Abstract:
An abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus for an image formation device, which includes: a specification section that specifies an independently operable drive section; an operation section that selectively operates the drive section specified by the specification section; a receiving section that receives an abnormal sound confirmation input which is inputted in a case where an abnormal sound occurs by operating the drive section through the operation section; and an identifying section that, on the basis of the abnormal sound confirmation input received by the receiving section, identifies the drive section specified by the specification section as an abnormal sound occurring location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-267851 filed on Oct. 15, 2007. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus, an abnormal sound diagnostic method, a recording medium storing an abnormal sound diagnostic program and a data signal. 
     2. Related Art 
     With apparatuses including a drive mechanism, such as a motor, there may occur an abnormal sound due to such cause as degradation of a part in the drive mechanism. 
     For example, an image formation device, such as a multifunctional device, includes a laser unit that emits laser light corresponding to the image to form an image on a paper sheet for outputting; a photosensitive drum that is exposed to the laser light to form a latent image; a developing apparatus that supplies toner onto the photosensitive drum to form a toner image; a paper pick-up section that supplies a paper sheet; a transfer section that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum onto the paper sheet transported from the paper pick-up section; a fixing section that fixes the toner image transferred on the paper sheet, and the like. These parts and apparatuses are rotated by the driving apparatuses and the power transmission mechanisms, such as the motor, making operations, such as transportation of the paper sheet, transfer and fixing of toner image, and the like, while being contacted with one another. 
     With the image formation device thus configured, an abnormal sound may occur due to excessive contact, occurrence of a rotational vibration or the like, resulting from wear or degradation of parts or the like The occurrence of the abnormal sound is an indication that the apparatus has something wrong, and gives an uncomfortable feeling to persons around the apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present invention provides an abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus for an image formation device, which includes: a specification section that specifies an independently operable drive section; an operation section that selectively operates the drive section specified by the specification section; a receiving section that receives an abnormal sound confirmation input which is inputted in a case where an abnormal sound occurs by operating the drive section through the operation section; and an identifying section that, on the basis of the abnormal sound confirmation input received by the receiving section, identifies the drive section specified by the specification section as an abnormal sound occurring location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of critical portions of an image formation device  1  pertaining to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of an image formation section  5 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating one example of a functional configuration of a diagnostic program  7 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a chart schematically illustrating one example of diagnosis procedure information; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the details of an abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for a feeding path); and 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for an image generation section). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinbelow, one exemplary embodiment of an abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus, an abnormal sound diagnostic method, a recording medium storing an abnormal sound diagnostic program and a data signal pertaining to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one example of schematic configuration of the critical portions of the abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus for image formation device pertaining to the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image formation device  10  is connected to a host computer  11  through a network  13 , such as an LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, and is configured such that it receives printing data that the host computer  11  requests the image formation device  10  to print, and, in accordance with the printing conditions under which printing the printing data is requested, forms that printing data on a paper sheet included in the image formation device  10  for output. 
     It should be noted that it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the image formation device  10  is directly connected to the host computer  11  without the network  13 . 
     The host computer  11  is a general-purpose computer that includes an input apparatus (including a keyboard, mouse or the like), an output apparatus (including a display or the like), a central processing apparatus (such as a CPU), a storage (including an ROM, an RAM, a hard disk, an external storage or the like), and the like. 
     The image formation device  10  includes a controller  1 , a communication interface section (hereafter, to be called a “communication I/F section”)  2 , an image processing section  3 , a user interface section (hereafter, to be called a “user I/F section”)  4 , an image formation section  5 , a storage  6 , and the controller  1  is a CPU which controls the respective sections constituting the image formation device  10  for supervisingly control the entire image formation device  10 . 
     The communication I/F section  2  carries out communication control for transmitting and receiving a control signal and a data signal through the network  12  under the control of the controller  1 . 
     The image processing section  3  analyzes the printing data that the host computer  11  or the like requests printing of and is stored in an image memory (not shown) of the storage  6 , under the control of the controller  1 , and generates image data that is formable on a paper sheet. 
     The user I/F section  4  is provided with an operation button or a display including a touch panel or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and carries out, under the control of the controller  1 , interface control between the user and the image formation device  10 , such control as inputting instruction information to the image formation device  10  through the operation of the user and displaying status information about the image formation device  10  and various other types of information from the image formation device  10  to the user. 
     The image formation section  5  includes various motors and sensors, an exposure apparatus including a laser light emitting apparatus, a photosensitive medium, a developing apparatus, a paper transportation mechanism and other various components and apparatuses required for printing operation that forms and outputs the image data on the paper sheet. The image formation section  5  carries out operation control of these various apparatuses under the control of the controller  1 . 
