs in a control system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data terminal.

FIG. 10 is a main flowchart of a CPU that controls the operation panel.

11 is a flowchart of the key input process of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart summarizing the contents of a general operation acceptance process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a reception process of a maintenance screen calling operation.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a maintenance start / end operation acceptance process.

15 is a flowchart summarizing the contents of the command input processing of FIG.

16 is a flowchart summarizing the content of the report output processing of FIG.

17 is a flowchart summarizing the contents of the display process of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of maintenance display processing.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of maintenance display stop processing.

FIG. 20 is a main flowchart of a CPU that controls the image forming apparatus.

21 is a flowchart summarizing the contents of the report input process of FIG.

22 is a flowchart summarizing the content of the command output processing of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a main flowchart of a CPU that controls a data terminal.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a modification of the message display.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a modification of the message display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image forming apparatus 2 management apparatus (external apparatus) 1B data terminal (data communication means) ZB21 start button (start operation means) ZB22 end button (end operation means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising start operation means for specifying a start time of maintenance work and end operation means for specifying an end time of maintenance work, the start operation means comprising: An image forming apparatus, which is configured to start a display indicating that maintenance work is being performed in response to an operation, and to continue the display until an operation of the end operation means is performed thereafter. 2. Start operation means for specifying the start time of maintenance work, end operation means for specifying the end time of maintenance work, and the start time and the end operation specified by the start operation means. An image forming apparatus including: a data communication unit that notifies the external device of the end time specified by the unit, and starts a display indicating that maintenance work is being performed in response to the operation of the start operation unit. Then, the image forming apparatus is configured to continue the display until the end operation means is operated.