JP2006201317A - Device for determining abnormal state, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an abnormal state determining device capable of comparatively restraining determination accuracy degradation due to insufficient amount of data regarding combination information group (normal data group), while supplying a completed product as soon as possible. <P>SOLUTION: The abnormal state determining device includes an initial operating period detecting means for detecting an initial operating period until the elapse of a predetermined period of time after the start of the use of a product to be inspected after shipment from a factory; and an information input means for inputting the maintenance inspection completion information of the product to be inspected. The combination information obtained by the information capturing means during the initial operating period is stored in the information storage means as part of the combination information group. After the lapse of the initial operating period, the combination information captured by the information capturing means during the predetermined period is added and stored into the information storage means as part of combination information group only for a predetermined period of time after the input of the maintenance inspection completion information based on the maintenance inspection completion information inputted to the information input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is based on an acquisition result of a plurality of different types of information about a subject to be examined and a set information group that is a collection of a plurality of types of information stored in the information storage means. The present invention relates to an abnormality determination device that determines the presence or absence of abnormality.

  Conventionally, in various machines and devices on the market, when a failure occurs, it cannot be used until the completion of repair depending on the content of the failure, which may inconvenience the user. For this reason, it is desired to predict the occurrence of a failure in advance and deal with it before the occurrence.

  On the other hand, conventionally, when the test subject is normal, a plurality of types of information are acquired from the test subject to construct a normal data group, and then the normal data group and the acquired information from the test subject are obtained. Based on the above, various methods for measuring the normality of a subject to be examined are known. For example, the MTS (Maharanobis Taguchi System) method described in Non-Patent Document 1 is one of them. In the MTS method, first, set information composed of a plurality of types of information is acquired from a test subject in a normal state. A large number of pieces of group information are collected to construct a normal data group. Thereafter, when it is desired to check the normality of the subject to be examined, various information is acquired from the subject to be examined. Then, for those pieces of information, the Mahalanobis distance indicating the relative positional relationship in the multidimensional space based on the normal data group constructed in advance is obtained, and the normality of the test subject is determined based on the result. Weigh in and out. By using such an MTS method, it is possible to detect a minor abnormality of a machine or device as a test target and predict the occurrence of a failure in advance. Then, by preparing parts in advance or exchanging the parts, the downtime of the test object can be reduced.

"Technology development in MT system" Publication Committee Chairman Genichi Taguchi Published by Japanese Standards Association

  In order to increase the determination accuracy as much as possible when determining the presence / absence of abnormality of the test object using the normal data group constructed in advance as in the MTS method, the normal data group is set as follows. It is required to build. In other words, a test object in a normal state is trial run under various conditions, and data is acquired under as many conditions as possible.

  On the other hand, when the degree of perfection of a product that was in the middle of development is mature to some extent and mass production becomes possible, it is desired from the viewpoint of investment recovery to supply it to the market as soon as possible. However, for a product that has just been mass-produced, a sufficient amount of normal data groups is often not acquired. For this reason, when the abnormality determination device determines whether there is an abnormality in the product, if the supply to the market is rushed, the determination accuracy is lowered.

  Therefore, the present inventors have obtained an abnormality determination in which during the initial operation period of a product after shipment from the factory, a large number of pieces of group information consisting of a plurality of types of information are acquired from the product, and a group information group is constructed by them. The device is under development. A group information group composed of a plurality of group information acquired from a product during an initial operation period that is likely to be in a normal state can be used as a normal data group used when determining the presence or absence of an abnormality. Therefore, even if a sufficient amount of normal data group is not stored at the time of shipment from the factory, the determination accuracy can be improved by supplementing the data at the shipping destination.

  However, the user does not always use the product under various conditions within the limited period of the initial operation period. Rather, for example, an image forming apparatus is mostly used in a high image quality mode with a relatively slow image forming speed, and only under specific conditions according to user preferences, product installation environment, etc. More often not used. In such a case, a sufficient amount of normal data cannot be captured during the initial operation period.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and the object of the present invention is to further suppress a decrease in determination accuracy due to a lack of data amount of the group information group while promptly supplying the completed test target to the market. It is to provide an abnormality determination device capable of performing the above. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using such an abnormality determination device.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a set comprising information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of different types of information about a subject to be examined and a set of set information that is a combination of the plurality of types of information. Information storage means for storing an information group, and a determination for determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the subject based on at least the set information group stored in the information storage means and information acquired by the information acquisition means An initial operation period detection means for detecting an initial operation period from when the test object after factory shipment starts to be used until a predetermined period elapses, and maintenance of the test object. Information input means for inputting inspection completion information, and the set information acquired by the information acquisition means during the initial operation period is stored in the information storage means as part of the set information group. After the initial operation period has elapsed, based on the input of the maintenance / inspection completion information to the information input means, the predetermined period only after the input of the maintenance / inspection completion information The group information acquired by the information acquisition unit within a period is additionally stored in the information storage unit as part of the group information group.
Further, the invention of claim 2 is an information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of different types of information about a subject to be examined, and information for storing a set information group consisting of a set of set information that is a combination of the multiple types of information Abnormality determination comprising storage means and at least determination means for determining the presence / absence of abnormality of the subject to be tested based on the group information group stored in the information storage means and information acquired by the information acquisition means In the apparatus, an initial operation period detecting means for detecting an initial operation period from when the test object after factory shipment is used until a predetermined period elapses, and no abnormality information at the time of inspection for the test object are input. An information input means for performing the process of storing the set information acquired by the information acquisition means during the initial operation period in the information storage means as part of the set information group. And after the elapse of the initial operation period, the set information acquired by the information acquisition means after the elapse of the initial operation period is stored in the information storage means separately from the set information group, If the inspection input no-abnormality information is input to the information input means, it is stored separately from the group information group after the initial operation period elapses until the inspection no-abnormality information is input. The set information is additionally stored as part of the set information group.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the abnormality determination device according to the first or second aspect, the set information input to the information input means is additionally stored in the information storage means as part of the set information group. It is characterized by doing so.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the abnormality determination device according to the first, second, or third aspect, when at least one of the plurality of types of information acquired by the information acquisition unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, or When it falls below, storing the group information acquired at that time as part of the group information group is stopped.
Further, the invention of claim 5 is the abnormality determination device according to claim 4, wherein when at least one of the plurality of types of information exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold value, a predetermined period traced back from that time The group information stored therein is also stopped from being stored as part of the group information group.
The invention of claim 6 is the abnormality determination apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein when the occurrence information of abnormality is input to the information input means, a predetermined period that goes back from the input of the occurrence information of abnormality. A process for excluding the group information stored in the group information group from the group information group is executed.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the abnormality determination device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the information storage means stores the initial operation period or the group information additional storage process. Based on the group information group and the group information acquired by the information acquisition unit, the determination unit determines the presence or absence of abnormality of the subject to be examined. And determining whether to store the set information as a part of the set information group based on the abnormal correct / incorrect information input to the information input means after that. is there.
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the abnormality determination device according to claim 7, the determination criterion for the presence or absence of the abnormality is changed as the number of pieces of group information in the group information group increases. To do.
Further, the invention according to claim 9 is the abnormality determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein test run detection means for detecting that the test object is trial run under a predetermined condition, and accumulation of the trial run. A test operation number counting means for counting the number of times is provided.
The invention of claim 10 is the abnormality determination device of claim 7 or 8, wherein the determination of the presence / absence of the abnormality performed during the initial operation period or the group information additional storage process is erroneously determined. Based on the number of inputs per unit time of the mis-judgment information indicating that there was an error, the end timing of the initial operation period or the period for performing the group information additional storage process is determined. It is characterized by this.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; and an abnormality determining unit that determines whether there is an abnormality. Any one of the abnormality determination devices is used.

In these inventions, the group information acquired from the subject to be examined during the initial operation period that is likely to be in a normal state is stored as a part of the group information group that can function as a normal data group. Such a storage supplements the set information that can function as normal data from the test subject at the shipping destination even if a sufficient amount of normal data group is not stored in the information storage means at the time of factory shipment of the test subject. The determination accuracy can be improved.
Further, in the invention including all the matters specifying the invention of claim 1, even when a sufficient amount of set information cannot be obtained from the test subject during the initial operation period, for the reason described below, The set information that can function as normal data can be further supplemented. That is, after the initial operation period, when the maintenance inspection by the service person or the like is completed, there is a high possibility that the subject to be inspected will be maintained in a normal state until a predetermined period thereafter. Therefore, based on the input of maintenance inspection completion information by a service person or the like, the set information acquired by the information acquisition means during the predetermined period is added as a part of the set information group only for a predetermined period after the initial operation period has elapsed. It comes to memorize. In such a configuration, in addition to the initial operation period, by acquiring set information that can function as normal data from the test target during a predetermined period after completion of the maintenance check, the above-described abnormality determination device under development However, it is possible to improve the accuracy of determining whether there is an abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in determination accuracy due to a shortage of the data amount of the group information group while promptly supplying the completed test target to the market.
Further, in the invention having all of the invention specific matters of claim 2, even when a sufficient amount of set information cannot be obtained from the test subject during the initial operation period, for the reason described below, The set information that can function as normal data can be further supplemented. In other words, after the initial operation period, if it is determined that the subject to be inspected is normal and sufficiently normal at the time of inspection by a service person etc., until the inspection is completed after the initial operation period. It is highly possible that the normal state was maintained during this period. Therefore, the set information acquired by the information acquisition means after the initial operation period has been stored separately from the set information group, and when there is no abnormal information at the time of inspection by a service person etc., the initial operation period The set information stored separately from the set information group between the elapse of time and the input thereof is additionally stored as a part of the set information group. In such a configuration, in addition to the initial operation period, the group information acquired during the period from the elapse of the initial operation period until the inspection for no abnormality is also incorporated into the group information group as normal data, thereby The accuracy of determining whether there is an abnormality can be improved more reliably than the abnormality determination device under development. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in determination accuracy due to a shortage of the data amount of the group information group while promptly supplying the completed test target to the market.

