JP2793419B2 - Self-diagnosable image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a self-diagnosis system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of performing self-diagnosis of an operation state and the like of the apparatus using artificial intelligence and knowledge engineering, which have been actively studied in recent years.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in the field of development of precision machines and industrial machines, in order to realize labor saving of maintenance work and prolonged automatic operation, experts using artificial intelligence (AI) technology have recently been used. Research on the system is being actively conducted. Some expert systems perform self-diagnosis as to whether or not a failure has occurred in the device and self-repair the resulting failure.

However, conventional expert systems (automatic adjustment systems and failure diagnosis systems) basically only actuate corresponding actuators based on the output of a certain sensor. It was not perfect. Therefore, the applicant of the present application has found a machine control method using diagnosis / repair inference on a target model based on qualitative physics, and a new self-diagnosis and self-diagnosis method for an image forming apparatus using such a machine control method. Invented a restoration system and filed a patent application.
Flat No. 2-252191 (JP-A-4-130459) reference).

The self-diagnosis and self-repair system for the image forming apparatus according to the prior application has the following features. That is, (1) A detection value of a sensor provided in a target machine (image forming apparatus) is converted into a qualitative value and used for control. (2) The structure and characteristics of the image forming apparatus are qualitatively expressed using a causal relation network (parameter model) of parameters representing the properties of the image forming apparatus.

(3) A qualitative simulation for fault diagnosis and fault repair inference is performed by applying the sensor values converted into qualitative values to a parameter model. In other words, qualitative model-based systems (Qualitative Mo
Del Based System (QMS)) to perform fault diagnosis and repair.

According to the self-diagnosis and self-healing system of the applicant of the present application having such features, even if a failure such as a structural change of the image forming apparatus occurs, the image forming apparatus can flexibly deal with the failure. It is possible to correspond to. This is because the control points and control loops of the target machine can be dynamically changed by using the qualitative simulation.

[0007]

However, in the self-diagnosis and self-repair system according to the prior application,
When converting the detection value of the sensor into a qualitative value, there is a possibility that an error occurs in the conversion. This is because, when converting a sensor detection value into a qualitative value, a landmark is defined on the qualitative quantity space, and is converted into a different qualitative value depending on whether the detected value is larger or smaller than the boundary mark. As such, the landmarks must be correctly defined.

However, this landmark may change depending on the environment in which the image forming apparatus is used. Therefore, in the conventional system, the qualitative value conversion of the sensor detection value, which is the basis of the control, varies, and as a result, accurate qualitative simulation cannot be performed, and an error may occur in failure diagnosis and failure repair. . Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing accurate failure diagnosis.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A failure caused in the apparatus an image forming apparatus capable of self-diagnosis, a plurality of sensors for detecting the state of a plurality of sites predetermined of equipment, provided corresponding to each sensor, each A landmark storage means in which landmarks of a qualitative quantity space required for converting a sensor detection value into a qualitative value are stored as a membership function of fuzzy logic, and when a failure symptom occurs in the device. Has developed its failure symptoms
Reads the detection values of the plurality of sensors in the state, fault using membership functions stored in said landmarks storage means, conversion means for converting the detected values of the sensors in fuzzy qualitative values, as described above expression system Parameters that indicate symptoms
Output means for outputting a set of qualitative values of the data, a fuzzy qualitative value converted by the conversion means and a set of qualitative values output from the output means, and a fault causing a developing fault symptom is compared. And selecting means for selecting a set of qualitative values having a predetermined relationship with the fuzzy qualitative values.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the membership functions stored in the landmark storage means are stored for each failure symptom. The invention according to claim 3, in the image forming apparatus, wherein the selecting means defines a qualitative quantity space, and compares a set of qualitative values with the fuzzy qualitative value in a positional relationship in the qualitative quantity space, The method is characterized in that a set of qualitative values closest to the position of the fuzzy qualitative value is selected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the output means includes:
The image forming apparatus is qualitatively expressed by a causal network of parameters representing properties of the apparatus, and when it is assumed that a failure symptom has occurred in the apparatus, all possible states of the apparatus are represented by a causal network of the parameters. It qualitatively simulates the data and outputs the result.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when a failure symptom occurs in the device, the detection values of the plurality of sensors are read,
Each detected value is converted to a fuzzy qualitative value. The converted fuzzy qualitative value is compared with a plurality of sets of qualitative values, and a set of qualitative values having a predetermined relationship with the fuzzy qualitative value, for example, a closest relationship with the fuzzy qualitative value is selected. Then, it is presumed that the fault represented by the selected set of qualitative values is the cause of the current fault symptom.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the membership function is stored for each failure symptom, the detected value of the sensor can be more accurately converted to a fuzzy qualitative value for each failure symptom. According to the third aspect of the invention, when comparing the fuzzy qualitative value and the qualitative value set, a qualitative quantity space is defined, and the qualitative value set is selected based on the positional relationship in the qualitative quantity space. When a set of qualitative values is selected based on the positional relationship in the qualitative quantity space, selection of the set of qualitative values does not vary, and the selection accuracy is improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a set of qualitative values can be arranged in a state that can be easily used for each failure.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a self-diagnosis and self-repair system applied to a small-sized electrophotographic copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a mechanical configuration diagram of a small-sized electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applied, in which only parts related to the present invention are schematically illustrated. FIG.
, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a main charger,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a halogen lamp for illuminating a document, 4 denotes a developing device, and 5 denotes a transfer / separation charger.