     The configuration of the image formation section  5  will be later described in detail (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The storage  6  is made up of a storage, including an ROM (Read Only Memory), an RAM (Random Access Memory) or a hard disk, and carries out, under the control of the controller  1 , control of writing data into each of these memory devices, reading-out data from each of these and the like. 
     In addition, in the storage  6 , a later described diagnostic program  7  (see  FIG. 3 ) for carrying out trouble diagnosis and so on for the image formation device  10  is previously installed. With this diagnostic program  7  being executed, the controller  1  of the image formation device  10  carries out control operation, functioning as the abnormal sound diagnostic apparatus pertaining to the present invention, and starts an abnormal sound diagnosis for identifying the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound in the image formation device  10 . 
     A CPU is an acronym of Central Processing Unit; the ROM is that of Read Only Memory; and the RAM is that of Random Access Memory. 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing illustrating one example of a detailed configuration of the image formation section  5 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the present exemplary embodiment gives an example of a configuration of the image formation section  5  for full color printing, employing an intermediate transfer unit, such as an intermediate transfer belt. However, the configuration is not limited to this. It may be possible to employ a configuration, for example, in which an image is directly transferred from one image carrier to a paper sheet without using an intermediate transfer unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the upper portion of the image formation device  10 , an open/close cover  16  that is freely rotatable around a pivot  14  is provided. In the lower portion, a paper supply unit  18  is disposed. 
     The paper supply unit  18  has a paper supply unit main body  20  and a paper supply cassette  22  for containing papers. 
     In a portion near above the rear end of the paper supply cassette  22 , a feed roller  24  for picking up papers from the paper supply cassette  22 , and a retard roller  26  for jogging the picked-up paper sheets one by one are disposed. 
     The feeding path  28  provides a paper passageway from the feed roller  24  to the delivery opening  30 . This feeding path  28  is formed substantially vertically from the paper supply unit  18  to the fusing device  90 . 
     On the upstream side of the fusing device  90  in this feeding path  28 , a secondary transfer roller  80  and a secondary transfer backup roller  72  are disposed; on the upstream side of the secondary transfer roller  80  and the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , a resist roller  32  is disposed; and in the vicinity of the delivery opening  30  in the feeding path  28 , a delivery roller  34  is disposed. 
     Therefore, paper sheets picked up from the paper supply cassette  22  in the paper supply unit  18  by the feed roller  24  are delivered by the retard roller  26 . Only the top paper sheet is guided to the feeding path  28 , being once stopped by the resist roller  32 . After a certain period of time, the paper sheets are passed between the secondary transfer roller  80  and the secondary transfer backup roller  72  to have developer images transferred. Then, these transferred developer images are fixed by the fusing device  90 . The paper sheets are delivered from the delivery opening  30  to the delivery section  36  provided above the open/close cover  16  by the delivery roller  34 . 
     The mechanism that thus transports a paper sheet along the feeding path  28  is referred to as the paper feed section for convenience of explanation. This paper feed section includes a drive section constituted by the feed roller  24 , the retard roller  26 , the preresist roller  35 , the resist roller  32 , the delivery roller  34  and the like. 
     in a substantially central portion of the image formation device  10 , a rotary development device  38  is disposed. This rotary development device  38  has development devices  44   a  to  44   d  that form developer images of four colors, i.e., yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively, inside a developing apparatus main body  40 . The rotary development device  38  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction around the rotary development device center  44  in  FIG. 2 . 
     The development devices  44   a  to  44   d  have respective developing rollers  46   a  to  46   d , and are pressed against the developing apparatus main body  40  in the direction normal thereto by elastic bodies  48   a  to  48   d , such as a coil spring or the like. 
     The rotary development device  38  is disposed such that an image carrier  50  made up of, for example, a photosensitive medium is butted thereagainst. A part of the periphery of the respective developing rollers  46   a  to  46   d  is projected in the radial direction from the periphery of the developing apparatus main body  40  by, for example, 2 mm when it is not butted against the image carrier  50 . 
     In addition, at both ends of the respective developing rollers  46   a  to  46   d , tracking rollers (not shown) having a diameter slightly larger than the developing roller  46   a  to  46   d  are provided such that they are rotated coaxially with the developing roller  46   a  to  46   d . In other words, the tracking rollers for the developing roller  46   a  to  46   d  are butted against flanges (not shown) provided at both ends of the image carrier  50 , resulting in a prescribed clearance being formed between the developing roller  46   a  to  46   d  and the image carrier  50 , and the latent image on the image carrier  50  is developed by the developer of the respective colors. 