Before describing an abnormality determination apparatus to which the present invention is applied, a copying machine that is an object to be detected by the abnormality determination apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a copying machine to be examined. The copier includes an image forming unit including a printer unit 100 and a paper feeding unit 200, a scanner unit 300, and a document conveying unit 400. The scanner unit 300 is mounted on the printer unit 100, and a document transport unit 400 including an automatic document transport device (ADF) is mounted on the scanner unit 300.

  The scanner unit 300 reads the image information of the document placed on the contact glass 32 by the reading sensor 36 and sends the read image information to a control unit (not shown). Based on the image information received from the scanner unit 300, the control unit controls lasers and LEDs (not shown) disposed in the exposure device 21 of the printer unit 100 to provide four drum-shaped photoconductors 40K, Y, and M. , C is irradiated with laser writing light L. By this irradiation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C, and this latent image is developed into a toner image through a predetermined development process. Note that the subscripts K, Y, M, and C added after the reference numerals indicate specifications for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.

  In addition to the exposure device 21, the printer unit 100 includes primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C, a secondary transfer device 22, a fixing device 25, a paper discharge device, a toner supply device (not shown), a toner supply device, and the like. Yes.

  The paper feeding unit 200 includes an automatic paper feeding unit disposed below the printer unit 100 and a manual feeding unit disposed on a side surface of the printer unit 100. The automatic paper feed unit separates the two paper feed cassettes 44 arranged in multiple stages in the paper bank 43, the paper feed roller 42 that feeds transfer paper as a recording medium from the paper feed cassette, and the fed transfer paper. A separation roller 45 and the like are sent to the paper feed path 46. Further, it also includes a transport roller 47 that transports the transfer paper to the paper feed path 48 of the printer unit 100. On the other hand, the manual feed section includes a manual feed tray 51 and a separation roller 52 that separates transfer sheets on the manual feed tray 51 one by one toward the manual feed path 53.

  A registration roller pair 49 is disposed near the end of the paper feed path 48 of the printer unit 100. The registration roller pair 49 is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 10 serving as an intermediate transfer body and the secondary transfer device 22 at a predetermined timing after receiving the transfer paper sent from the paper feed cassette 44 or the manual feed tray 51. To the secondary transfer nip.

  In the copying machine, an operator sets a document on the document table 30 of the document transport unit 400 when copying a color image. Alternatively, after the document conveying unit 400 is opened and a document is set on the contact glass 32 of the scanner unit 300, the document conveying unit 400 is closed and the document is pressed. Then, a start switch (not shown) is pressed. Then, when an original is set on the original conveying unit 400, after the original is conveyed onto the contact glass 32, immediately after the original is set on the contact glass 32, the scanner unit 300 is driven. Start. Then, the first traveling body 33 and the second traveling body 34 travel, and the light emitted from the light source of the first traveling body 33 is reflected by the document surface and then travels toward the second traveling body 34. Further, after being reflected by the mirror of the second traveling body 34, it reaches the reading sensor 36 via the imaging lens 35 and is read as image information.

  When the image information is read in this way, the printer unit 100 rotates the other two support rollers while rotating one of the support rollers 14, 15, and 16 with a drive motor (not shown). Then, the intermediate transfer belt 10 stretched around these rollers is moved endlessly. Further, laser writing as described above and a development process described later are performed. Then, while rotating the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C, monochrome images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are formed on them. These are four-color superposed toners that are sequentially superposed and electrostatically transferred at the primary transfer nips for K, Y, M, and C where the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C and the intermediate transfer belt 10 abut. Become a statue. Toner images are formed on the photoreceptors 40K, 40Y, 40M, and 40C.

  On the other hand, the paper feed unit 200 operates any one of the three paper feed rollers to feed the transfer paper having a size corresponding to the image information, and feeds the transfer paper to the paper feed path of the printer unit 100. Lead to 48. After the transfer paper that has entered the paper feed path 48 is sandwiched between the registration roller pair 49 and temporarily stopped, the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer roller 23 of the secondary transfer device 22 come into contact with each other at the appropriate timing. To the secondary transfer nip, which is a part. Then, in the secondary transfer nip, the four-color superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the transfer paper are brought into close contact in synchronization. Then, the four-color superimposed toner image is secondarily transferred onto the transfer paper due to the influence of the transfer electric field formed at the nip, the nip pressure, etc., and becomes a full color image combined with the white color of the paper.

  The transfer paper that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is fed into the fixing device 25 by the endless movement of the transport belt 24 of the secondary transfer device 22. Then, after the full color image is fixed by the action of the pressure applied by the pressure roller 27 of the fixing device 25 and the heating by the heating belt, the paper discharge tray 57 provided on the side surface of the printer unit 100 via the discharge roller 56. Discharged to the top.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram illustrating the printer unit 100. The printer unit 100 includes a belt unit, four process units 18K, Y, M, and C that form toner images of respective colors, a secondary transfer device 22, a belt cleaning device 17, a fixing device 25, and the like.

  The belt unit moves the intermediate transfer belt 10 stretched around a plurality of rollers endlessly while contacting the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C. In the primary transfer nip for K, Y, M, and C where the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C are brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is driven by the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C. Is pressed from the back side toward the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C. A primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C by a power source (not shown). As a result, a primary transfer electric field for electrostatically moving the toner images on the photoreceptors 40K, Y, M, and C toward the intermediate transfer belt 10 is formed in the primary transfer nips for K, Y, M, and C. Has been. Between each primary transfer roller 62K, Y, M, and C, a conductive roller 74 that is in contact with the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 is disposed. In these conductive rollers 74, the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer rollers 62K, Y, M, and C is applied to adjacent process units via the intermediate resistance base layer 11 on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 10. It prevents the flow.

  The process unit (18K, Y, M, C) supports the photosensitive member (40K, Y, M, C) and several other devices as a single unit on a common support. The unit 100 is detachable. Taking the black process unit 18K as an example, this has a developing unit 61K as developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 40K into a black toner image in addition to the photosensitive member 40K. ing. Further, it also has a photoreceptor cleaning device 63K that cleans transfer residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after passing through the primary transfer nip. Further, there are a static elimination device (not shown) that neutralizes the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after cleaning, a charging device (not shown) that uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 40K after static elimination, and the like. The process units 18Y, M, and C for other colors have almost the same configuration except that the color of the toner to be handled is different. The copying machine has a so-called tandem type configuration in which these four process units 18K, Y, M, and C are arranged so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 10 along the endless movement direction.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of the tandem unit 20 including the four process units 18K, Y, M, and C. Since the four process units 18K, Y, M, and C have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be used are different, K, Y, M, and C attached to the respective reference numerals in FIG. The subscript is omitted. As shown in the figure, the process unit 18 includes a charging device 60 as a charging unit, a developing device 61, a primary transfer roller 62 as a primary transfer unit, a photoconductor cleaning device 63, a charge eliminating device around the photoconductor 40. A device 64 or the like is provided.

  As the photosensitive member 40, a drum-shaped member is used in which a photosensitive organic layer is applied to a base tube made of aluminum or the like to form a photosensitive layer. However, an endless belt may be used. In addition, as the charging device 60, a charging device to which a charging roller to which a charging bias is applied is rotated while being in contact with the photoreceptor 40 is used. A scorotron charger or the like that performs a non-contact charging process on the photoreceptor 40 may be used.

  The developing device 61 develops a latent image using a two-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner. An agitating unit 66 that conveys the two-component developer accommodated in the inside while stirring and supplies the developer sleeve 65 to the developing sleeve 65, and the toner of the two-component developer adhering to the developing sleeve 65 is used as the photosensitive member 4K, Y, M. , C, a developing unit 67 for transferring to C.

  The stirring unit 66 is provided at a position lower than the developing unit 67, and includes two screws 68 arranged in parallel to each other, a partition plate provided between the screws, and a toner provided on the bottom surface of the developing case 70. It has a density sensor 71 and the like.

  The developing unit 67 includes a developing sleeve 65 that faces the photosensitive member 40 through the opening of the developing case 70, a magnet roller 72 that is non-rotatably provided inside the developing sleeve 65, a doctor blade 73 that approaches the developing sleeve 65, and the like. ing. The distance at the closest portion between the doctor blade 73 and the developing sleeve 65 is set to about 500 [μm]. The developing sleeve 65 has a non-magnetic rotatable sleeve shape. In addition, the magnet roller 72 that is prevented from being rotated around the developing sleeve 65 has, for example, five magnetic poles N1, S1, N2, S2, and S3 in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 65 from the position of the doctor blade 73. ing. Each of these magnetic poles applies a magnetic force to the two-component developer on the sleeve at a predetermined position in the rotation direction. As a result, the two-component developer sent from the stirring unit 66 is attracted and carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 65, and a magnetic brush is formed along the magnetic field lines on the sleeve surface.

  The magnetic brush is regulated to an appropriate layer thickness when passing through the position facing the doctor blade 73 as the developing sleeve 65 rotates, and then conveyed to the developing area facing the photoreceptor 40. Then, due to the potential difference between the developing bias applied to the developing sleeve 65 and the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 40, it is transferred onto the electrostatic latent image and contributes to development. Further, as the developing sleeve 65 rotates, the developing sleeve 65 returns to the developing portion 67 again, and after being separated from the sleeve surface due to the influence of the repulsive magnetic field between the magnetic poles of the magnet roller 72, the developing sleeve 65 is returned to the stirring portion 66. In the stirring unit 66, an appropriate amount of toner is supplied to the two-component developer based on the detection result by the toner density sensor 71. The developing device 61 may employ a one-component developer that does not include a magnetic carrier, instead of the one that uses a two-component developer.