The main charger 2 is connected to a main charger controller 2C for changing the discharge voltage of the main charger. The halogen lamp 3 is connected to a halogen light amount controller 3C for controlling the light amount of the halogen lamp 3. further,
The transfer / separation charger 5 includes a transfer charger controller 5 for controlling a discharge voltage of the charger 5, that is, a transfer voltage between the photosensitive drum 1 and a copy sheet.
C is connected.

In an electrophotographic copying machine, the most important thing is whether or not the obtained copy image is beautifully finished (normal). Therefore, this embodiment automatically detects whether the obtained copy image is normal, has an image fog, or whether the image is faint. The cause of the symptoms,
That is, a description will be given of an example of a device that locates a failure and self-repairs the failure.

In this embodiment, for example, four sensors are provided. That is, a light amount sensor X for measuring the amount of light for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 (in other words, the light amount of the halogen lamp 3), a surface potential sensor Vs for measuring the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 1 after exposure, Photoconductor drum 1
Density sensor D for detecting the above toner density
s and the copy density sensor Os. The copy density sensor Os detects the density of a copy image formed by the electrophotographic copying machine. Based on the detection output Os of the copy density sensor Os, it is determined whether the electrophotographic copying machine is normal, whether image fogging has occurred as a failure symptom, or whether the image is faint.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the small-sized electrophotographic copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and shows only parts related to the present invention. In FIG. 2, blocks with rounded corners represent so-called hardware functions, and blocks with sharp corners represent so-called software functions (program processing executed in a computer). Note that the division of functions by hardware and functions by software is an example, and the functions of software may be realized by hardware.

The correspondence between the functional blocks in FIG. 2 and the machine configuration in FIG. 1 is as follows. That is, the sensor of FIG. 2 includes the light amount sensor X, the surface potential sensor Vs,
A toner density sensor Ds and a copy density sensor Os are included. The actuator controller of FIG. 2 includes the main charger controller 2C, the halogen light amount controller 3C, and the transfer charger controller 5C of FIG. The actuator of FIG.
The main charger 2, the halogen lamp 3, and the transfer / separation charger 5 of FIG. 1 are included.

In FIG. 2, a functional block by software is divided into, for example, four functional blocks.
That is, the diagnosis / repair inference unit 11, the output unit 12, the membership function generation unit 13, and the pseudo failure generation unit 14
It is. The output unit 12 generates and outputs a set of qualitative values of characteristic parameters (hereinafter, simply referred to as “set of qualitative values”) representing characteristic failure symptoms of the devices illustrated in Tables 1 and 2 by qualitative simulation. Here, the set of qualitative values is a qualitative simulation of the state of the apparatus at the time of occurrence of the failure under the condition that the failure occurring in the electrophotographic copying machine at a time is a single failure. This is a possible condition for our device.

