JP2003091217A - Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Even if it is determined that it is difficult to perform image forming processing while maintaining a good image forming state in self-diagnosis processing, urgency is required by respecting the operator's intention. Image forming processing to be performed. When a self-diagnosis process determines that good image quality cannot be maintained even if the image forming conditions of the image forming device are adjusted within an allowable range, a process continuation selection screen is displayed on an operation unit. The command is output, and a process continuation selection screen is displayed on the display of the operation unit 15 (s9). Here, when the operator selects the continuation of the image forming process in the inappropriate state (s10), the image forming condition of the image forming device is changed within a predetermined range that does not damage the image forming device, Alternatively, the image forming condition is changed to the default value (s11), and the image forming process is executed after an instruction to start the image forming process by operating the print key (s12, s13).

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 for performing electrophotographic image formation, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a self-diagnosis function and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a surface of a photoconductor is uniformly charged with a predetermined charge by a charger and then image light is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. An image is formed by transferring a toner image obtained by visualizing an electrostatic latent image with toner supplied from a developing device to a transfer material such as paper via a transfer device. The image thus formed is affected by the charging performance of the photoconductor, the performance of the charging device, the state of development by the developing device, the state of toner in the developing device, the state of the transfer device, and the like.

Therefore, in order to obtain a high quality image by the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the image forming devices such as the photoconductor, the charging device, the developing device and the transfer device must be always maintained in proper states. However, the state of these image forming devices changes with time according to the use state of the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, as a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus, there is an image forming apparatus having a self-diagnosis function for monitoring the functional state of each image-forming device which affects the image quality. When it is determined that the image forming device is in an improper state in which the image quality may be degraded, the image forming device or other image forming device is adjusted to compensate for the deterioration of the image quality. It is also proposed that the operation of the image forming apparatus is prohibited.

For example, when the light amount of the exposure lamp is reduced due to deterioration over time, the developing bias in the developing unit and the charging potential applied to the charger are adjusted, and the adjusted developing bias and charging potential are adjusted to the developing unit and the charger. If the specified range that does not cause failure or damage is exceeded, image formation is performed by turning off the power supply or disabling input operations until the cause of deterioration of the image forming state is resolved by maintenance work such as replacement of the exposure lamp. Execution of processing is prohibited.

[0006]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus having the self-diagnosis function, the self-diagnosis results in detection of an improper functional state that may deteriorate the image quality in any of the image forming devices. To compensate for this, when the adjustment function that adjusts the setting value of the image forming condition of the image forming device in an improper function state or other image forming device works, the adjusted setting value is allowed for each image forming device. There is one that unilaterally prohibits the operation of the image forming apparatus or forcibly shuts off the power, judging that it cannot form an image with good image quality even if it is out of the predetermined range even a little. The subsequent image forming work cannot be continued, the image forming work in progress is interrupted for a long time, or the urgent image forming work cannot be executed, which is convenient for the image forming work. And operational efficiency there is a problem to be lowered.

An object of the present invention is to set a case where the setting value of the image forming condition of any image forming apparatus adjusted based on the judgment result of the self-diagnosis function is out of the allowable range and the deterioration of the image forming state cannot be avoided. Under certain conditions, it is possible to perform the image forming work in a state where the image forming condition is deteriorated by the operator's selection, prevent the downtime from becoming impossible for the image forming work to be prolonged, and obtain a good image quality. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing an image forming operation which is more urgent than maintenance and a control method thereof.

[0008]

The present invention has the following structure as means for solving the above problems.

(1) An image forming apparatus that performs electrophotographic image forming processing according to set image forming conditions, an operation unit that displays a message related to the image forming processing, and receives an input operation, and an image forming state. In the image forming apparatus, the control unit detects the functional state of the image forming apparatus that affects the image forming apparatus and performs a self-diagnosis process for determining whether the image forming state is appropriate according to the detected functional state. ,
When the self-diagnosis process determines that the image forming state is not appropriate, the operation unit receives a selection input as to whether or not to execute the subsequent image forming process.