     Under the image carrier  50 , a charging unit  52  made up of a charging roller that uniformly charges the image carrier  50  is provided, and a cleaner  54  for the image carrier is butted against the image carrier  50  on the upstream side of the charging unit  52  in the direction of rotation of the image carrier  50 . 
     The cleaner  54  for the image carrier is formed with a cleaning blade  56  that scrapes the developer being left on the image carrier  50  after the primary transfer, and a developer recovery bottle  58  that collects the developer scraped by the cleaning blade  56 . 
     The back side surface of the developer recovery bottle  58  (at right in  FIG. 2 ) is formed to have, for example, a rib which, as a part of the feeding path  28 , is curved such that the paper is smoothly transported. Under the rotary development device  38 , an exposure apparatus  60  that uses a beam of laser light or the like to write in a latent image on the image carrier  50  that is charged by the charging unit  52  is disposed. 
     In addition, above the rotary development device  38 , an intermediate transfer apparatus  62  to which a developer image visualized by the rotary development device  38  is primary-transferred in the primary transfer position, and which transports it to the secondary transfer position is provided. 
     The intermediate transfer apparatus  62  is formed with an intermediate transfer unit  64 , such as an intermediate transfer belt or the like, a primary transfer roller  66 , a wrapping-in roller  68 , a wrapping-out roller  70 , a secondary transfer backup roller  72 , a scraper backup roller  74  and a brush backup roller  76 . 
     The intermediate transfer unit  64  has, for example, elasticity, and is stretched above the rotary development device  38  substantially flat such that it has a longer side and a shorter side. 
     In addition, the upper longer side of the intermediate transfer unit  64  is stretched such that it is substantially parallel with the delivery section  36  provided in the upper portion of the image formation device  10 . 
     In addition, the intermediate transfer unit  64  has a primary transfer section (or an image carrier wrapping area) which is butted against the image carrier  50  like a wrap between the wrapping-in roller  68  disposed upstream of the primary transfer roller  66  on the lower longer side of the intermediate transfer unit  64 , and the wrapping-out roller  70  disposed downstream of the primary transfer roller  66 , and is wrapped around the image carrier  50  only over a prescribed range to be moved as the image carrier  50  is rotated. 
     Thus, to the intermediate transfer unit  64 , the developer images on the image carrier  50  are primary-transferred in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, for example, being put one upon another, by the primary transfer roller  66 . The intermediate transfer unit  64  transports these primary-transferred developer images to the secondary transfer roller  80 . 
     The wrapping-in roller  68  and the wrapping-out roller  70  are spaced from the image carrier  50 . In addition, on the back side (or the right side in  FIG. 2 ) of the intermediate transfer unit  64 , a flat portion (or a shorter side) is formed by the wrapping-out roller  70  and the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , and this flat portion is faced to the feeding path  28 , being provided as the secondary transfer section. In addition, the wrapping-out roller  70  is disposed such that, in the secondary transfer section, an angle of, for example, 12 degrees is formed between the intermediate transfer unit  64  and the feeding path  28 . 
     The scraper backup roller  74  aids a scraper  84  in scraping the developer being left on the intermediate transfer unit  64  after the secondary transfer, while a brush backup roller  76  aids a brush roller  86  in scraping the developer being left on the intermediate transfer unit  64  after the secondary transfer. 
     Above the upper longer side of the intermediate transfer unit  64 , a sensor  78 , such as a reflection-type photosensor or the like, is provided, being fixed to the back face (or the inside) of the open/close cover  14 . The sensor  78  reads out a patch of the developer that is formed on the intermediate transfer unit  64  to detect the position of the intermediate transfer unit  64  in the direction of rotation thereof, and also detect the density of the developer. 
     To the secondary transfer backup roller  72  of the intermediate transfer apparatus  62 , the secondary transfer roller  80  is faced, with the feeding path  28  being sandwiched therebetween. In other words, the location between the secondary transfer roller  80  and the secondary transfer backup roller  72  provides the secondary transfer position in the secondary transfer section. The secondary transfer roller  80  secondary-transfers to the paper sheet the developer images that are primary-transferred to the intermediate transfer unit  64 , in the secondary transfer position with the aid of the secondary transfer backup roller  72 . The secondary transfer roller  80  is kept separated from the intermediate transfer unit  64  while the intermediate transfer unit  64  is rotated three turns, in other words, the developer images of three colors, i.e., yellow, magenta, and cyan are transported. When the black developer image is transferred, the secondary transfer roller  80  is butted against the intermediate transfer unit  64 . 