[0022]

[Table 1]

[0023]

[Table 2]

The set of generation of qualitative values above applicant prior application (Japanese Patent Application No. flat 2-252191 (JP-A-4-130
No. 459) can be performed by using the qualitative simulation described in the above section. The method of the qualitative simulation will be briefly described as follows. The electrophotographic copying machine, represented as binding of a plurality of elements captured from a physical view point, the qualitatively expressed using parameters binding relationship between behavior and attributes as well as the elements of each element, FIG. 3
Is obtained. Note that the parameter model shown in FIG. 3 is a simplified model in which only parameters related to the copy density parameter Os are extracted.

In the parameter model shown in FIG.
l is the light amount parameter of the halogen lamp 3, D is the optical density parameter of the document, X is the parameter of the light amount for exposing the photosensitive drum 1, β is the sensitivity parameter of the photosensitive drum 1,
Vn is the surface potential parameter of the photosensitive drum 1 after the main charge, Vs is the surface potential parameter of the photosensitive drum 1 after exposure, Vb is the parameter of the developing bias, γ ₀ is the parameter of the toner sensitivity, and Ds is the parameter on the drum. An image density (toner density) parameter, Vt indicates a transfer voltage parameter, and ζ indicates a paper sensitivity parameter. Among these parameters, D, β, γ _0, and ζ can be regarded as fixed values because they are unlikely to fluctuate. Therefore, the cause of the change in the copy density parameter Os is as follows.
It can be presumed that this is caused by a change in any of Hl, Vn, Vb, or Vt. When the four parameters Hl, Vn, Vb, or Vt change and Os changes, the change always includes three sensed parameters X, Vs, or Ds (circled in FIG. 3).
(However, X, Vs, and Ds do not change only when the change is caused by the change in Vt).

As described above, the qualitative simulation for generating a set of qualitative values is based on the assumption that a single fault occurs in the electrophotographic copying machine at a time. Therefore, in the case of Hl (halogen lamp) failure, Vn (main charger) failure, Vb (development bias) failure, and Vt (transfer charger) failure, sensing target parameters X, Vs , D
The state of s is different. Therefore, this state is inferred and output as a set of qualitative values.

Next, a specific example of how to generate a set of qualitative values will be described using the parameter model shown in FIG. It is assumed that the copy density becomes abnormal and Os becomes high (+). If the cause of Os: high (+) is Hl: low (-), X becomes low (-). If the cause of Os: high (+) is caused by a change in Vn, Vb or Vt,
X is normal (N). This is because the generation of a set of qualitative values is based on the premise that a single failure occurs in the electrophotographic copying machine at a time. Thus, for Os: high (+), X must be normal (N) or high (+), and low (-) is not possible.

On the other hand, the root cause of Os: high (+) is Hl
Then, Hl must be low (-) and changes in Hl should affect X, Vs and Ds on the parametric model. This is because if the change of Hl is such that it has no effect, Os does not change as a result. Thus, if Hl is the root cause of the failure symptom, ie, failure, then X, Vs, and Ds
Cannot be normal (N).

As described above, in the set of qualitative values, when the copy density parameter Os indicates an abnormality, the cause is always limited to a change in a single parameter, and the change in the parameter is a parameter to be sensed (see FIG. 3). (Circled parameters) are always assumed to be generated. When a set of qualitative values is generated under such conditions, only those that can actually occur in the apparatus are obtained as a set of qualitative values.

Tables 1 and 2 show specific examples of sets of qualitative values. Table 1 shows a set of four qualitative values when the failure symptom “image fogging” occurs in the electrophotographic copying machine.
Table 1 is obtained as follows. When an image fogged in an image copied by an electrophotographic copying machine, as a cause thereof, from the parameter model of FIG.
Hl (halogen lamp) failure, Vn (main charger) failure, Vb (development bias) failure, or Vt
(Transfer charger) Inferior.

In this case, if the above-mentioned faults are limited to a single fault, and if the change in Hl always affects other parameters, the cause of the image fogging is that the Hl fault is caused by the Hl fault. In this case, the parameter X should be low (-), the parameter Vs should be high (+), the parameter Ds should be high (+), and no other state is taken.