With this configuration, when it is determined that the image forming state is not appropriate in the self-diagnosis process for detecting the functional state of the image forming apparatus that affects the image forming state, the subsequent image forming process is executed. The selection of whether to accept or not is accepted. Therefore, even if the functional state of the image forming apparatus becomes a state in which the proper image forming state cannot be maintained, the image forming process cannot be immediately stopped and the subsequent image forming is performed based on the operator's intention. The process is selectively enabled.

(2) The control means permits execution of a selective image forming process after the self-diagnosis process within a range in which an excessive load is not applied to the image forming device.

With this configuration, after the self-diagnosis process determines that the image forming state is not appropriate, the image forming process is selectively executed within a range that does not apply an excessive load to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, after the self-diagnosis process, the image forming process is not executed in a state where an excessive load is applied to the image forming device, and a failure or damage of the image forming device is caused by the image forming process selectively executed after the self-diagnosis process. Does not occur.

(3) The control means adjusts the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus within a predetermined range so that the image forming state becomes appropriate according to the functional state detected during the self-diagnosis processing, and the self-diagnosis processing is performed. The image forming condition of the image forming apparatus is set so that the image forming state becomes improper in the image forming process selectively executed later.

With this configuration, the image forming state is adjusted in the self-diagnosis process in which the image forming condition of the image forming apparatus is adjusted within a predetermined range so that the image forming state becomes appropriate according to the functional state detected during the self-diagnosis process. After it is determined that the image forming state is not proper, the image forming state is set to be improper and the image forming process is executed. Therefore, after the functional state of the image forming device becomes unable to maintain the proper image forming state,
The image forming process is selectively executed in an improper image forming state based on the operator's intention, and the image forming device does not have an image forming condition out of a predetermined range. Does not occur.

(4) The control unit executes the self-diagnosis process based on the accumulated data of the number of times of image formation or the operating time in the standby state after the power is turned on and after the completion of the image formation process. .

In this structure, at the predetermined timing based on the accumulated data of the number of times of image formation or the operating time, the self-diagnosis process is executed before the new image formation process is executed. Therefore, before execution of the image forming process, suitability of the image forming state in the image forming process is determined, and selection is made as to whether to wait for the execution of the image forming process or to perform the image forming process in an improper state. Is performed at a timing before the start of the image forming process, and the useless image forming process is not executed.

(5) Detecting a functional state that affects the image forming state of an image forming apparatus that performs an electrophotographic image forming process under the set image forming condition, and confirms the image forming state according to the detected functional state. A self-diagnosis process for determining suitability is performed, and when it is determined by the self-diagnosis process that the image forming state is not appropriate, a selection input as to whether or not to execute a subsequent image forming process is accepted.

With this configuration, when it is determined that the image forming state is not appropriate in the self-diagnosis process for detecting the functional state of the image forming apparatus that affects the image forming state, the subsequent image forming process is executed. The selection of whether to accept or not is accepted. Therefore, even if the functional state of the image forming apparatus becomes a state in which the proper image forming state cannot be maintained, the image forming process cannot be immediately stopped and the subsequent image forming is performed based on the operator's intention. The process is selectively enabled.

[0019]

1 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of a digital copying machine which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital copying machine 1 is roughly divided into a scanner section 2 and a printer section 3. The scanner unit 2 is a document table 20 made of transparent glass, a double-sided automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 21 for automatically supplying and conveying a document on the document table 20, and a document table 2.
It is composed of a scanner unit 22 which scans and reads an image of a document placed on the scanner. Read data read from a document by the scanner unit 2 is sent to an image processing unit (not shown) via a control unit described later, and is subjected to predetermined image processing and then supplied to the printer unit 3 as image data. .

The ADF 21 sets a plurality of originals at a time on an original tray (not shown), and automatically feeds the set originals one by one onto the original table 20 above the scanner unit 22. It is a device. ADF21
Is configured of a transport path for a single-sided document, a transport path for a double-sided document, a transport path switching means, and the like so that the scanner unit 22 reads one side or both sides of the document according to the user's selection.