     At the opposite end of the image carrier side of the intermediate transfer unit  64 , a cleaner  82  for the intermediate transfer unit is provided. This cleaner  82  for the intermediate transfer unit has, for example, a scraper  84  that scrapes, for cleaning, the developer being left on the intermediate transfer unit  64  after the secondary transfer, a brush roller  86  that further scrapes the developer being, left after the cleaning by the scraper  84 , and a developer recovery bottle  88  that collects the developer scraped by the scraper  84  and the brush roller  86 , and is adapted such that it is rocked around a rocking shaft  89 . In other words, while the intermediate transfer unit  64  is transporting the developer image, the scraper  84  and the brush roller  86  are separated from the intermediate transfer unit  64 . At a prescribed timing, these are butted against the intermediate transfer unit  64  as if they were an integral part. 
     In addition, to the brush roller  86 , a voltage application section  100  is connected. The voltage application section  100  has a power supply, a selector switch and an adjusting resistor. 
     The power supply applies a bias voltage (or a V2 voltage) of, for example, approximately 3000 V to the brush roller  86  with the selector switch being turned on. 
     The selector switch is, for example, turned on before the scraper  84  and the brush roller  86  are butted against the intermediate transfer unit  64 , and turned off after the scraper  84  and the brush roller  86  are spaced from the intermediate transfer unit  64 . 
     When the selector switch is turned off, the brush roller  86  is connected to the ground (GND) through the adjusting resistor. 
     The adjusting resistor connects between the brush roller  86  and the ground with the selector switch being turned off, and adjusts the change in voltage of the brush roller  86 . 
     Above the secondary transfer position, the fusing device  90  is disposed. 
     The fusing device  90 , which has a heating roller  92  and a pressing roller  94 , fixes the developer images that are secondary-transferred to the paper sheet by the secondary transfer roller  80  and the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , to the paper sheet, and transports it towards the delivery roller  34 . 
     The image formation unit  96  integrates the intermediate transfer apparatus  62 , the image carrier  50 , the charging unit  52 , the cleaner  54  for the image carrier, and the cleaner  82  for the intermediate transfer unit. 
     This image formation unit  96  is disposed close to and under the delivery section  36  of the open/close cover  16  so as to be freely removable with respect to the main body of the image formation device  10 , and thus can be removed by opening the open/close cover  16 . 
     The image formation device  10  thus configured is capable of not only carrying out an ordinary printing operation that receives printing data sent to the image formation device  10  with a printing instruction, and forms that printing data on the paper in accordance with the printing conditions for outputting, but also carrying out trouble diagnosis operations for trouble diagnosis of the image formation device  10 . One of the trouble diagnosis operations is the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention. 
     This abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention is specifically an operation of identifying the cause for the abnormal sound occurring in the image formation device  10  by sequentially implementing each operation step in the operation sequence of the image formation device  10 . Such operation is implemented with the diagnostic program  7  installed in the storage  6  being executed. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating one example of a functional configuration of the diagnostic program  7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the diagnostic program  7  is formed with a controller (program)  701 , a diagnosis procedure acquisition section  702 , a diagnosis implementation section  703 , a diagnosis determination section  704 , a result-of-diagnosis output section  705  and a diagnosis procedure registration section  706 . 
     The controller (program)  701  provides the main program of the diagnostic program  7 , and it supervisingly controls the processing operation of the respective sections constituting the diagnostic program  7 . 
     The diagnosis procedure acquisition section  702  acquires from the storage  6  the diagnosis procedure information that indicates the diagnosis procedure for identifying the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound in the image formation device  10 . 
     This diagnosis procedure information provides information for classifying each operational sequence of generation of a latent image for image data, image development, paper transportation, transfer on paper sheet, fixing, delivery and the like, in the printing processing in the image formation device  10  into each operation step, and for associating the operational order with the respective operation steps as a result of the classification. 
       FIG. 4  is a chart schematically illustrating one example of diagnosis procedure information. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a diagnosis procedure information  710  provides information for associating each operation step (or each diagnosis item) for identifying the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound with the contents of operation therefor and the operation order therefor. By sequentially implementing the operations of the respective operation steps in accordance with the operation order as specified in this diagnosis procedure information  710 , and determining whether the abnormal sound occurs during the operation, the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound in the image formation device  10  can be identified. 