If the cause of image fogging is a Vn defect, the parameter X should be normal (N), the parameter Vs should be high (+), and the parameter Ds should be high (+). I will not take it. When the cause of image fogging is a Vb defect, the parameter X is normal (N),
The parameter Vs should be normal (N), the parameter Ds should be high (+), and no other state is taken.

If the cause of the image fog is Vt failure, the parameter X should be normal (N), the parameter Vs should be normal (N), and the parameter Ds should be normal (N). I will not take it. The numerical value of “1.0” added to each parameter state in Table 1 indicates a degree in a membership function of fuzzy logic described later. The advantages of introducing the membership function of the fuzzy theory will be described later.

Similarly, when the density of a copy obtained by the electrophotographic copying machine is low, the causes are as follows: Hl (halogen lamp) failure, Vn (main charger) failure, Vb (development bias) according to the parameter model of FIG. ) A defect or a Vt (transfer charger) defect is estimated, and the parameters X, Vs and D to be sensed when each defect occurs.
The state of s is as shown in Table 2.

The set of qualitative values shown in Tables 1 and 2 above is
It is obtained by a qualitative simulation in the output unit 12 as needed. The set of qualitative values may also include an inferred repair method for each failure at each failure symptom. For example, a repair method as shown in Table 3 below can be included for a failure “Hl failure” of the failure symptom “image fogging”. This repair method is also determined by qualitative simulation.

[0036]

[Table 3]

The repair method may be stored for each of the other faults. Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the membership function generation unit 13 of FIG. 2 provides the light amount sensor X and the surface potential sensor V for each failure symptom.
s and a membership function used when converting the detection values of the toner density sensor Ds into qualitative values. As is well known, a membership function is a function that defines the degree (grade) of a certain element belonging to a certain set in fuzzy logic.

For example, FIG. 4 shows a failure symptom “image fog”.
The X, Vs, and Ds membership functions used at times are shown. If the diagnosis / repair inference unit 11 (see FIG. 2) determines that an image fogging has occurred in a copy output from the electrophotographic copying machine based on the output of the copy density sensor Os (see FIG. 1), Time light intensity sensor X,
The detection values of the surface potential sensor Vs and the toner density sensor Ds are stored in the membership function generation unit 13 in FIG.
Qualitative value based on the membership function shown in
For example, the detection value of the light amount sensor X is 2.2 as a quantitative value.
Below (V), the parameter X (-: 1.0, N: 0.
0). 1. The detected quantitative value of the light amount sensor X is 2. 29 (V), the parameter X (-: 0.7, N:
0.3). When the detected quantitative value of the light quantity sensor X is 2.5 (V) or more, the parameter X (−:
0.0, N: 1.0).

Similarly, the quantitative detection value of the surface potential sensor Vs and the quantitative detection value of the toner density sensor Ds are qualitatively determined using the membership function of Vs and the membership function of Ds shown in FIG. . When it is determined that the image density is low, the quantitative detection values of the light amount sensor X, the surface potential sensor Vs, and the toner density sensor Ds are calculated using the membership functions of X, Vs, and Ds shown in FIG. Each is qualitatively converted.

Next, how to set the membership function shown in FIG. 4 or 5 will be described. In general, it is necessary to define landmarks (landmarks) on a quantity space in order to convert a detected quantitative value of a sensor into a qualitative value. However, in consideration of a change in the normal state of the electrophotographic copying machine after restoration and a limit of the measurement accuracy of the sensor, it is not easy to determine the landmark as a static one. If the landmarks are determined as static and there is an error in the determination, the qualitative conversion of the sensor values, which is the premise of this control, will not be performed accurately, and it will be used in subsequent fault diagnosis and fault repair. ,
The possibility of misdiagnosis or misrepair is increased.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, a landmark is defined for each failure symptom, and the landmark is defined using a membership function of fuzzy logic. If the detected quantitative value of the sensor is converted into a qualitative value using a membership function corresponding to the failure symptom, a reading error of the sensor,
It is possible to flexibly and suitably cope with a change in the sensor output due to a change in the use environment.