The scanner unit 22 includes a lamp reflector assembly 23, mirrors 25a to 25c, an optical lens body 27, and a photoelectric conversion element (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 24.
Is equipped with. The lamp reflector assembly 23 exposes the image surface of the document. The mirrors 25a to 25c guide the reflected light image from the document to the optical lens body 27. The optical lens body 27 forms a reflected light image from the document on the light receiving surface of the CCD 24. The CCD 24 converts the reflected light image from the document into an electric signal according to the amount of received light.

The lamp reflector assembly 23 and the mirror 25a are mounted on the first scanning unit 26a, and the mirrors 25b and 25c are mounted on the second scanning unit 26b. The scanner unit 22 is
Due to the operation related to the ADF 21, after the document is placed on the document table 20, the scanning unit 26a and the scanning unit 26b are moved along the lower surface of the document table 20 at speeds V and V / 2, respectively, from the left in the drawing. While moving to the right, the image surface of the document is exposed by the light of the lamp reflector assembly 23 during this time, the reflected light on the image surface of the document is imaged on the CCD element 24, and the image of the document is sequentially read line by line.

The printer section 3 of the digital copying machine 1 includes an electrophotographic process section 30 and a sheet conveying mechanism 31. The electrophotographic process unit 30 is configured by disposing a charger 30b, a developing unit 30d, a transfer unit 30e, a cleaner 30f, and the like around a photosensitive drum 30a that is rotatably supported. L
It is called SU. ) 30c is included. These photoconductor drums 3
0a, LSU 30c, charger 30b, developing unit 30
d, the transfer device 30e, and the like are included in the image forming apparatus of the present invention together with the lamp reflector assembly 23 of the scanner unit 22.

The LSU 30c is equipped with a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam according to image data, a polygon mirror that deflects the laser beam at a constant angular velocity, an f-θ lens that corrects the laser beam that is deflected at a constant angular velocity, and the like. Photoreceptor 30 to which a single-polarity charge is uniformly applied by the container 30b
The surface of 0a is exposed and scanned with laser light at a constant speed in the main scanning direction. The developing unit 30c visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 30a as a toner image by exposure scanning with laser light. Transfer device 30e
Transfers the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30a onto the paper. The cleaner 30f is the photosensitive drum 3
The residual toner and the like is removed from the surface of 0a.

The paper transport mechanism 31 includes a registration roller 3
3, paper feed cassettes 34a and 34b, an intermediate tray 38, a manual feed tray 35, a fixing unit 36, a switching claw 39, a paper discharge roller 37, and the like, and a conveyance formed while passing through them together with the electrophotographic process unit 30. Roads 31a-3
It is equipped with 1d. The paper feed cassettes 34a and 34b each store a plurality of sheets of a predetermined size. On the manual feed tray 35, sheets of different size and thickness from the sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassettes 34a and 34b are placed. The intermediate tray 38 temporarily stores the sheet of which the front and back surfaces are reversed via a switchback transport path 31d, which will be described later, when forming images on both sides of the sheet.

The sheets fed from the sheet feeding cassettes 34a and 34b, the manual feed tray 35 and the intermediate tray 38 pass through the sheet feeding / conveying paths 31a and 31e, and the registration roller 33.
Is rotated and is guided into the electrophotographic process section 30 at a timing synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 30a. The main transport path 31b is provided between the photoconductor drum 30a and the transfer device 30e in the electrophotographic process section 30 from the fixing unit 36.
Also, it is formed between the switching claw 39 and the discharge roller 37. The fixing unit 36 heats and presses the paper on which the toner image is transferred in the electrophotographic process unit 30 to firmly fix the toner image on the paper.