     For example, among the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operations, the first implemented operation is the diagnosis operation of the diagnosis item for the rotary development device that is provided with an operation order of 01 in the diagnosis procedure information  710 . Specifically, this diagnosis operation involves driving the motor for the rotary development device to rotate the developing apparatus main body  40  having the developing apparatuses  44   a  to  44   d  for forming developer images of four colors (or yellow, magenta, cyan, and black), respectively, counterclockwise around the rotary development device center  44 . In this condition, the user is requested to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs. Then, on the basis of the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs that is inputted by the user, the result of the diagnosis about the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is outputted before the driven motor for the rotary development device is stopped. 
     The operation orders for the respective operation steps as given in the diagnosis procedure information  710  are established such that the abnormal sound can be readily identified; for example, the operation steps that involve rotating the drive motor are initially specified, and then the operation steps that involve engaging the clutch to rotate the roller and the like are specified. 
     Additionally, if damage is expected to a related member by running the photosensitive drum or the like without preparation, an operation step before the operation to be checked may be incorporated in the operation sequence, and a bias is applied to adhere the toner prior to rotating the drum such that the cleaning blade is prevented from having a turn-over. 
     In the example diagnosis procedure information  710 , the diagnoses are implemented in the order of the diagnosis of the rotary development device, the diagnosis of the fusing device, the diagnosis of the paper feed section, the diagnosis of the image generation section and the comprehensive diagnosis of the image formation section on the basis of the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs through operating the motor, clutch or like the in the apparatus, mechanism or the like, which corresponds to each of the diagnosis items. 
     For the purpose of convenience, an image generation section refers to a portion which is made up of the apparatuses, mechanisms, rollers and the like, for carrying out the latent image formation, the image development and the transfer of image data, such as the image carrier  50 , the rotary development device  38 , the secondary transfer roller  80 , the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , the brush roller  86  and the like. 
     Additionally, in a case where the occurrence of the abnormal sound is found during the diagnosis of the paper feed section, the diagnosis is carried out in the order of the feed roller unit, the resist roller unit and the pre-resist roller unit in order to identify the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound in the paper feed section in more detail. In a case where the occurrence of the abnormal sound is found during the diagnosis of the image generation section, the diagnosis is carried out in the order of the image generation drive section, the cleaner for the intermediate transfer unit and the secondary transfer section are carried out in order to identify the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound in the image generation section in more detail. 
     Each operation step (or each diagnosis item) as given in the diagnosis procedure information  710 , and the details of operation therefor as well as the operation order therefor are optionally alterable by the authorized user, and the diagnosis procedure information  710  is previously registered to be stored and held in the storage  6 . 
     The details of operation for each operation step (or each diagnosis item) alone are also optionally alterable by the authorized user. 
     The diagnosis implementation section  703  sequentially implements the respective operation steps in accordance with the operation order as specified in the diagnosis procedure information to acquire various pieces of information required for the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis. 
     The diagnosis determination section  704  carries out the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound on the basis of the information about whether the abnormal sound occurs at the time of implementation of the respective operation steps in accordance with the operation order as specified, and generates result-of-diagnosis information. 
     The result-of-diagnosis output section  705  processes the result-of-diagnosis information so as to suit to the output destination before outputting it. 
     The diagnosis procedure registration section  706  carries out registration and alteration of the operation steps and the operation order in the diagnosis procedure information. 
     Description will be made of a flow of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention implemented by the image formation device  10  based on the command of the diagnostic program  7  as configured above, and operation procedures for implementing the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation. 
     First, in order to cause the image formation device  10  to execute an abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation, a menu button as an operation button (not shown) in the user I/F section  4  of the image formation device  10  is depressed to display a menu on the display screen; from the menu items, the “diagnosis” is selected; from the diagnosis items displayed by selecting the “diagnosis”, the “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis” is selected; and the “OK” button is selected, whereby the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention is executed. 
     Depression of the menu button, and selection of a particular item of the menu and a particular diagnosis item are performed by the user, and the selection of the particular item of the menu and the particular diagnosis item can be achieved by the user directly touching the pertinent item among the menu items and the diagnosis items displayed on the display screen by a finger, or the like. 
     The control of such operation by the image formation device  10  is specifically made as follows: with the menu button provided in the user I/F section  4  being depressed, a signal indicating that the menu button is pressed is inputted from the user I/F section  4  to the controller  1 , and the user I/F section  4  reads out, under the control of the controller  1 , the screen data corresponding to the depressed operation button and the selected item from among the respective sets of screen data for the menu screen, the diagnosis item screen and the like, which are previously stored in the storage  6 , thereby displaying it on the display screen. 