  As the photoconductor cleaning device 63, a system in which a cleaning blade 75 made of polyurethane rubber is pressed against the photoconductor 40 is used, but another system may be used. In order to improve the cleaning property, in this example, a cleaning device 63 having a contact conductive fur brush 76 whose outer peripheral surface is in contact with the photoreceptor 40 is rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A metal electric field roller 77 for applying a bias to the fur brush 76 is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the tip of the scraper 78 is pressed against the electric field roller 77. The toner removed from the electric field roller 77 by the scraper 78 falls on the collection screw 79 and is collected.

  The photoconductor cleaning device 63 having such a configuration removes residual toner on the photoconductor 40 with a fur brush 76 that rotates in the counter direction with respect to the photoconductor 40. The toner adhering to the fur brush 76 is removed by the electric field roller 77 to which a bias that rotates in contact with the fur brush 76 in the counter direction is applied. The toner adhering to the electric field roller 77 is cleaned by the scraper 78. The toner recovered by the photoconductor cleaning device 63 is brought to one side of the photoconductor cleaning device 63 by the recovery screw 79 and returned to the developing device 61 by the toner recycling device 80 for reuse.

  The static eliminator 64 includes a static elimination lamp or the like, and removes the surface potential of the photoreceptor 40 by irradiating light. The surface of the photoreceptor 40 thus neutralized is uniformly charged by the charging device 60 and then subjected to optical writing processing.

  A secondary transfer device 22 is provided below the belt unit in the figure. In the secondary transfer device 22, a secondary transfer belt 24 is stretched between two rollers 23 and moved endlessly. One of the two rollers 23 is a secondary transfer roller to which a secondary transfer bias is applied by a power source (not shown), and the intermediate transfer belt 10 and the secondary transfer belt 24 are between the roller 16 of the belt unit. Is sandwiched. Thus, a secondary transfer nip is formed in which both belts move in the same direction at the contact portion while contacting. On the transfer paper fed from the registration roller pair 49 to the secondary transfer nip, the four-color superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is secondarily transferred collectively under the influence of the secondary transfer electric field and the nip pressure, so that full color is obtained. An image is formed. The transfer sheet that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 10 and is conveyed to the fixing device 25 along with the endless movement of the belt while being held on the surface of the secondary transfer belt 24. Instead of the secondary transfer roller, secondary transfer may be performed by a transfer charger or the like.

  The surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip approaches a support position by the support roller 15. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 10 is sandwiched between a belt cleaning device 17 that contacts the front surface (loop outer surface) and a support roller 15 that contacts the back surface. Then, after the transfer residual toner adhering to the front surface is removed by the belt cleaning device 17, it sequentially enters the primary transfer nip for K, Y, M, and C, and the next four-color toner The images are superimposed.

  The belt cleaning device 17 has two fur brushes 90 and 91. By rotating a plurality of raised brushes in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 10 in a counter direction with respect to the flocking direction, the transfer residual toner on the belt is mechanically scraped off. In addition, a cleaning bias is applied by a power source (not shown) to electrostatically attract and recover the scraped transfer residual toner.

  With respect to the fur brushes 90 and 91, the metal rollers 92 and 93 are rotating in the forward or reverse direction while contacting each other. Among these metal rollers 92 and 93, a negative polarity voltage is applied to the metal roller 92 located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 10 by the power source 94. Further, a positive polarity voltage is applied to the metal roller 93 located on the downstream side by the power source 95. The tips of the blades 96 and 97 are in contact with the metal rollers 92 and 93, respectively. In such a configuration, the upstream fur brush 90 first cleans the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 with the endless movement of the intermediate transfer belt 10 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. At this time, for example, when −400 [V] is applied to the fur brush 90 while −700 [V] is applied to the metal roller 92, first, the positive polarity toner on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is moved to the fur brush 90 side. Electrostatic transfer to The toner transferred to the fur brush side is further transferred from the fur brush 90 to the metal roller 92 due to a potential difference, and is scraped off by the blade 96.

  As described above, the toner on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is removed by the fur brush 90, but a lot of toner still remains on the intermediate transfer belt 10. These toners are negatively charged by a negative polarity bias applied to the fur brush 90. This is considered to be charged by charge injection or discharge. Next, by using the fur brush 91 on the downstream side to apply a positive polarity bias and perform cleaning, the toner can be removed. The removed toner is transferred from the fur brush 91 to the metal roller 93 due to a potential difference and scraped off by the blade 97. The toner scraped off by the blades 96 and 97 is collected in a tank (not shown).

  Most of the toner is removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 10 after being cleaned by the fur brush 91, but a little toner is still left. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 10 is charged with a positive polarity by a positive polarity bias applied to the fur brush 91 as described above. Then, it is transferred to the photoconductors 40K, Y, M, and C by the transfer electric field applied at the primary transfer position, and is collected by the photoconductor cleaning device 63.

  In general, the registration roller pair 49 is often used while being grounded. However, a bias can be applied to remove the paper dust of the transfer paper P.

  Under the secondary transfer device 22 and the fixing device 25, a transfer paper reversing device 28 (see FIG. 1) is provided so as to extend in parallel with the tandem portion 20 described above. As a result, the transfer paper that has undergone the image fixing process on one side is switched by the switching claw to the transfer paper path to the transfer paper reversing device side, where it is reversed and enters the secondary transfer transfer nip again. Then, after the secondary transfer process and the fixing process of the image are performed on the other side, the sheet is discharged onto a discharge tray.

  In the copier having the above configuration, each process unit 18K, Y, M, C, secondary transfer device 22, exposure device 21 and the like constitute image forming means for forming an image on a transfer sheet as a recording medium. Yes.

  In an image forming apparatus such as the copier, various information such as sensing information, control parameter information, input information, and image reading information can be acquired by an information acquisition unit such as a sensor. Hereinafter, an example of information that can be acquired will be described.

(A) Sensing information Sensing information is considered to be a target for acquiring drive relationships, various characteristics of recording media, developer characteristics, photoreceptor characteristics, various electrophotographic process states, environmental conditions, various characteristics of recorded materials, etc. . The outline of the sensing information is as follows.

(A-1) Driving information / Rotation speed of the photosensitive drum is detected by an encoder, the current value of the driving motor is read, and the temperature of the driving motor is read.
Similarly, the drive state of a cylindrical or belt-like rotating part such as a fixing roller, a paper transport roller, or a drive roller is detected.
-Detect sound generated by driving with a microphone installed inside or outside the device.

(A-2) Paper transport status • The position of the leading or trailing edge of the transported paper is read using a transmissive or reflective optical sensor or contact type sensor to detect that a paper jam has occurred. Reads deviations in the passage timing of the leading and trailing edges of the paper and fluctuations in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.
Similarly, the paper moving speed is obtained based on the detection timing between a plurality of sensors.
The slip between the paper supply roller and the paper during paper supply is obtained by comparing the measured value of the rotation speed of the roller with the amount of movement of the paper.

(A-3) Various characteristics of recording media such as paper This information greatly affects the image quality and stability of sheet conveyance. There are the following methods for acquiring information on this paper type.
-The thickness of the paper should be equal to the amount of movement of the member pushed up when the paper is sandwiched between two rollers and the relative positional displacement of the rollers is detected by an optical sensor or the paper enters. Find by detecting.
-The surface roughness of the paper is such that a guide or the like is brought into contact with the surface of the paper before transfer, and vibrations or sliding noises caused by the contact are detected.
-For the gloss of paper, a light beam with a specified opening angle is incident at a specified incident angle, and a light beam with a specified opening angle reflected in the specular reflection direction is measured by a sensor.
The paper rigidity is obtained by detecting the amount of deformation (curvature) of the pressed paper.
The judgment as to whether or not the paper is recycled is made by irradiating the paper with ultraviolet rays and detecting its transmittance.
The determination as to whether the paper is a backing paper is performed by irradiating light from a linear light source such as an LED array and detecting the light reflected from the transfer surface with a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD.
Whether or not the sheet is for OHP is determined by irradiating the paper with light and detecting regular reflection light having a different angle from the transmitted light.
-The amount of water contained in the paper is determined by measuring the Kyushu of infrared or microwave light.
-The amount of curl is detected by an optical sensor, contact sensor, etc.
-The electrical resistance of the paper is measured directly by contacting a pair of electrodes (such as paper feed rollers) with the recording paper, or by measuring the surface potential of the photoconductor or intermediate transfer body after paper transfer, and recording from that value. Estimate the resistance of the paper.

(A-4) Developer characteristics The characteristics of the developer (toner and carrier) in the apparatus affect the basic function of the electrophotographic process. Therefore, it becomes an important factor for the operation and output of the system. Obtaining developer information is extremely important. Examples of the developer characteristics include the following items.
-For toner, list charge amount and distribution, fluidity, cohesion, bulk density, electrical resistance, amount of external additive, consumption or remaining amount, fluidity, toner concentration (mixing ratio of toner and carrier) Can do.
-As for carriers, magnetic properties, coat film thickness, spent amount, etc. can be mentioned.
It is usually difficult to detect such information alone in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it may be detected as a comprehensive characteristic of the developer. The overall characteristics of this developer can be measured, for example, as follows.
A test latent image is formed on the photoconductor, developed under predetermined development conditions, and the reflection density (light reflectance) of the formed toner image is measured.
A pair of electrodes is provided in the developing device, and the relationship between applied voltage and current is measured (resistance, dielectric constant, etc.).
-Install a coil in the developing device and measure the voltage-current characteristics (inductance).
-A level sensor is provided in the developing device to detect the developer capacity. The level sensor includes an optical type and a capacitance type.