The fixing unit 36 is provided in the main transport path 30b.
The sub-conveyance path 31c is in communication between the paper ejection roller 34 and the paper ejection roller 34, and the switching claw 39 selectively guides the paper having passed through the fixing unit 36 to the paper ejection roller 34 or the sub-conveyance path 31c.
In this digital copying machine 1, a post-processing device 4 for performing stapling processing and perforating processing on the paper after the image forming processing is mounted on the side surface on the paper discharging side, and the paper discharging roller 34 uses the paper after the image forming processing. To the post-processing device 4. When the switchback transport path 31d is guided to the electrophotographic process section 30 again by inverting the front and rear ends in the transport direction of the sheet guided to the sub-transport path after finishing the front surface image forming process during double-sided image formation. First, the front and back surfaces are reversed so that the surface on the side opposite to that at the time of the front surface image forming processing faces the photosensitive drum 30a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control section of the digital copying machine. The digital copying machine 1 is
The control unit 11 which is the control means of the present invention for controlling the whole
The control unit 11 sends operation commands such as a self-diagnosis command and an adjustment command to the operation unit 14 including a plurality of image forming devices, and the operation unit 14 loads the self-diagnosis result and the operation result into the control unit 11. . Further, the number of times of image formation and the operating time as the count value of each image forming device included in the operation unit 14 are counted by, for example, a total counter or the like, and sent to the control unit 11 as total operation information.

The control unit 11 includes an execution control unit 12 and a main body control unit 13. The execution control unit 12 includes a numerical value storage unit 12a that stores preset values for the number of image formations and operating times that are preset as execution conditions for automatic adjustment or self-diagnosis, and compares the count value and the set value with each other. Comparison calculation unit 12b that outputs the comparison result to the main body control unit 13 when they match
Is equipped with. The main body control unit 13 outputs a diagnosis / adjustment signal to the operation unit 14 based on the comparison result from the comparison operation unit 12b, and causes the operation unit 14 to execute the self-diagnosis function or the automatic adjustment function.

Further, the main body control section 13 receives an input of the diagnosis result of the automatic adjustment function or the self-diagnosis function of the operation section 14,
The comparison with the adjustment value stored in the numerical value storage unit 12a is performed, and the display data based on the diagnosis result is created and supplied to the operation unit 15.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a diagnostic mode setting process relating to the self-diagnosis function in a general image forming apparatus including the digital copying machine. When the self-diagnosis mode execution switch (CHK-SW) of the operation unit 15 is turned on from the standby state after the power is turned on (s21), each unit enters the self-diagnosis standby state, and the operation unit 15 displays “RE”.
The “ADY” lamp lights up, and all keys of the numeric keypad, the print key, and the clear / stop key are ready to accept the input operation by the user. In this state,
The selection of the diagnostic mode to be executed among the plurality of diagnostic modes is accepted by operating the ten keys (s22), and the standby state is returned by operating the clear / stop key (s23).
→ s21). When the self-diagnosis mode execution switch is turned off in the standby state, the normal operation state is restored (s24).

If a predetermined diagnostic mode number (for example, a code number of a plurality of digits) is designated by operating the ten-key pad and the print key is operated without operating the clear / stop key (s22 → s23 → s2
5) Self-diagnosis is performed in the designated diagnosis mode (s26). Here, when a number other than the predetermined diagnostic mode is input and the print key is operated, the numerical display remains as it is and the process returns to the standby state. In this case, after operating the clear / stop key, the proper diagnosis mode number can be input again.

After running a properly selected diagnostic mode,
When the clear / stop key is operated (s27), the running diagnostic mode is released and the system returns to the standby state (s27 → s
28 → s21). If the clear / stop key is not operated, execute a diagnostic mode that includes output port check (for example, operation check of various transformers, operation check of various clutches or solenoids, or confirmation of motor rotation status) If a predetermined time (for example, about 15 seconds) has elapsed, the numerical display of the diagnostic mode number is cleared, a new diagnostic mode is designated by operating the numeric keypad, and a diagnostic is performed by operating the print key. A standby state in which an instruction to execute the mode can be given (s29 → s2
1). On the other hand, when the diagnostic mode that includes the input port check (for example, the operation confirmation of various sensors and switches) is being executed, the diagnostic mode is cleared and the standby state is maintained even if the predetermined time has elapsed. No return to
Only by operating the clear / stop key, the diagnostic mode is cleared and the standby state is restored.