When a quantitative detection value of a sensor is converted into a qualitative value, a membership function of fuzzy theory is introduced, and the correspondence between the actual measured value and the qualitative value depending on the measurement accuracy of the sensor, changes in the use environment, and the like. It is possible to flexibly deal with the problem relating to the attachment, and it is possible to prevent errors from occurring when converting the sensor value into a qualitative value. Note that, at this stage, the qualitative-valued parameters are not immediately used for selecting one of the faults by directly applying to the qualitative value set.
As described later, one of a plurality of faults included in the set of qualitative values
In order to select one, a failure of a set of qualitative values closest to the state of the parameter is determined based on a predetermined calculation formula.

Further, in this embodiment, the pseudo failure method (Im
itation Fault method: IF method) was introduced. The IF method forcibly causes a failure in an electrophotographic copying machine by operating an actuator at an initial time before shipping the electrophotographic copying machine, after repairing a failure, or at an arbitrary timing based on manual input, This is a method of dynamically determining a landmark using sensor information at the time of normal operation and at the time of failure before causing a failure. The membership functions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are determined using this IF method. I
By using the F method, it is possible to dynamically determine the landmarks in the quantity space necessary to qualify the quantitative value detected by the sensor for each electrophotographic copying machine that is the actual control target. Can be accurately defined for each device.

Further, if the IF method is used, as will be described later, the landmarks defined when the device is in the initial state can be corrected each time repair of a failure is completed, so that changes over time in the device and changes in the use environment can be achieved. It is possible to always update the landmarks in the quantity space to optimal values in accordance with the above. Returning to FIG. 2, the functional block of this electrophotographic copying machine is provided with a simulated failure generator 14 for executing the above-mentioned IF method.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the landmarks in the quantity space are defined using a membership function of fuzzy logic. That is, the landmarks are fuzzy. By fuzzifying the landmarks,
As described above, there is an advantage that it is possible to flexibly cope with a reading error of the sensor or a change in the landmark due to a disturbance such as an environmental change.

FIG. 6 shows the diagnosis / repair inference unit 11 shown in FIG.
Qualitative Reasoning (Fuzzy Qualitativ)
5 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of e Reasoning (FQR). Next, a failure diagnosis and a failure repair process in the electrophotographic copying machine will be described with reference to the flow of FIG. When the control operation starts, the diagnosis / repair inference unit 1
The detection value of the copy density sensor Os is read by 1 (step S1). Then, the read copy density Os is compared with a predetermined reference value, and it is determined whether or not the electrophotographic copying machine has failed (step S2).

For example, it is assumed that a condition shown in FIG. 7 is stored as a reference value. That is, the detection voltage is 2.5
If the voltage is less than (V), the image is thin. If the detection voltage is 2.5 (V) or more and less than 2.9 (V), the image is normal.
(V) Above, it is assumed that a failure determination reference value of image fog is set. At this time, the copy density sensor O
If the detected value of s is 3.1 (V), it is determined that the failure symptom "image fogging" has occurred (step S3).

The processing in steps S1 to S3 is performed because the electrophotographic copying machine according to the present embodiment is a machine for automatically determining the presence or absence of a failure. This processing is performed manually. Is also good. Step S manually
When performing the processes of 1 to S3, the copy density sensor Os need not be provided. In the manual process, the serviceman or the like may determine that the copy has an image fog, for example, by looking at the copy output from the electrophotographic copying machine.
In this case, an image fog is input to the apparatus as a failure symptom. The input of the failure symptom may be made by a ten key or the like usually provided in the electrophotographic copying machine.

When the failure symptom "image fogging" is determined in step S3, the detection values of the light quantity sensor X, the surface potential sensor Vs, and the toner density sensor Ds are read (step S4). Now, the detected values of the respective sensors read are X: 2. 26 (V), Vs: 2. 6 (V), D
s: 1. 95 (V). Each read sensor value is applied to the membership function at the time of image fogging (FIG. 4) stored in the membership function generation unit 13, and a temporary qualitative value is determined (step S5). In this specific example, X: 2. 26 , Vs: 2. 6 , Ds: 1. 9
5 are respectively applied to the membership function of FIG. 4, and X: -0.8, Vs: +0.9, Ds: +0.
7 is obtained.