     When, from the selection items on the diagnosis item screen displayed, the “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis” is selected, and the “OK” button displayed on the diagnosis item screen is selected by the user directly touching it by a finger, or the like, a signal indicating that the “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis” is selected is inputted from the user I/F section  4  to the controller  1 ; the controller  1  reads out the diagnostic program  7  installed in the storage  6  for executing it; and under the control of the controller  1  on the basis of the command of the diagnostic program  7  executed, the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention is started. 
     Next, the details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation will be described with reference to flow charts as shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7  are flow charts illustrating the details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis” is selected from among the selection items on the diagnosis item screen displayed on the display screen (not shown) in the user I/F section  4  of the image formation device  10  and the “OK” button is selected, the diagnostic program is executed and the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation of the image formation device  10  is started. 
     In  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation is implemented under the control of the controller  1  on the basis of the command of the diagnostic program  7 . However, for convenience of explanation of the control operation on the basis of the command of the diagnostic program  7 , it will be described as the control operation of the controller  1 . 
     When the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation is started, the controller  1  causes a message of “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis start” (not shown) to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 ; reads out the diagnosis procedure information  710  stored in the storage  6 ; and in accordance with the diagnosis procedure of the diagnosis procedure information  710 , causes the motor in the rotary development device  38  in the image formation device  10  to be driven for carrying out the diagnosis of whether the abnormal sound occurs in the rotary development device  38  (step S 301 ). 
     Specifically, under the control of the controller  1 , the image formation section  5  causes the motor for the rotary development device  38  to be driven for counterclockwise rotating the developing apparatus main body  40  having the developing apparatuses  44   a  to  44   d  for forming developer images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, around the center  44  of the rotary development device. 
     Reading out of the diagnosis procedure information  710  from the storage  6  is implemented by the operation of the storage  6  under the control of the controller  1  on the command of the diagnosis procedure acquisition section  702  of the diagnostic program  7 ; displaying a message of “abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis start” is implemented by the operation of the user I/F section  4  under the control of the controller  1  on the command of the controller (program)  701 ; and driving control of the image formation section  5 , such as that of the motor drive, or the like, for the rotary development device  38  is implemented by the operation of the image formation section  5  under the control of the controller  1  on the command of the diagnosis implementation section  703 . 
     When the motor of the rotary development device  38  is driven, the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10  for prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 302 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 302 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 302 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the rotary development device  38 , the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in rotary development device. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 315 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 303 . 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 302 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 302 ), the motor for the rotary development device  38  is stopped (step S 303 ), which is followed by the lamp on the fusing device  90  being lighted up, and the motor for the fusing device  90  being driven to rotate the heating roller  92  and the pressing roller  94  which are possessed by the fusing device  90  (step S 304 ). 
     Displaying a message of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like is implemented by the operation of the storage  6  under the control of the controller  1  on the command of the diagnosis implementation section  703 ; identifying the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound on the basis of the information about whether the abnormal sound occurs in driving the image formation section  5  such as giving a determination of that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the rotary development device  38  or the like, and displaying a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in rotary development device. Replacement is recommended.” or the like is implemented by the operation of the user I/F section  4  tinder the control of the controller  1  on the command of the diagnosis determination section  704 ; and outputting the result of diagnosis such as storing the history information into the storage  6  or the like is implemented by the operation of the image formation section  5  under the control of the controller  1  on the command of the result-of-diagnosis output section  705 . 
     In addition, in a case where the user is to respond to a message of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO?” or the like displayed on the display screen, the user can make a response by directly touching “YES” or “NO” of the displayed “YES/NO” by a finger or the like. 
     When the lamp on the fusing device  90  is lighted up and the motor is driven, the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 305 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 305 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 305 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the fusing device  90 , the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in fusing device. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 316 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 306   
     In addition, at step S 305 , in a case where “NO” is selected (NO at step S 305 ), the lamp on the fusing device  90  is extinguished and the motor therefor is stopped (step S 306 ), which is then followed by operating all of the motors, clutches and the like, which are for rotating the feed roller  24 , the resist roller  32 , and the delivery roller  34 , in the apparatus or mechanism provided for paper transportation from the feed roller  24  to the delivery opening  30 , which corresponds to the paper feed section for transporting paper along the feeding path  28  (step S 307 ). 
     When all of the motors, clutches and the like in the paper feed section are operated, the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 308 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 308 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 308 ), the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path) is carried out in order to identify the abnormal sound occurring portion in the feeding path  28  in more detail (step S 400 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 309 . 