With the above configuration, in the digital copying machine 1, when the count value such as the number of formed images or the operating time coincides with the set value, the self-diagnosis function in the preset diagnostic mode causes the functional state of each image forming device. Image forming conditions of each image forming device of the operation unit 14 for obtaining a good copy (for example, the charger 30b and the developing unit 30).
The applied voltage to d) is changed. At this time, if the image forming condition of any one of the image forming devices is out of the allowable range, the image forming device is broken or the image quality is deteriorated. For example, when the image density is low and the applied voltage to the charger 30b or the developing bias voltage of the developing unit 30d is excessively increased beyond the allowable range, the image quality is deteriorated due to excessive charging and carrier adhesion.

Therefore, in the self-diagnosis function of the conventional image forming apparatus including the digital copying machine, when the image forming condition of any of the image forming apparatuses is out of the allowable range, the main power source of the image forming apparatus is cut off. The overall control of the image forming process is performed and the control is performed to allow only the specific image forming process under the default image forming condition. However, these control contents do not always reflect the image forming work state desired by the operator, and the operator may want to complete the image forming work immediately even if the image quality deteriorates to some extent. .

Therefore, in the digital copying machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, regarding the control of the apparatus after the adjustment of the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus based on the self-diagnosis result, all the control contents are processed by the control unit 10. Instead of entrusting the decision, the decision is made in part by respecting the operator's intention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure at the time of self-diagnosis processing in the digital copying machine.
When the digital copying machine 1 is powered on, the control unit 11
After performing a predetermined initialization (s1), a ready state for waiting for an instruction to start the image forming process by operating the print key on the operation panel is set (s2), and the image forming process is executed when the print key is operated. Do (s
3). The control unit 11 increments the count value of the number of image formations or the operating time stored in the operation unit 14 every time the image forming process is executed (s4), and accumulates images after the factory shipment of the digital copying machine 1. It is judged whether or not it is time to check the functional state of the image forming device by comparing the count value such as the number of formed sheets or the operating time with a predetermined set value (s5).

When the count value has not reached the set value, the control section 11 detects the original placed on the original table 20 or
ADF21 Until the image forming process for the set number of sheets is completed for each of the set single or multiple originals, s
When the processes of 3 to s5 are repeatedly executed (s6 → s3) and the image forming process for the set number of sheets for each document is completed,
Return to the ready state.

When the count value coincides with the set value in s5, the control section 11 determines that it is time to execute the check of the image forming device, and the predetermined self-timer held in the storage section (not shown). The diagnostic program is started (s7), and the functional status of the image forming device is checked. This self-diagnosis program may be executed alone or in parallel with a program relating to a normal image forming operation.

When the self-diagnosis processing is completed, the control unit 11 judges whether the result of the self-diagnosis processing is appropriate (s8), and the image forming state (image quality) cannot be maintained good in any of the image forming devices. When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the functional state, the set value of the image forming condition for the image forming apparatus or another image forming apparatus is adjusted within a predetermined range. This predetermined range is set in advance on condition that an excessive load is not applied to each image forming device, and is, for example, the maximum value of the applied voltage that does not cause failure or damage in the charger 30b or the developing unit 30d. is there.

In the self-diagnosis process, the control unit 11 determines that the image quality cannot be maintained even if the image forming condition of the image forming device is adjusted within the allowable range, and the operation unit 15 is executed.
A processing continuation selection screen display command is output to, and the processing continuation selection screen is displayed on a display such as a liquid crystal panel provided in the operation unit 15 (s9). This processing continuation selection screen displays, for example, “This machine is not in the proper state at the moment, but it is possible to continue copying as requested when the copy density is low. To continue copying, click“ Yes ”. "Please press. It is a screen that includes the operation keys of "Yes" and "No" together with the wording such as "," and prompts the operator to select whether or not to continue the image forming process in the improper state. It should be noted that the inappropriate state of the digital copying machine 1 is resolved by a predetermined maintenance work.

Here, when the operator operates the "Yes" operation key and selects the continuation of the image forming process in the improper state (s10), the control section 11 damages the image forming apparatus. The image forming condition of the image forming device is changed within a predetermined range that does not exist, or the image forming condition is changed to the default value (s11), and the image forming process is waited for by the instruction to start the image forming process by the operation of the print key. Continue processing (s12,
s13).