[0050] That is, (X, Vs, Ds) = (2. 26, 2. 6, 1. 95) = p (-0.8, + 0.9, + 0.7) are obtained. If the qualitative conversion of the sensor detection value is performed based on a specific landmark instead of fuzzy qualitative conversion using a membership function, (X, Vs, Ds) = (−, +, +) Is obtained.

Next, the failure symptom "image fog" shown in Table 1 is shown.
Is obtained in the output unit 12, and the degree of coincidence C between the failures listed in this qualitative value set and the temporary qualitative value obtained in step S5 is calculated (step S5).
6). The calculation of the degree of coincidence C is performed as follows. First, the failures listed in the set of qualitative values of the failure symptom “image fog” are expressed in a three-dimensional quantity space of X, Vs, and Ds. This expression can be expressed by the following equation.

Hl defect: (X, Vs, Ds) = f1 (−1.0, +1.0, +1.0) Vn defect: (X, Vs, Ds) = (N1.0, +1.0, +1) .0) = f2 (−0.0, +1.0, +1.0) Vb defect: (X, Vs, Ds) = (N1.0, N1.0, +1.0) = f3 (−0.0 , +0.0, +1.0) Vt defect: (X, Vs, Ds) = (N1.0, N1.0, N1.0) = f4 (−0.0, +0.0, +0.0) When the equation is plotted, the three-dimensional quantity space shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. In FIG. 8, f1, f2, f3, and f4 are the positions of the Hl defect, the Vn defect, the Vb defect, and the Vt defect, respectively.

The temporary qualitative value p (-0.8, +0.9, +0.7) obtained in step S5 is located at p in the three-dimensional quantity space of FIG. Then, next, from the point p, the positions f1, f2, f of the faults listed in the set of qualitative values
Calculating the distance D to 3 and f4 is as follows. D (f1) = √ {( 0.8-1.0) 2 + (0.9 -1.0) 2 + (0.7 -1.0) 2} = 0.374 D (f2) = √ {(0.8-0.0) 2 + (0.9 -1.0) 2 ^{+ (0.7 -1.0) 2} =} 0.86 D (f3) = √ {(0.8-0.0) 2 + (0.9 -0.0) 2 + (0.7 -1.0) 2} = 1.241 D (f4) = √ {(0.8- 0.0) ² + (0.9−0.0) ² + (0.7−0.0) ² ｝ = 1.393 Then, the distance D calculated by the above equation is normalized, and the coincidence C is calculated. The normalization of the distance D is performed based on the following equation.

C = 1−D / √n (where n is the number of sense parameters: in this case, n =
3) Accordingly, each degree of coincidence C is expressed as follows: C (f1) = 1−0.374 / √3 = 0.784 C (f2) = 1−0.86 / √3 = 0.503 C (f3) = 1 −1.241 / √3 = 0.284 C (f4) = 1−1.393 / √3 = 0.196 As a result, f1, which is the closest distance D from the point p,
That is, f1 (Hl failure) having the highest coincidence C is determined as a failure candidate (step S7).

The equation for calculating the degree of coincidence C described above can be expressed by the following general equation. C = 1− {C (p1) ² + C (p2) ² +... + C (pn) ² } / Δn C (pn) = Gm (qn) −Gs (qn) (where C: coincidence of the entire model) Degree, pn: measurable variable, C (pn): degree of coincidence with variable pn, qn: qualitative value that variable pn can take, Gm (qn): grade of qualitative value qn in failure model, Gs (qn): measurement (Quality of qualitative value qn in value) When performing normal qualitative qualification based on a specific landmark instead of fuzzy qualitative qualification, the degree of coincidence C in step S6
Is omitted, and from (X, Vs, Ds) = (−, +, +), the failure is immediately determined to be an H1 failure.

In step S7, since the failure is determined to be an Hl failure, a repair method (method shown in Table 3) corresponding to the failure "Hl failure" of the failure symptom "image fog" stored in the output unit 12 is performed. , According to its priority. In order to perform the restoration method in the priority order, the counter x is cleared in step S8, and the counter x is cleared in step S9.
Is set to x = 1. Next, when it is confirmed that the value of the counter x does not exceed the registered number of the stored repair methods (step S10), the priority of the value of the counter x among the stored repair methods (for example, When the first restoration is performed, the restoration of the priority No. 1 Hl: UP (increases the amount of the halogen lamp) is performed (step S11).