     The details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path) at step S 400  will be described later (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     In addition, at step S 308 , in a case where “NO” is selected (NO at step S 308 ), all of the motors, clutches and the like in the paper feed section of the feeding path  28  are stopped (step S 309 ), which is followed by operating all the motors and clutches in the image generation section which is made up of the apparatuses, mechanisms, rollers and the like, such as the image carrier  50 , the rotary development device  38 , the secondary transfer roller  80 , the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , the brush roller  86  and the like for carrying out the latent image formation, the image development and the transfer of image data, and causing a high-voltage power supply  100  to output a high voltage (step S 310 ). 
     When, at step S 310 , the motors, clutches and the like are operated, and the high-voltage power supply  100  is caused to output a high voltage, the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 311 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 311 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 311 ), the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section) is carried out in order to identify the abnormal sound occurring portion in the image generation section in more detail (step S 500 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 31 . 2 . 
     The details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section) at step S 500  will be described later (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 311 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 311 ), all the image formation section  5  is driven (step S 312 ), which is followed by the feed roller  24  picking up a paper from the paper supply cassette  22  in the paper supply unit  18  into the feeding path  28 , the paper being then transported along the feeding path  28  to be delivered from the delivery opening  30  (step S 313 ). 
     When the paper transportation operation is implemented at step S 313 , the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 314 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 314 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 314 ), the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation is terminated, and in a case where “YES” is selected (YES at step S 314 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the paper feed section, the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in paper feed section. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis, and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 316 ), which is followed by the program terminating the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation. 
     Next, the details of the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path) at step S 400  will be described with reference to the flow chart as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in order to carry out the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path), all of the motors, clutches and the like of the paper feed section driven under the control of the image formation section  5  on the basis of the control of the controller  1  other than the motors for the feed roller  24  and the retard roller  26  are stopped, in other words, the driving condition of only the feed roller  24  and the retard roller  26  being maintained (step S 401 ), and a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like is displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , the user being prompted to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 402 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 402 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 402 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the paper pick-up section made up of the feed roller  24 , the retard roller  26  and the like in the paper feed section, the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in paper pick-up section in paper feed section. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis, and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 408 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 403 . 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 402 , “NO” is selected (NC) at step S 402 ), the clutch for the resist roller  32  is connected to rotate the resist roller  32 , and with the feed roller  24 , the retard roller  26 , the resist roller  32  being kept rotated (step S 403 ), a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like is displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , the user being prompted to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 404 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 404 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 404 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the resist roller  32 , the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in resist roller unit. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 409 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 405 . 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 404 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 404 ), the clutch for the resist roller  32  is disconnected (step S 405 ), which is followed by the clutch for the preresist roller  35  being connected to rotate the preresist roller  35  (step S 406 ), and a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like being displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , the user being prompted to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 407 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 407 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 407 ), the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path) is terminated, and in a case where “YES” is selected (YES at step S 407 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the preresist roller  35 , the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in preresist roller unit. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 410 ), which is followed by the program terminating the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the feeding path). 
     The details of the above-stated abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section) at step S 500  will be described with reference to the flow chart as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , in order to carry out the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section), operating of all the motors and clutches for the image carrier  50 , the rotary development device  38 , the secondary transfer roller  80 , the secondary transfer backup roller  72 , the brush roller  86  and the like in the image generation section that are driven under the control of the image formation section  5  on the basis of the control of the controller  1  is stopped, and the high-voltage output of the high-voltage power supply  100  is stopped (step S 501 ), which is followed by driving the motors and clutches of the image carrier  50  and the rotary development device  38 , and causing the high-voltage power supply  100  to output a high voltage (step S 502 ). 
     When, at step S 502 , the motors and clutches for the image carrier  50  and the rotary development device  38  are operated, and the high-voltage power supply  100  is caused to output a high voltage, the controller  1  causes a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like to be displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , prompting the user to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 503 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 503 . “YES” is selected (YES at step S 503 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the drive section in the image generation section, the determination being reported on the display screen with such message as “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in drive section in image generation section. Replacement is recommended”, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 508 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 504 . 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 503 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 503 ), the solenoid for the brush roller  86  is operated to provide an operation of scraping the developer left on the intermediate transfer unit  64  (step S 504 ), and in this condition, a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like is displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , the user being prompted to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 505 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 505 , “YES” is selected (YES at step S 505 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the cleaner for the intermediate transfer unit, the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in cleaner for intermediate transfer unit. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 509 ), which is followed by the program proceeding to step S 506 . 