Until the print key is operated, it is possible to cancel the selection of continuing the image forming process in the improper state (s12 → s10).

At s10, the operator answers "No".
If a predetermined time has elapsed without operating the operation key of No. 1 or the operator did not operate the operation key of "Yes", and continuation of the image forming process in the improper state was not selected, the control unit 11 Stops the image forming process, and the operation unit 15
A process restart selection screen display command is output to, and the process restart selection screen is displayed on the display provided in the operation unit 15 (s14). This processing restart selection screen displays, for example, “This machine is not in the optimum state at the moment, so it is stopped by request. When restarting copying,
Click "Yes" to copy. This is a screen that includes an operation key of "Yes" together with a wording such as "and the like, and prompts an operator who intends to execute a new image forming process to select whether or not to execute the image forming process in an improper state.

Even when the image forming process continuously executed in s13 is completed, the control section 11 displays the process restart selection screen (s13 → s14).

While the processing restart selection screen is displayed, the control unit 11 waits for the operator to operate the "Yes" operation key and to perform maintenance work (s1.
5, s16), if the operator who intends to execute the new image forming process operates the operation key of "Yes" and selects restart of the image forming process in the improper state, the control unit 1
1 changes the image forming condition of the image forming device within a predetermined range that does not damage the image forming device, or changes the image forming condition to a default value (s15 → s17), and The image forming process is executed after waiting for the instruction to start the image forming process by the operation (s18, s19).

When a predetermined time elapses without operating the print key, the control unit 11 returns to the process restart selection screen display state. As a result, the operator can cancel the selection of restarting the image forming process in the improper state by not operating the print key.

As a result of the self-diagnosis processing,
When it is determined that good image quality cannot be maintained even if the image forming conditions of the image forming device are adjusted within the allowable range,
An operator who accepts the operator's selection as to whether or not to continue or restart the image forming process in an improper state, and who wants to complete the image forming process early even if the image quality deteriorates to some extent, and The state of the apparatus can be controlled by reflecting both intentions of the operator who desires the image forming process.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the image forming processing from being disabled by the judgment of only the control section 11 of the digital copying machine 1 which performs the self-diagnosis processing, and the operator can feel a sense of alienation and convenience to the digital copying machine 1. It is possible to prevent the lack of feeling and to improve the operating efficiency by effectively using the digital copying machine 1.

When continuation or resumption of the image forming process in the improper state is selected in s9 or s14,
Whether to continue the next image forming process while confirming the deterioration state of the image quality by requiring the operation of the print key for each image forming process even when the image forming process of a plurality of originals or a plurality of copies is performed. You may make it selectable. As a result, an operator who cannot recognize in advance the degree of image quality deterioration in the continued or restarted image forming process may perform a large number of image forming processes at a time with an image quality significantly lower than the desired image quality. It is possible to prevent waste of resources such as paper sheets to the minimum.

Further, the original placing table 2 in the scanner section 2
Although 0 and stains on the mirrors 25a to 25c affect the image forming state, they cannot be detected by the self-diagnosis processing of the digital copying machine 1. It is conceivable that the operator who has executed the image forming process in such a situation causes the display unit to display the deteriorated state of the image forming state by operating the operation unit 15 so that the operator who intends to execute the image forming process later recognizes it. In this case, the image forming process in the improper state may be selectively executed as in the case where it is determined that the image forming state is deteriorated in the self-diagnosis process.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the digital copying machine is described as an example, but the present invention is also similarly implemented in another image forming apparatus such as a laser printer which performs electrophotographic image forming. be able to.

[0053]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Whether or not to execute the subsequent image forming process when it is judged that the image forming state is not proper in the self-diagnosis process for detecting the functional state of the image forming device affecting the image forming state By accepting selection input,
Even when the functional state of the image forming device becomes a state in which the proper image forming state cannot be maintained, it is possible to prevent the image forming process from not being stopped immediately.
It is possible to selectively execute the subsequent image forming process based on the operator's intention.