(A-5) Photoreceptor characteristics Like the developer characteristics, the photoreceptor characteristics are closely related to the function of the electrophotographic process. Information on the photoconductor characteristics includes photoconductor film thickness, surface characteristics (friction coefficient, unevenness), surface potential (before and after each process), surface energy, scattered light, temperature, color, surface position (flare), linear velocity , Potential decay rate, electrical resistance, capacitance, surface moisture content and the like. Among these, the following information can be detected in the image forming apparatus.
・ Detect the current flowing from the charging member to the photoconductor, and simultaneously compare the change in capacitance with the change in film thickness with the voltage-current characteristics with respect to the voltage applied to the charging member and the preset dielectric thickness of the photoconductor. Thus, the film thickness is obtained.
-The surface potential and temperature can be determined by a conventionally known sensor.
-The linear velocity is detected by an encoder attached to the photoconductor rotating shaft.
-Scattered light from the surface of the photoreceptor is detected by an optical sensor.

(A-6) Electrophotographic process state As is well known, electrophotographic toner image formation is performed by uniformly charging the photoreceptor, forming a latent image (image exposure) using laser light, etc., and charged toner (colored particles). Development by transfer, transfer of toner image onto transfer material (in the case of color, overlay on the recording medium that is the intermediate transfer body or final transfer material, or over development on the photoreceptor during development), toner on the recording medium This is done in the order of image fixing. Various information at each of these stages greatly affects the output of images and other systems. Obtaining these is important in evaluating the stability of the system. Specific examples of the information acquisition of the electrophotographic process state include the following.
The charging potential and the exposure portion potential are detected by a conventionally known surface potential sensor.
The gap between the charging member and the photosensitive member in non-contact charging is detected by measuring the amount of light that has passed through the gap.
・ Electromagnetic waves from electrification are captured by a broadband antenna.
・ Sound generated by charging.
-Exposure intensity.
・ Exposure light wavelength.

Examples of the method for acquiring various states of the toner image include the following.
The pile height (the height of the toner image) is obtained by measuring the depth from the vertical direction with a displacement sensor and the light shielding length from the horizontal direction with a linear sensor of parallel light.
The toner charge amount is measured by a potential sensor that measures the potential of the electrostatic latent image on the solid part and the potential when the latent image is developed, and the ratio to the adhesion amount converted from the reflection density sensor at the same location. Ask for.
The dot fluctuation or dust is detected by detecting the dot pattern image with an infrared light area sensor on the photosensitive member and with an area sensor having a wavelength corresponding to each color on the intermediate transfer member, and performing appropriate processing.
The offset amount (after fixing) is obtained by reading the corresponding locations on the recording paper and the fixing roller with optical sensors and comparing them.
An optical sensor is installed after the transfer process (on the PD and on the belt), and the transfer remaining amount is determined based on the amount of reflected light from the transfer residual pattern after the transfer of the specific pattern.
-Detect color unevenness during overlay with a full-color sensor that detects the recording paper after fixing.

(A-7) The characteristics, image density and color of the formed toner image are optically detected. Either reflected light or transmitted light may be used. What is necessary is just to select a light projection wavelength according to a color. In order to obtain density and single color information, it may be on a photoconductor or an intermediate transfer body, but it is necessary on paper to measure a color combination such as color unevenness.
For gradation, the reflection density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive member or the toner image transferred to the transfer member is detected by an optical sensor for each gradation level.
Sharpness is obtained by reading an image in which a line repetition pattern is developed or transferred using a monocular sensor having a small spot diameter or a high-resolution line sensor.
The graininess (roughness) is obtained by reading a halftone image and calculating a noise component by the same method as the sharpness detection.
The registration skew is obtained from the difference between the registration roller ON timing and the detection timing of both sensors by providing optical sensors at both ends in the main scanning direction after registration.
Color misregistration is detected by a monocular small-diameter spot sensor or high-resolution line sensor at the edge portion of the superimposed image on the intermediate transfer member or recording paper.
Banding (density unevenness in the feed direction) measures density unevenness in the sub-scanning direction with a small-diameter spot sensor or high-resolution line sensor on the recording paper, and measures the signal amount of a specific frequency.
Glossiness (unevenness) is provided so that a recording paper on which a uniform image is formed is detected by a regular reflection optical sensor.
・ Fog is a method of reading the image background with an optical sensor that detects a relatively wide area on the photoconductor, intermediate transfer member, or recording paper, or image information for each area of the background with a high-resolution area sensor. And the number of toner particles contained in the image is counted.

(A-8) Image characteristics obtained by detecting the toner image on the photosensitive member, intermediate transfer member, or recording paper with an area sensor, such as physical characteristics, image flow and image fading of the printed material of the image forming apparatus Is determined by image processing.
The toner dust stain is obtained by taking an image on a recording sheet with a high resolution line sensor or an area sensor and calculating the amount of toner scattered around the pattern portion.
The trailing edge blank and the solid cross blank are detected by a high resolution line sensor on the photosensitive member, the intermediate transfer member, or the recording paper.
• Curling, undulation and crease of the recording paper are detected by a displacement sensor. In order to detect a fold, it is effective to install a sensor near the both ends of the recording paper.
-For the dirt and scratches on the edge surface, the area sensor is used to capture and analyze the edge surface when paper discharge has accumulated to some extent by the area sensor installed vertically on the paper discharge tray.

(A-9) For detecting environmental conditions and temperature, a thermocouple system that extracts the thermoelectromotive force generated at the contact point between dissimilar metals or between metal and semiconductor as a signal, the resistivity of metal or semiconductor changes with temperature Resistivity change element using this, pyroelectric element that generates a potential on the surface due to bias in the arrangement of charges in the crystal due to the rise in temperature in certain crystals, and magnetic characteristics depending on temperature It is possible to employ a thermomagnetic effect element or the like that detects the change of.
-For humidity detection, there are an optical measurement method for measuring light absorption of H ₂ O or OH group, a humidity sensor for measuring a change in electric resistance value of a material due to adsorption of water vapor, and the like.
・ Various gases are basically detected by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of the oxide semiconductor accompanying gas adsorption.
Although there are optical measurement methods and the like for detection of airflow (direction, flow velocity, gas type), an air bridge type flow sensor that can be made smaller in consideration of mounting on a system is particularly useful.
-There are methods for detecting pressure and pressure, such as using a pressure sensitive material and measuring the mechanical displacement of the membrane. A similar method is used for vibration detection.

(B) Control Parameter Information Since the operation of the image forming apparatus is determined by the control unit, it is effective to directly use the input / output parameters of the control unit.

(B-1) Image Forming Parameters Direct parameters output by the control unit through image processing for image formation include the following examples.
A process condition setting value by the control unit, such as a charging potential, a developing bias value, a fixing temperature setting value, and the like.
-Similarly, setting values for various image processing parameters such as halftone processing and color correction.
Various parameters set by the control unit for the operation of the apparatus, for example, paper conveyance timing, execution time of the preparation mode before image formation, and the like.

(B-2) User operation history / frequency of various operations selected by the user, such as the number of colors, number of sheets, image quality instruction, etc./frequency of the paper size selected by the user.

(B-3) Power consumption / Total power consumption or its distribution, change amount (differentiation), cumulative value (integration), etc. for the whole period or for a specific period (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.).

(B-4) Consumables consumption information-Total amount or specific period unit (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.) toner, photoconductor, paper usage or distribution, change (differentiation), cumulative value ( Integration) etc.

(B-5) Failure occurrence information ・ Frequency or distribution of failure occurrence (by type), change amount (differentiation), cumulative value (integration) of whole period or specific period unit (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, etc.) Such.

(C) Input image information The following information can be acquired from image information sent directly as data from the host computer or image information obtained after image processing is performed by reading a document image from a scanner.
The cumulative number of colored pixels is obtained by counting image data for each GRB signal for each pixel.
The original image can be separated into characters, halftone dots, photographs, and backgrounds by the method described in Japanese Patent No. 2621879, for example, and the ratio of the character part, halftone part, etc. can be obtained. Similarly, the ratio of color characters can be obtained.
The toner consumption distribution in the main scanning direction can be obtained by counting the cumulative value of the colored pixels for each area divided in the main scanning direction.
The image size is obtained from the distribution of colored pixels in the image size signal or image data generated by the control unit.
-Character type (size, font) is obtained from character attribute data.

Next, a specific method for acquiring various types of information in the copier will be described.
(1) Temperature The copying machine includes a temperature sensor that acquires temperature information using a variable resistance element that is simple in principle and structure and that can be miniaturized.

(2) Humidity A humidity sensor that can be miniaturized is useful. The basic principle is that when water vapor is adsorbed on moisture-sensitive ceramics, the ionic conduction is increased by the adsorbed water and the electrical resistance of the ceramics is reduced. The material of the moisture-sensitive ceramics is a porous material, and generally alumina-based, apatite-based, ZrO2-MgO-based, etc. are used.

(3) Vibration The vibration sensor is basically the same as a sensor that measures atmospheric pressure and pressure, and a silicon-based sensor that can be miniaturized is particularly useful in consideration of mounting in a system. It is possible to measure the movement of a vibrator fabricated on a thin silicon diaphragm by measuring the change in capacitance between the opposing electrodes provided facing the vibrator, or by using the piezoresistance effect of the Si diaphragm itself. it can.