Then, it is determined whether or not the restoration has been successful (step S12). Whether or not the restoration was successful is determined by copying after the restoration and reading the density of the copy output as a result by the copy density sensor Os. If the repair was not successful, step S
9, the count value of the counter x is incremented by one, and the next priority is restored. For example, priority N
o. Vn: DOWN (reducing the main charger voltage), which is the repair of No. 2, is performed. If the restoration of the next priority is not registered, the process ends at that point.

If it is determined in step S12 that the restoration has been successful, the process proceeds to step S13, where the IF method is executed, and the process ends. FIG. 9 shows the processing content of the IF method performed in step S13 described above. Next, the IF method will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When the failure repair is successful, the diagnostic / repair inference unit 11 reads the detection values of the light quantity sensor X, the surface potential sensor Vs, and the toner density sensor Ds (Step S21). The detection values of each sensor read at this time are, for example, X: 2.9 (V), Vs:
It is assumed that 1.6 (V) and Ds: 1.4 (V).

Next, the simulated fault generator 14 (see FIG. 2)
, The halogen light amount controller 3C is operated, and the light amount of the halogen lamp 3 is reduced (step S2).
2). Each time the amount of light of the halogen lamp 3 is reduced by a small amount, the copying machine is caused to perform a copying operation, and the density of the copy obtained at that time is detected by the copy density sensor Os, and the detected value is read (step S23). ).
The detection value of the copy density sensor Os is illuminated by the above-described failure determination reference value shown in FIG. 7, and when the value of Os reaches the reference value at which image fogging occurs, the process of lowering the light amount of the halogen lamp 3 is stopped. Is performed (step S24).

Then, the detection values of the light quantity sensor X, the surface potential sensor Vs, and the toner density sensor Ds when the light quantity of the halogen lamp 3 is reduced until image fogging occurs are read (step S25). The read detection values are, for example, X: 2.6 (V), Vs: 2.5 (V), and Ds:
Let it be 1.8 (V). The detected values of X, Vs, and Ds read at step S21 after the repair and the detected values of X, Vs, and Ds at the time when the image fog is read at step S25 are sent to the membership function generating unit 13. Given, a membership function for image fogging is generated. That is, the value detected in step S21 is a landmark when normal, and the value read in step S25 is a landmark when image fogging starts, and the membership function at the time of image fogging shown in FIG. Is restored to the membership function shown in

Next, the pseudo failure generator 14 operates the halogen light quantity controller 3C to increase the light quantity of the halogen lamp 3 (step S26). And every time the light amount of the halogen lamp 3 is increased by a minute amount,
The copying is performed by the electrophotographic copying machine, and the copy density obtained at that time is detected by the copy density sensor Os, and the value is read (step S27).

Then, the read value of the copy density sensor Os is illuminated by the failure determination reference value of FIG. 7 and when the image reaches a light copy (step S28), the light quantity sensor X and the surface potential sensor Vs at that time. Then, the detection value of the toner density sensor Ds is read (step S29). This read value is, for example, X: 3.5 (V), Vs: 0.6
(V) and Ds: 0.5 (V).

The read value is sent to the membership function generator 13. In the membership function generating unit 13, the sensor value in the normal state read in step S21,
Using the sensor value read at the time of generation of the low-density image read in step S29 as a landmark, a membership function at the time of density reduction is generated. As a result, the membership function at the time of density reduction shown in FIG. 5 is restored to that shown in FIG.

The above-described IF method may be performed, for example, in response to manual input of an IF method execution signal by a service person or the like, instead of being performed after the failure has been successfully repaired. The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the scope of the claims. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a small-sized electrophotographic copying machine has been described as an example. However, the self-diagnosis and self-repair system according to the present invention is also applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a laser beam printer and a facsimile. be able to.