     In addition, in a case where, at step S 505 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 505 ), the solenoid for the secondary transfer roller  80  is operated to provide a secondary transfer operation (step S 506 ), and in this condition, a message (not shown) of “Does abnormal sound occur? YES/NO” or the like is displayed on the display screen of the image formation device  10 , the user being prompted to input the result of determination of whether the abnormal sound occurs (step S 507 ). 
     In a case where, at step S 507 , “NO” is selected (NO at step S 507 ), the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section) is terminated, and in a case where “YES” is selected (YES at step S 507 ), it is determined that the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in the secondary transfer section, the determination being reported on the display screen with a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in secondary transfer section. Replacement is recommended.” or the like, and the information about the date of diagnosis, the result of diagnosis and the like are accumulated and stored in the storage  6  as the history information (step S 510 ), which is followed by the program terminating the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation (for the image generation section). 
     In the above description, description is made of an example system which is configured such that, even if there is an operation step at which occurrence of the abnormal sound is identified, all the operation steps are sequentially implemented in accordance with the diagnosis procedure as given in the diagnosis procedure information  710  for identifying of whether the abnormal sound occurs. However, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which, in a case where, during implementation of a particular operation step, occurrence of the abnormal sound is identified, the result of determination of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is displayed, and the history information is accumulated and stored, which is followed by causing the user to select whether the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is to be continuously implemented at the subsequent operation step or not; in a case where it is to be continuously implemented, the subsequent operation step is implemented in accordance with the diagnosis procedure; and in a case where it is not to be continuously implemented, the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation is terminated. 
     In this case, the configuration can be realized by forming the diagnosis implementation section  703  of the diagnostic program  7  such that a message of “The cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound lies in xxxxx apparatus. Replacement is recommended.” or the like is displayed on the display screen on which the result of the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is to be displayed, and a message of “Is diagnosis of next operation step to be continuously implemented? YES/NO” or the like is displayed to prompt the user to make a responsive input, and by configuring the controller (program)  701  such that, in a case where, for the message of “Is diagnosis of next operation step to be continuously implemented? YES/NO”, “YES” is selected, the next operation step is implemented in accordance with the diagnosis procedure as given in the diagnosis procedure information  710 , and in a case where “NO” is selected, the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation is terminated. 
     Additionally, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the diagnosis procedure of the diagnosis procedure information  710  is displayed on the display screen, and the user can start at a desired operation step, and thereafter sequentially implement the subsequent operation steps of the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound. 
     In this case, the configuration can be realized by forming the diagnosis implementation section  703  of the diagnostic program  7  such that, on the basis of the diagnosis procedure information  710 , the diagnosis items (or the operation steps) of the respective priorities of operation are displayed on the display screen so as to allow the user to select the operation step at which the diagnosis is to be started, and starting from the selected diagnosis item (or the selected operation step), the subsequent operation steps are implemented in accordance with their priorities of operation as established in the diagnosis procedure information  710 . Additionally, in a case where damage to a related member is expected due to abruptly running the photosensitive drum or the like and the operation step is selected so as to incorporate an operation immediately before the operation to be checked to prevent the cleaning blade from having a turn-over by applying a bias to adhere the toner prior to rotating the drum, a display to that effect is made. Then, for example, such message as “In order to implement selected operation step, implementation of xxxxx operation step is needed” is displayed to cause the user to make a reselection. 
     Additionally, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the result of the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is reported to the host computer  11  through the network  3 , or to the service center of the manufacturer of the image formation device  10 , or the like, by e-mail or through the Internet. 
     In this case, the configuration can be realized by including an e-mail communication capability, and the like, in the communication I/F section  2  in the image formation device  10 , and configuring the result-of-diagnosis output section  705  of the diagnostic program  7  such that the result of the diagnosis of the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound is reported to the host computer  11 , the service center, or the like. 
     In addition, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation of the image formation device  10  is executed on an instruction from the host computer  11 . 
     In this case, the configuration can be realized by installing a diagnostic program having the configuration as described heretofore in the host computer  11 , or installing a printer driver having that configuration in the host computer  11 , and configuring the controller  1  of the image formation device  10  such that it can interpret an instruction for executing an abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation that is given to the image formation device  10  from the host computer  11  for controlling the respective sections of the image formation device  10 . 
     In addition, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention as described heretofore is carried out by the controller  1  of the image formation device  10  with no use of the diagnostic program  7 . 
     In this case, the configuration can be realized by configuring the controller  1  such that it has the same configuration for implementing the abnormal sound occurrence diagnosis operation pertaining to the present invention as is possessed by the diagnostic program  7 . 
     The present invention is applicable to a diagnosis technique for identifying the cause for occurrence of the abnormal sound that occurs in any particular apparatus. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.