(4) Toner density (for 4 colors)
The toner density is detected for each color. A conventionally known toner density sensor can be used. For example, the toner concentration can be detected by a sensing system that measures changes in the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing device as described in JP-A-6-289717.

(5) Photoconductor uniform charging potential (for 4 colors)
A uniform charged potential is detected for each color photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C). A known surface potential sensor that detects the surface potential of an object can be used.

(6) Potential after photoconductor exposure (for 4 colors)
The surface potential of the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) after optical writing is detected in the same manner as in (5).

(7) Colored area ratio (4 colors)
From the input image information, the coloring area ratio is obtained for each color from the ratio of the cumulative value of pixels to be colored and the cumulative value of all pixels, and this is used.

(8) Amount of developed toner (for four colors)
The toner adhesion amount per unit area in each color toner image developed on the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) is obtained based on the light reflectance by the reflective photosensor. The reflection type photosensor irradiates an object with LED light and detects the reflected light with a light receiving element. Since a correlation is established between the toner adhesion amount and the light reflectance, the toner adhesion amount can be obtained based on the light reflectance.

(9) Inclination of paper leading edge position An optical sensor that detects transfer paper at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction anywhere in the paper feed path from the paper feed roller of the paper feed unit (200) to the secondary transfer nip. A pair is installed to detect both ends near the leading edge of the transferred transfer paper. For both light sensors, the time to pass is measured with reference to the time when the drive signal of the paper feed roller is transmitted, and the inclination of the transfer paper with respect to the feed direction is obtained based on the time deviation.

(10) Paper discharge timing The transfer paper after passing through the pair of discharge rollers (56 in FIG. 1) is detected by an optical sensor. In this case as well, the measurement is performed with reference to the time when the paper feed roller drive signal is transmitted.

(11) Photoconductor total current (for four colors)
A current flowing from the photoconductor (40K, Y, M, C) to the ground is detected. Such a current can be detected by providing a current measuring means between the substrate of the photoreceptor and the ground terminal.

(12) Photoconductor driving power (for four colors)
Driving power (current × voltage) consumed by the driving source (motor) of the photosensitive member during driving is detected by an ammeter, a voltmeter, or the like.

Next, a first embodiment of the abnormality determination device to which the present invention is applied will be described.
First, the basic configuration of the abnormality determination device will be described. The abnormality determination apparatus may be mounted inside a test object such as a copying machine, or may be configured separately from the test object. When configured separately from the test object, it may be arranged in the vicinity of the test object or in a remote place. When arranged in a remote place, the abnormality determination device can perform a determination process by performing data communication between the subject to be examined and the abnormality determination device through a communication line. In addition, when an abnormality determination device is arranged inside the subject to be examined, it is possible for a service person or the like to make a business trip to the installation site to write or retrieve data from the abnormality determination device. is there.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of an electric circuit of the abnormality determination device 600 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, an abnormality determination apparatus 600 includes an information acquisition unit 601 that acquires a plurality of types of information indicating the state of a copying machine that is a test target, set information that is a combination of a plurality of types of information, and a set that is a set of these sets. An information storage unit 602 for storing an information group is included. In addition, a determination unit 603 for determining whether there is an abnormality in the copying machine to be examined based on the group information acquired by the information acquisition unit 601 and the group information group stored in the information storage unit 602 is provided. Yes. In addition, an information input unit 604 including a keyboard or the like for inputting information by an input operation by a user or the like is also provided.

  When a control unit including a CPU, a RAM, or the like is used for the abnormality determination device 600, the RAM or the like of the control unit can function as the information storage unit 602. It can also function as a determination unit 603 that determines whether there is an abnormality.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example in which the abnormality determination device 600 is installed in the copying machine 500. In this example, various sensors and operation units mounted on the copier 500 can function as the information acquisition unit 601 of the abnormality determination device 600. Further, the main control unit that controls the entire copying machine 500 can function as the determination unit 603 of the abnormality determination apparatus 600.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example in which a personal computer (PC) is connected to the copying machine 500 configured as shown in FIG. In this example, communication means such as a communication port installed in the copying machine 500 to enable communication with a personal computer (PC) is caused to function as the information acquisition means 601 and the information input means 604 of the abnormality determination device 600. It becomes possible. In addition, the operation display unit mounted on the copying machine 500 can function as information input means of the abnormality determination device 600.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example in which the abnormality determination device 600 is disposed in a remote place far from the installation site of the copying machine 500. In this example, the copier 500 and the abnormality determination device 600 can exchange data via a communication line using wired or wireless communication. In order to enable communication with the copying machine 500, communication means such as a communication port installed in the abnormality determination apparatus 600 can function as the information acquisition means 601 and the information input means 604.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which an abnormality determination device 600 is connected to a plurality of copiers 500 connected to a plurality of personal computers (PCs) via a network via a communication line. In the case of this example, one abnormality determination device 600 can individually determine the presence or absence of abnormality for a plurality of copying machines 500.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the abnormality determination device 600 may be mounted on the subject to be examined or may be configured separately from the subject to be examined. Further, only a part of the abnormality determination device 600 may be mounted in the subject to be examined, and the rest may be separated. In this case, the presence or absence of abnormality can be determined within the subject to be examined, or can be performed separately. In the first embodiment, an example in which the abnormality determination device 600 is mounted in the copying machine 500 will be described.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the abnormality determination device 600 according to the first embodiment will be described.
The abnormality determination device 600 is a copying machine that is a subject to be tested based on group information including a plurality of types of information acquired by various sensors, a main control unit, an operation display unit, and the like of the copying machine 500 that functions as the information acquisition unit 601. Determine whether there is any abnormality. More specifically, the Mahalanobis distance by the MTS method is obtained based on the set information, and it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the apparatus. In order to obtain the Mahalanobis distance, it is necessary to construct a group information group, which is a collection of a plurality of group information acquired from a normal copying machine. It is designed to be performed during driving based on the order. Although the data amount is small at the time of shipment, the group information group is stored in the RAM, the hard disk or the like, but further group information is incorporated into the group information group at the shipping destination.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of data processing performed by the abnormality determination device 600. As a premise that this data processing is performed, in the abnormality determination device 600, the main control unit of the copying machine that controls various devices by a known technique functions as the information storage unit 602 and the determination unit 603 of the abnormality determination device 600. is doing. An operation display unit (not shown) of the copying machine functions as the information input unit 604 of the abnormality determination apparatus 600. The main control unit, various sensors mounted on the copying machine, and the operation display unit function as information acquisition means 601 of the abnormality determination device 600, respectively.

  After the copying machine to be inspected is shipped from the factory (step 1: hereinafter, step is denoted as S), when the main power of the copying machine is first turned on under the user (S2), the main control unit Is stored in information storage means such as RAM as the initial operation start timing (S3). The information storage means stores a period elapsed determination parameter necessary for determining that a certain period has elapsed from the initial operation start timing prior to factory shipment. Examples of the period elapsed determination parameter include an elapsed time threshold, an elapsed days threshold, an elapsed months threshold, a print number threshold, and an operation time threshold.

  The group information group construction process is executed from the initial operation start timing described above to a lapse of a certain period determined based on these period elapsed determination parameters, that is, until a predetermined period elapses ( N in S4, S5). In this group information group construction process, group information, which is a combination of various types of information that can be acquired by an information acquisition unit such as a sensor, is acquired during a print job and stored in the information storage unit as part of the group information group. When a predetermined period has elapsed from the initial operation start timing described above (Y in S4), an abnormality determination process is executed instead of the group information group construction process (S6). In this abnormality determination process, the Mahalanobis distance is obtained based on the set information composed of various information acquired by the information acquisition means during the print job after the lapse of a predetermined period and the set information group stored in the information storage means. It is done. Then, based on the obtained Mahalanobis distance, it is determined whether or not the copying machine has an abnormality. If it is determined that there is an abnormality (Y in S7), the presence of abnormality is notified by an informing means such as an operation display unit (S8).

  In the abnormality determination device 600 that performs such control, the main control unit functions as an initial operation period detection unit that detects the initial operation period. A method for constructing the group information group and a method for determining the presence or absence of abnormality will be described in detail later.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the maintenance / inspection flag confirmation process performed by the abnormality determination device 600. In this maintenance / inspection flag confirmation process, it is first determined whether or not the maintenance / inspection flag is set (S1). This maintenance / inspection flag is set when the result is input to the operation display unit of the copying machine by a specialist such as a serviceman who has determined that there is no abnormality after performing maintenance / inspection of the copying machine.
If it is determined that the maintenance / inspection flag is not set (N in S1), the control flow is immediately terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is set (Y in S1), it is next determined whether or not the set elapsed period, which is the elapsed period since the maintenance / inspection flag is set, exceeds a predetermined threshold. (S2). Then, if it is determined that it exceeds (Y in S2), the maintenance / inspection flag is canceled. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has not exceeded (N in S2), the control flow ends.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is a process executed when the maintenance / inspection flag is not set. When the maintenance / inspection flag is set, only the group information group construction process (S5) in FIG. 9 is performed.

  In the first embodiment, the operation display unit of the copying machine functions as information input means for inputting maintenance inspection completion information of the copying machine to be examined. Then, during the initial operation period of the copying machine, group information composed of various information acquired by the information acquisition unit is stored in the information storage unit as part of the group information group. In addition, after the initial operation period has elapsed, based on the input of maintenance inspection completion information to the operation display unit, the set information acquired by the information acquisition unit is additionally stored in the information storage unit as part of the set information group. The process is performed for a predetermined period. In such a configuration, in addition to during the initial operation period, during the predetermined period after the completion of the maintenance inspection, the set information that can function as normal data is acquired from the copying machine, thereby improving the accuracy of determining whether there is an abnormality. I can go.