Further, the present embodiment is directed to an electrophotographic copying machine in which a failure symptom appears when an obtained copy image is not beautifully finished, and a failure which causes the occurrence of the failure symptom is self-repaired. It is all about explaining. However, the present invention can also be applied to self-diagnosis and self-repair for other failures of the image forming apparatus different from whether or not the copy image is beautifully finished.

Various other changes are possible.

[0067]

According to the present invention, when a detection value of a sensor provided in an image forming apparatus is converted into a qualitative value, the conversion is affected by the use environment of the apparatus, detection accuracy of the sensor, and the like. It is possible to accurately estimate a failure causing a failure symptom in the image forming apparatus using the converted fuzzy qualitative value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a mechanical configuration diagram of a small electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the small electrophotographic copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a simplified parameter model of the small electrophotographic copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing membership functions of X, Vs, and Ds used at the time of image fogging.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a membership function of X, Vs, and Ds used when the image density decreases.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of fuzzy qualitative inference.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a failure presence / absence determination reference value.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the failures listed in the qualitative value set of the failure symptom “image fog” in a three-dimensional quantity space of X, Vs, and Ds.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a pseudo failure method (IF method).

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a membership function at the time of image fogging corrected by the IF method.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a membership function at the time of image density reduction corrected by the IF method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 photosensitive drum 2 main charger 3 halogen lamp 4 developing device 5 transfer / separation charger 2C main charger controller 3C halogen light amount controller 5C transfer charger controller 11 diagnostic / repair inference unit 12 output unit 13 membership function generation unit 14 pseudo failure generation unit X light intensity sensor Vs surface potential sensor Ds toner density sensor Os copy density sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor ▲ Yoshi ▼ Hiroyuki Kawa 804, Yonbancho, Yobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 804 (56) References JP-A-3-7963 (JP, A) JP-A-3 -10269 (JP, A) JP-A-4-74224 (JP, A) JP-A-58-66967 (JP, A) JP-A-58-94012 (JP, A) JP-A-62-35916 (JP, A) JP-A-2-82271 (JP, A) JP-A-3-27058 (JP, A) JP-A-2-311860 (JP, A) JP-A-4-258080 (JP, A) JP-A-5-205 173821 (JP, A) JP-A-58-221856 (JP, A) JP-A-63-233655 (JP, A) JP-A-62-52601 (JP, A) JP-A-1-219697 (JP, A) JP-A-1-169611 (JP, A) JP-A-62-2328 (JP, A) JP-A-1-278865 (JP, A) JP-A-1-291918 (JP, A) JP-A-2-235074 (JP, A) JP-A-2-302828 (JP, A) JP-A-2-113262 (JP, A) JP-A-63-70268 (JP, A) Kaihei 4-130330 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-540

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fault that has occurred in the apparatus an image forming apparatus capable of self-diagnosis, a plurality of sensors for detecting the state of a plurality of sites predetermined of equipment, corresponding to each sensor Marker storage means in which the landmarks of the qualitative space required for converting the detection values of each sensor into qualitative values are stored as a membership function of fuzzy theory, and a failure symptom in the device has appeared When the malfunction occurs
Conversion means for reading the detection values of the plurality of sensors in the present state, and converting the detection values of each sensor into fuzzy qualitative values using the membership function stored in the landmark storage means ; Qualitative analysis of the parameters that express the failure symptoms
An output unit that outputs a set of values, a fuzzy qualitative value converted by the conversion unit and a set of qualitative values output from the output unit are compared, and a fault that causes a developing failure symptom is specified. Means for selecting a set of qualitative values having a predetermined relationship with a fuzzy qualitative value. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the membership functions stored in the landmark storage unit are stored for each failure symptom. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means defines a qualitative quantity space, and sets a qualitative value,
The fuzzy qualitative value is compared with a positional relationship in a qualitative quantity space, and a set of qualitative values closest to the position of the fuzzy qualitative value is selected. 4. An output unit according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus is qualitatively expressed by a causal relation network of parameters representing properties of the apparatus, and when it is assumed that a failure symptom has occurred in the apparatus, The present invention is characterized in that all possible states of the apparatus are qualitatively simulated using a causal network of the parameters, and the results are output.