As a result, when the set value of the image forming condition of any of the image forming apparatuses adjusted based on the judgment result of the self-diagnosis function is out of the allowable range and the deterioration of the image forming state cannot be avoided, the image forming is performed. An image that requires a more urgent than maintenance of high image quality by enabling the image forming work in a deteriorated state to be executed by the operator's selection, preventing a long downtime that makes the image forming work impossible. The forming work can be performed early, and the operation efficiency of the device can be improved.

(2) After the self-diagnosis process determines that the image forming state is not appropriate, the image forming process is selectively executed within a range that does not give an excessive load to the image forming apparatus, so that the self-diagnosis process is performed. It is possible to prevent the image forming process from being executed when an excessive load is applied to the image forming device, and prevent the image forming device from being damaged or damaged by the image forming process that is selectively executed after the self-diagnosis process. can do.

(3) After judging that the image forming state is not proper in the self-diagnosis process of adjusting the image forming condition of the image forming apparatus within a predetermined range so that the image forming state becomes proper according to the detected functional state. After performing the image forming process with the image forming state made improper, after the functional state of the image forming device becomes a state in which the proper image forming state cannot be maintained, based on the operator's intention, The image forming process can be selectively executed in an improper image forming state so that the image forming device is not set with an image forming condition outside the predetermined range, and the image forming device is not overloaded. It is possible to prevent the failure or damage of the image forming device in advance.

(4) When the predetermined timing based on the accumulated data of the number of times of image formation or the operating time is reached, the self-diagnosis process is executed before the new image formation process is executed. Whether or not the image forming state in the image forming process is appropriate can be determined, and it is possible to select whether to wait for the execution of the image forming process or to perform the image forming process in an improper state before starting the image forming process. It is possible to prevent unnecessary image forming processing from being executed by performing the above-described timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal structure of a digital copying machine which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a diagnostic mode setting process relating to a self-diagnosis function in a general image forming apparatus including the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of self-diagnosis processing in the digital copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-Digital copier (image forming device) 2-scanner section 3-Printer section 11-Control unit (control means) 14-Operating part 15-Operation part 22-scanner unit 30-Electrophotographic process section 30a-photosensitive drum (imaging device) 30b-Charger (imaging device) 30c-LSU (imaging equipment) 30d-Developing unit (imaging device) 30e-Transfer device (imaging device)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/00 106 H04N 1/00 106C (72) Inventor Hideyuki Nishimura 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. Within Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Murata 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture F-term within Sharp Corporation (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 HV01 HV50 2H027 DA36 DA39 DA45 EC18 EC19 EF06 EG04 EH08 EK04 EK11 FA10 FA30 FB06 HA06 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB23 AB41 AB49 AC55 BA00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming device for performing an electrophotographic image forming process according to a set image forming condition, an operation unit for displaying a message related to the image forming process and receiving an input operation, and an image forming state. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs a self-diagnosis process that detects the functional state of the image forming apparatus that affects the image forming apparatus and determines whether the image forming state is appropriate according to the detected functional state; and An image forming apparatus, characterized in that, when the self-diagnosis process determines that the image forming state is not appropriate, the operation unit receives a selection input as to whether or not to execute the subsequent image forming process. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control means permits execution of a selective image forming process after the self-diagnosis process within a range in which an excessive load is not applied to the image forming device. Forming equipment. 3. The control means adjusts an image forming condition of an image forming apparatus within a predetermined range so that an image forming state becomes appropriate according to a functional state detected during the self-diagnosis processing, and after the self-diagnosis processing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming condition of the image forming apparatus is set such that the image forming state becomes improper in the image forming process that is selectively executed. 4. The control unit executes a self-diagnosis process based on accumulated data of the number of times of image formation or operating time in a standby state after power-on and after completion of the image formation process. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. A functional state affecting an image forming state of an image forming apparatus that performs an electrophotographic image forming process according to the set image forming condition is detected, and whether the image forming state is appropriate according to the detected functional state. A self-diagnosis process is performed to determine whether the image forming state is not appropriate by the self-diagnosis process, and the selection input of whether to execute the subsequent image forming process is accepted. Control method.