Table 1 shown below is an example of an acquired data table constructed in the above-described group information group construction process. This acquisition data table shows an example in which n sets of group information composed of k types of information are acquired to form an inverse matrix.

  In the group information group construction process, first, k types of information (y11, y12... Y1k) constituting the first group of group information are respectively acquired by the information acquisition unit. And it is memorize | stored in an information recording means as data of the 1st line in a data table. Next, k types of information (y21, y22... Y2k) constituting the second set information are acquired by the information acquisition unit, and the information storage unit is used as the data in the second row in the data table. Is remembered. Thereafter, group information for the third and subsequent groups is sequentially acquired along with the print job and stored as data in the data table. Then, the n-th set information is acquired immediately before the above-described predetermined period elapses, and is stored in the information storage unit as the n-th row data in the data table. When a predetermined period elapses, an average and a standard deviation (σ) of n pieces of k types of information constituting each set of information are obtained and stored in the information storage unit as data of n + 1 and n + 2 rows, respectively. Is done.

  When such an acquired data table construction process ends after the above-described predetermined period has elapsed, an inverse matrix construction process is performed immediately thereafter. In this inverse matrix construction process, an information normalization process, a correlation coefficient calculation process, and an inverse matrix conversion process described below are performed.

In the information normalization step in the inverse matrix construction process, a normalized data table as shown in the following Table 2 is constructed based on the acquired data table shown in Table 1.

Data normalization is a process for converting absolute value information into variable information for various types of information. Normalized data for various types of information is calculated based on the following relational expressions. Note that i in the following expression is a code indicating any one of the n sets of group information. Further, j is a code indicating that it is any one of k types of information.

When the information normalization step is finished, a correlation coefficient calculation step is performed next. In this correlation coefficient calculation step, all combinations (kC2 types) in which two different types of k types of normalized data in each of the n sets of normalized data groups can be established based on the following equations are used. The relation number rpq (rqp) is calculated.

Once the correlation coefficients rpq (rqp) for all combinations are calculated, then k × k correlations with the diagonal element being 1 and the other elements in p rows and q columns being correlation coefficients rpq A number matrix R is constructed. The contents of this correlation coefficient matrix R are shown in the following equation.

When such a correlation coefficient calculation process is completed, a matrix conversion process is then performed. Through this matrix conversion step, the correlation coefficient matrix R expressed by Equation 3 is converted into an inverse matrix A (R−1) expressed by the following equation.

  The abnormality determination device 600 performs the information normalization process as described above prior to performing the abnormality determination process after performing the group information group construction process for constructing the acquisition data table that is the group information group shown in Table 1. The inverse matrix A is constructed by a series of processes including a correlation coefficient calculation step and a matrix conversion step. Then, this inverse matrix A is stored in the information storage means.

When the inverse matrix A is constructed, an abnormality determination process for determining whether there is an abnormality in the copying machine is executed. In this abnormality determination process, the Mahalanobis distance (hereinafter referred to as the Mahalanobis distance) in the multi-dimensional space by the inverse matrix A is used for the combination information composed of all or part of various information periodically acquired by the information acquisition means for each print job. D (referred to as Mahalanobis distance) is calculated based on the following equation.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a series of processes from the group information group construction process to the matrix conversion process. In the figure, first, n sets of k pieces of information related to the state of the copying machine are acquired from the copying machine (step 1-1: hereinafter, step is denoted as S). Next, for each type of information (j), an average value and a standard deviation σ based on the relational expression 1 are calculated, and a normalized data table is constructed based on the calculation result (S1-2). . Then, after the correlation coefficient matrix R is constructed based on the normalized data table (S1-3), it is converted into an inverse matrix A (S1-4).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for calculating the Mahalanobis distance D based on the inverse matrix A and various acquired data. In this procedure, first, k types of data x1, x2,..., Xk in an arbitrary state are acquired (S2-1). Data types correspond to y11, y12,. Next, each acquired data is normalized to X1, X2,..., Xk based on the relational expression (1). Then, the square of the Mahalanobis distance D is calculated by the relational expression of the above formula 5 determined using the element akk of the inverse matrix A that has already been constructed. “Σ” in the figure represents the sum of the subscripts p and q.

  The abnormality determination device 600 compares the Mahalanobis distance D thus obtained with a preset threshold value. When the Mahalanobis distance D is larger than the threshold value, it is determined that the acquired group information is abnormal data that is greatly deviated from the normal distribution, and failure occurrence caution information is displayed on the operation display unit.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the Mahalanobis distance D in the simplest X and Y bivariate space. When there is a correlation between the variable X and the variable Y, the distribution of normal values is indicated by contour lines as shown in the figure by standard deviation ellipses. The Mahalanobis distance D indicates a small value for data on the distribution, a large value for data out of the distribution such as point A, and the standard deviation in the direction as a scale. In other words, as shown in FIG. 14, the value decreases as the number of normal data in the group information group increases.

  Although an example in which the inverse matrix A that functions as a normal set data group is stored in the information storage unit has been described, instead of the inverse matrix A, the following set information group may be stored. That is, the acquired data table constructed by the group information group construction process, the normalized data table obtained during the inverse matrix construction process, the correlation coefficient matrix R, and the like. When any of these normal group data groups is stored instead of the inverse matrix A, the inverse matrix A may be constructed based on the data prior to the determination of abnormality.

  According to the abnormality determination device 500 having such a configuration, various types of abnormalities can be found over a wide range by determining abnormalities in the acquisition result of combination information including all or part of various information by the MTS method. can do. Further, since it is not necessary to monitor the presence or absence of each abnormality, it is possible to avoid complication of control due to such monitoring. In addition, even if the copy machine to be tested is not trial run at the factory prior to shipping, after obtaining a normal data group from the copy machine to be tested in the normal state at the ship destination, it is determined whether there is an abnormality. can do. In addition, as the normal data group used for the determination, not the data acquired from the standard machine but the data acquired from the copying machine itself to be tested can be used. Therefore, it is possible to avoid both the high cost of acquiring a normal data group for each product prior to shipment and the decrease in determination accuracy due to the adoption of the normal data group acquired from the standard machine for each product. it can.

  FIG. 15 is a graph showing the relationship between the time when a specific product is operated and the failure rate. The curve shown in this graph is generally called a Bath-tub curve. A certain period after the product is completed is in a state where it is probable that it will be probabilistically prone to failure due to defective parts mixing or adjustment failure in the manufacturing process (initial failure period). It is effective in increasing When all products in the market are considered, products with defective items are mixed in products with no defective items. It will contain a lot. After the initial failure period, it becomes a random failure period indicating a stable failure occurrence rate. The failure rate as a measure for comparing general reliability is for the accidental failure period. As the operation continues further, the wear and deterioration of the components progress. Then, it shifts to a wear failure period in which the failure occurrence rate increases. The determination of the presence / absence of an abnormality is aimed at maintaining the failure rate at a low level by sensing the timing of entering the wear failure period and dealing with it early.

  FIG. 16 is a graph showing the distribution of the failure occurrence frequency (vs. lifetime) in the initial failure period and the accidental failure period. As shown in the figure, in both periods, the distribution of failure occurrences has a downward slope (exponential distribution).

  FIG. 17 is a graph showing the distribution of failure occurrence frequency (vs. lifetime) during the wear failure period. As shown in the figure, during the wear failure period, the distribution of failure occurrence is a normal distribution. The average value in this normal distribution is the average life time. If the width of the distribution shown in the figure is narrow, it is possible to determine an approximate failure occurrence time by monitoring the operation time. For this reason, the necessity for determining the presence or absence of abnormality is low. However, if the width of the distribution is wide, a failure occurs due to many factors other than the operation time, so that the necessity for determination increases. In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system or the like, failure generation factors vary widely, and a large number of factors are complicatedly related. Therefore, it is highly necessary to determine whether there is an abnormality during a wear failure period.

  Next, an abnormality determination device according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. Unless otherwise specified below, the configuration of the abnormality determination device according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The abnormality determination device according to the second embodiment performs a special process when the no-inspection abnormality flag is set instead of the above-described maintenance inspection flag. The no-abnormality flag at the time of inspection is set based on an input from the service person or the like when no abnormality is found in the subject to be examined when the service person or the like inspects. The contents of the special processing are as follows. That is, when the initial operation period has elapsed, the abnormality determination device determines the presence or absence of abnormality based on the set information acquired from the copying machine and the set information group (normal data group) stored in the information storage means. However, the set information is stored in the information storage means together with the acquisition date. That is, the acquired set information is stored together with the acquisition date and time without being incorporated into the set information group. Then, when the above-described no-abnormality flag at the time of inspection is set (when it is determined by a serviceman or the like to be in a normal state), the group information that has not been included in the group information group until then is stored in the group information group. Add and remember.

  In the abnormality determination apparatus having such a configuration, set information that can function as normal data is acquired from the copying machine to be tested during the period from the initial operation period to the completion of maintenance and inspection thereafter. As a result, the accuracy of determining whether there is an abnormality can be improved.

Next, the abnormality determination device of each example in which a more characteristic configuration is added to the abnormality determination device of the first embodiment or the second embodiment will be described.
[First embodiment]
The abnormality determination apparatus according to the first embodiment is configured to acquire group information from an operation display unit that can function as information input means, an external data input port, or the like. The input set information is additionally stored as a part of the set information group (normal data group) stored in the information storage means. In such a configuration, not only the set information acquired from the subject copying machine equipped with this abnormality determination device but also the set information acquired from other copying machine products of the same standard is incorporated into the set information group. As a result, more normal data can be acquired earlier and the determination accuracy can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In an image forming apparatus such as a copier, during an initial operation period, after a supplementary operation period elapses-maintenance inspection completion, after maintenance inspection completion-a predetermined period elapse, a group information group can be constructed for some reason. , May cause sudden abnormalities. For example, if the user has forgotten to buy a toner container for storing replenishment toner to be set in the copier body, the user will run out of image density even if the copier body issues a warning of insufficient toner density. If you are aware of this, you may be forced to print out. In such a case, an abnormality such that the image density is temporarily insufficient until the toner is replenished. Further, for example, when a copying machine is used in a state where it is inclined obliquely or a transfer sheet with folds or wrinkles is used, an abnormality such as a jam is likely to occur temporarily. The group information acquired in such an abnormal state is not suitable as a component of the normal data group.

  FIG. 18 is a graph showing changes in normality of group information until an abnormality visible to the user occurs. In the same figure, it is shown that normality increases and decreases as the value in the Y-axis direction increases. Moreover, the code | symbol P1 has shown the point in time when the cause which a visible abnormality generate | occur | produces generate | occur | produced. For example, when forced printing is started in spite of the lack of toner, or when transfer paper with creases or wrinkles is started. When the cause occurs, the normality of the copying machine as a whole is relatively good. Thereafter, as the print job is performed, the normality gradually deteriorates. However, this deterioration is due to a sudden cause. When the cause is removed, the copying machine returns to a normal state again. The alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the boundary between the state where there is no problem even if the acquired set information is handled as normal data, and the state where there is a problem. At the time of occurrence of a visible abnormality, the latter state has already been reached, and the latter state has been reached even within a certain period of time. In the case of an abnormal state that is visible, some of the plurality of types of information acquired by the information acquisition means clearly show values that are clearly deviated from normal values. For example, jams occur very frequently, or the toner density decreases extremely.

  Therefore, the abnormality determination device performs the following process when at least one of a plurality of types of information acquired by the information acquisition unit exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold. It has become. That is, it is a process of excluding from the acquired data table the group information stored within a certain period going back from the time when the one information was acquired. Specifically, in the copying machine to be examined, the acquisition date and time is stored in the information storage unit in association with each set of information stored in the acquisition data table. Then, when certain information exceeds a predetermined threshold, group information acquired within one week, for example, from the time when the information is acquired is deleted from the acquired data table. More specifically, for example, when a jam occurrence as information exceeds an occurrence frequency threshold as a predetermined threshold, the set information acquired within a certain period is deleted from the acquisition data table retroactively from that point. Further, for example, when the toner density as information falls below a predetermined density as a predetermined threshold, the set information acquired within a certain period is deleted from the acquisition data table retroactively from that point.

  In a copying machine to be tested with such a configuration, if a temporary abnormality occurs during the period when the group information construction process is performed, group information that is no longer suitable as normal data can be excluded from the group information group. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in determination accuracy due to the inclusion of the information in the group information group.

[Third embodiment]
In the abnormality determination device according to the third embodiment, instead of determining that a visible abnormality has occurred based on at least one of the information acquired by the information acquisition means, the user determines it. . Specifically, a user can input abnormality occurrence information to information input means such as an operation display unit. When abnormality occurrence information is input in this way, as in the second embodiment, the group information stored within a certain period from the time point is deleted from the acquired data table.

[Fourth embodiment]
In the abnormality determination device according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment, during the initial operation period, a period in which a group information group from after the supplementary operation period elapses until the maintenance inspection is completed and after the maintenance inspection is completed until the predetermined period elapses can be constructed. Some were not judged for any abnormalities. In contrast, in the abnormality determination device according to the fourth embodiment, during these periods, the Mahalanobis is based on the group information group stored in the information storage unit and the group information acquired by the information acquisition unit. The distance D is obtained to determine whether there is an abnormality in the copying machine. However, as described above, since there is a high possibility that a sufficient amount of normal data is not incorporated into the group information group during these periods, even if the copier is normal, the Mahalanobis distance D is a relatively large value. May be determined as abnormal. Therefore, in the abnormality determination device, when it is determined that there is an abnormality during these periods, the fact is notified to the user by a display on the operation display unit serving as notification means. Based on this notification, the user or service person checks the state of the copying machine. Then, after the inspection, abnormal correct / incorrect information indicating that there is no abnormality or not is input to the information input means. For example, only when it is recognized that there is no abnormality as a result of the inspection, when information indicating “no abnormality” is input, it becomes abnormal correctness information. If the abnormality determination device finds out that there is an abnormality despite the normality of the copying machine based on the abnormality correctness information, the combination information used when determining that there is an abnormality is Store as part of the group information group. Also, if it is determined that there is an abnormality for the copying machine that is abnormal, the storage of the group information used when it is determined that there is an abnormality is stopped as part of the group information group. .

  In this copying machine with the above configuration, whether or not there is an abnormality in the copier is determined even during the period when the group information (normal data) is supplemented with the group information group (normal data group) to improve the accuracy of abnormality determination. can do. Moreover, even if an erroneous determination occurs due to a lack of normal data in the group information group, the erroneous determination can be corrected.

[Fifth embodiment]
The abnormality determination device according to the fifth embodiment also determines whether or not there is an abnormality during the initial operation period, after the supplementary operation period has elapsed, after the maintenance inspection has been completed, or after the maintenance inspection has been completed until the predetermined period has elapsed. ing.

  FIG. 19 is a graph showing the transition of the number of operating units in the market from the release of a specific product (for example, a copier) to the end of sales. Initially, the number of units in operation (sales volume) will generally increase due to the effects of new products, but will eventually slow down. After a slight increase due to the effects of sales promotion measures, the number of units will start to decrease after the end of sales and as replacement with the next product proceeds.

  At the beginning of the product launch when the amount of group information that can be acquired as normal data is overwhelmingly small, the distribution of the group information is small. When the group information acquired at the shipping destination is added to a group information group that can function as a normal data group, the distribution starts to gradually expand. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 14, the Mahalanobis distance D shows a large value at the beginning of product release with a small distribution of normal data groups, with respect to the set information at the absolute position of point A (see FIG. 13). Then, as more set information is incorporated into the set information group (normal data group) with the passage of time from the start of sales, the distribution of the normal data group increases. As a result, the Mahalanobis distance D indicates a smaller value than the initial release for the group information at the absolute position of point A. In this case, even if the prediction detection is attempted at the beginning of product release, the abnormality determination is repeated even for normal data, and an accurate abnormality determination cannot be performed.

  In the copying machine according to the fifth embodiment, the threshold value to be compared with the Mahalanobis distance D when determining the presence / absence of an abnormality is changed as the number of group information in the group information group increases. Specifically, the threshold value as a determination criterion is set to a relatively large value at the beginning of operation (or sales start), and then gradually decreased as the number of group information increases. The ratio of decreasing can be adjusted according to the determination accuracy.

  Even in the abnormality determination apparatus configured as described above, whether or not there is an abnormality in the copying machine can be detected even during the period in which the combination information (normal data) is supplemented to the group information group (normal data group) to improve the abnormality determination accuracy. Can be determined. Moreover, even if an erroneous determination occurs due to a lack of normal data in the group information group, the erroneous determination can be corrected.

  In the very initial stage, it may be insufficient to adjust the threshold as described above. In this case, it is preferable not to determine whether there is an abnormality until the determination accuracy reaches an allowable level.

[Sixth embodiment]
The copying machine according to the sixth embodiment is configured to perform a trial operation for printing out a reference image under a predetermined condition in response to a command from the user. The reference image output by the trial operation is not necessary for the user, but it is very important for the abnormality determination device that wants to acquire normal data from a copying machine operated under more conditions to improve the determination accuracy. Becomes effective. This is because normal data can be acquired under more operating conditions as the user performs a test run under various conditions. However, the effect cannot be obtained unless the user performs a lot of trial runs.

  In view of this, the abnormality determination device is provided with trial operation number counting means for counting the cumulative number of trial operations. The main control unit of the copier functioning as a part of the abnormality determination device performs a test run and counts the cumulative number of trial runs when the test run key is pressed by the user. It functions as a test run detection unit and a test run number counting unit of the abnormality determination device.

  When the cumulative number of trial runs is counted, various benefits can be given to the user according to the counting result. For example, as the cumulative number increases, the benefit is that the maintenance contract fee of the copying machine is discounted, or that if the copying machine has a lease contract, the printout is made free of that amount. As a result, it is possible to prompt the user to perform a trial run and acquire a normal data group under many conditions.

[Seventh embodiment]
The abnormality determination device according to the seventh embodiment has both the configuration of the abnormality determination device according to the fourth embodiment or the fifth embodiment and the configuration of the abnormality determination device according to the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen of the operation display unit of the copying machine that functions as part of the abnormality determination device according to the seventh embodiment.

  When this abnormality determination device detects a test run command from the user, first, a message “Output standard image to check printer status. Press OK key” is displayed on the operation display unit. This notifies the user that a test print will be performed from now on. Next, when the test print is completed, a message “Please press the OK key if there is no problem with the standard image, or the NG key if there is a problem” is displayed. At this time, the pressing operation information for the OK key or the NG key functions as abnormal correctness information. Based on this result, the abnormality determination device determines whether or not the group information acquired during the test run (test print) is to be incorporated into the group information group. Alternatively, the threshold value to be compared with the Mahalanobis distance D is corrected. After increasing the determination accuracy in this way, the cumulative number of trial runs is counted. And a privilege is provided to a user according to a counting result. In the figure, a screen display example when only 100 free printouts are provided as benefits is shown. Until the free printout is completed, the number of remaining free services is displayed as shown in the figure.

[Eighth embodiment]
The abnormality determination device according to the eighth embodiment has both the configuration of the abnormality determination device according to the second embodiment and the configuration of the abnormality determination device according to the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen of the operation display unit of the copying machine that functions as a part of the abnormality determination device according to the eighth embodiment.

  In the figure, the process is the same as that of the seventh embodiment until the user is notified by the message display that a test print will be performed. Thereafter, when the test print is completed, a message “Set the output standard image on the scanner. Press the OK key to read it” is displayed. When the test print image is read by the scanner as the information acquisition unit, it is determined whether or not the image information exceeds a predetermined threshold value (not a threshold value compared with the Mahalanobis distance D). If the number is higher, the group information acquired at that time is stopped from being incorporated into the group information group, or the group information stored within a predetermined period retroactive from that time is deleted from the group information group. Or

  It should be noted that various abnormalities can be detected by incorporating various parameters obtained from the image information that is the read information of the test print image into the set information. For example, in the case where an image composed of a plurality of dots in an isolated state that are not continuous with each other is used as a test print image, the cumulative addition value (cumulative pitch) of the center distance of each dot is set to the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. The result calculated for can be used as one piece of information in the set information. When there is no rotation unevenness on the photosensitive member or the developing sleeve, the dots are formed at approximately equal intervals. For this reason, the graph indicating the relationship between the cumulative addition value of the center distances of the dots and the number of dots is linear. However, if there is rotation unevenness, the graph becomes a undulating graph as shown in FIG. Further, it is possible to detect image density unevenness and the like by calculating the image area ratio and the fluctuation of the image density in the standard image. Further, by calculating the distribution of the area ratio of each dot, it is possible to detect defects such as pinholes generated in the photosensitive member.

[Ninth embodiment]
The abnormality determination apparatus according to the ninth embodiment includes an initial operation period in which a group information construction process, which is a group information additional storage process, is performed, a period after a supplementary operation period has elapsed, a maintenance inspection has been completed, a maintenance inspection has been completed, and a predetermined period has elapsed The end of is determined as follows. That is, it is possible to input misjudgment information indicating that there has been a misjudgment regarding the judgment of the presence / absence of abnormality performed during these periods to the operation display unit as the above-described information input means. When the number of times the erroneous determination information is input per unit time (hereinafter referred to as an erroneous determination occurrence rate) falls below a predetermined value, these periods are terminated.

  FIG. 23 is a graph showing the relationship between the erroneous determination occurrence rate and the elapsed time from the start of the initial operation until the predetermined period elapses. Soon after the start of operation, as described above, a sufficient amount of normal data is not included in the group information group, so it is determined that there is no abnormality despite the absence of abnormality, and vice versa. Many misjudgments occur. This misjudgment is discovered by the user himself or by a serviceman. For example, even if a serviceman rushes to the site based on a notification that there is an abnormality, the serviceman will find out if there is no abnormality in the copying machine. If a failure occurs despite the absence of an abnormality notification, the user can find an erroneous determination.

  As the normal data amount in the group information group is enriched, the erroneous determination rate gradually decreases as shown in the figure. This downward trend continues for a while, but eventually settles at a certain value. At this stage, the distribution of normal data distribution is almost completely corrected, and the determination accuracy is increased to saturation. After this, no matter how much normal data in the group information group is increased, since the distribution is within the range of normal data already stored, the determination accuracy does not increase.

  FIG. 24 is a graph showing the relationship between the cost required for abnormality determination and the amount of data in the group information group. As shown in the figure, the necessary cost increases as the amount of data in the group information group increases. For this reason, if unnecessary normal data is continuously taken in, unnecessary costs are incurred.

  In view of this, the abnormality determination device ends the period of executing the group information construction process when the erroneous determination occurrence rate falls below a predetermined value, that is, when the determination accuracy increases to a certain level, and avoids the introduction of unnecessary normal data. It is supposed to be.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a copying machine to be examined. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer unit of the copier. The elements on larger scale which show the tandem part of the copier. The block diagram which shows a part of electric circuit of the abnormality determination apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example in which the abnormality determination device is installed in the copier. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example in which a personal computer is connected to the copier. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example in which the abnormality determination device is disposed in a remote place far from the installation site of the copier. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example in which the abnormality determination apparatus is connected to a plurality of copying machines connected to a plurality of personal computers via a network via a communication line. The flowchart which shows the outline | summary of the data processing implemented by the abnormality determination apparatus. The flowchart which shows the control flow of the maintenance inspection flag confirmation process implemented by the abnormality determination apparatus. The flowchart which shows a series of processes from a group information group construction process to a matrix conversion process. The flowchart which shows the procedure which calculates Mahalanobis distance D based on the inverse matrix A and various acquisition data. The schematic diagram for demonstrating the Mahalanobis distance D in the simplest bivariate space of X and Y. FIG. The graph which shows the relationship between Mahalanobis distance D about specific group information, and the number of normal data in a group information group. A graph showing the relationship between the time when a specific product is operated and the failure rate. The graph which shows distribution of the frequency of failure occurrence (vs lifetime) in the initial failure period and the accidental failure period. The graph which shows distribution of the frequency of failure occurrence (vs lifetime) in a wear failure period. The graph which shows the change of normality adjustment of group information until abnormalities visible to a user occur. A graph showing changes in the number of units operating in the market from the release of a specific product (for example, a copier) to the end of sales. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display screen of an operation display unit of a copier that functions as part of an abnormality determination device according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen of an operation display unit of a copying machine that functions as part of an abnormality determination device according to an eighth embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the test print image and the characteristic of each numerical value obtained based on this reading result. The graph which shows the relationship between the misjudgment occurrence rate and elapsed time until a predetermined period passes since an initial driving | operation start. The graph which shows the relationship between the cost required for abnormality determination, and the data amount in a group information group.

Explanation of symbols

600 Abnormality determination device 601 Information acquisition means 602 Information storage means 603 Determination means 604 Information input means

Claims (11)

Information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of different types of information about the object to be examined, information storage means for storing a set information group consisting of a set of set information that is a combination of the plurality of types of information, and at least the information storage In the abnormality determination device comprising: the group information group stored in the means; and a determination means for determining the presence or absence of abnormality of the subject to be examined based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
An initial operation period detecting means for detecting an initial operation period until a predetermined period elapses after the subject to be inspected after being shipped from the factory is used;
An information input means for inputting maintenance inspection completion information about the subject to be examined is provided,
A process for storing the group information acquired by the information acquisition unit during the initial operation period in the information storage unit as part of the group information group;
In addition, after the initial operation period has elapsed, based on the input of the maintenance inspection completion information to the information input means, the information acquisition means within the predetermined period only for a predetermined period after the input of the maintenance inspection completion information. An abnormality determination device characterized in that a process of additionally storing the group information acquired by the above-mentioned information storage means as part of the group information group is performed. Information acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of different types of information about the object to be examined, information storage means for storing a set information group consisting of a set of set information that is a combination of the plurality of types of information, and at least the information storage In the abnormality determination device comprising: the group information group stored in the means; and a determination means for determining the presence or absence of abnormality of the subject to be examined based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means.
An initial operation period detecting means for detecting an initial operation period until a predetermined period elapses after the subject to be inspected after being shipped from the factory is used;
An information input means for inputting no-abnormal information at the time of inspection for the subject to be examined;
Causing the information storage means to store the set information acquired by the information acquisition means during the initial operation period as part of the set information group;
In addition, after the initial operation period has elapsed, the group information acquired by the information acquisition unit after the initial operation period has elapsed is stored in the information storage unit separately from the group information group, and the information input When there is no inspection abnormality information input to the means, the group stored separately from the group information group after the initial operation period has elapsed and before the inspection abnormality information is input. An abnormality determination device characterized in that information is additionally stored as part of the group information group. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 1 or 2,
An abnormality determination apparatus, wherein the set information input to the information input means is additionally stored in the information storage means as part of the set information group. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
When at least one of the plurality of types of information acquired by the information acquisition means exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold, the group information acquired at that time is part of the group information group An abnormality determination device characterized in that the storage as a stop is stopped. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 4,
When at least one of the plurality of types of information exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold, a part of the set information group is also stored for the set information stored within a predetermined period retroactive from that time. An abnormality determination device characterized in that the storage as a stop is stopped. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
When abnormality occurrence information is input to the information input means, a process for excluding the group information stored within a predetermined period back from the time of inputting the abnormality occurrence information from the group information group is executed. An abnormality determination device characterized by that. In the abnormality determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Based on the group information group stored in the information storage means and the group information acquired by the information acquisition means during the initial operation period or the period during which the group information additional storage process is performed. The determination means determines whether or not there is an abnormality to be detected, and if there is an abnormality, informs the fact by the notification means, and thereafter, based on the abnormality correctness information input to the information input means, the set information Is determined to be stored as a part of the group information group. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 7,
An abnormality determination apparatus, wherein the determination criterion for the presence / absence of abnormality is changed as the number of pieces of group information in the group information group increases. In the abnormality determination device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An abnormality determination apparatus comprising: a test run detection unit that detects that the test object is trial run under a predetermined condition; and a trial run number counting unit that counts the cumulative number of trial runs. In the abnormality determination device according to claim 7 or 8,
Input per unit time to the information input means of misjudgment information indicating that there has been a misjudgment regarding the judgment of the presence or absence of the abnormality performed during the initial operation period or the group information additional storage process An abnormality determination device characterized in that, based on the number of times, the end timing of the initial operation period or the period for performing the group information additional storage process is determined. In an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; and an abnormality determination unit that determines whether there is an abnormality.
An image forming apparatus using the abnormality determination device according to claim 1 as the abnormality determination means.

Images