Patent Publication Number: US-2021176367-A1

Title: Display control device and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 16/565,738 filed on Sep. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a display control device, an image forming apparatus, and methods related thereto. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As one form of an image forming apparatus, a multi-functional peripheral (MFP) using an electrophotographic process is known. A multi-functional peripheral includes a scanner that reads an image and a printer that prints an image. The convenience of a multi-functional peripheral can be further improved by connecting an optional device. 
     For example, when a trouble such as a failure or damage of a part of a multi-functional peripheral occurs, the multi-functional peripheral detects the troubled occurrence, stops the operation, and transitions to a service call state. A user then waits for a serviceman and cannot use the multi-functional peripheral during that time. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external view illustrating an overall configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a system processing unit or the like; 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating a display example of an initial screen including an initial menu; 
         FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating a display example of a serviceman call including a detachment menu; 
         FIG. 4C  is a diagram illustrating a display example of a detachment check screen; 
         FIG. 4D  is a diagram illustrating a display example of a unit state screen indicating units that are not detached and units that are detached; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of display control and detachment control by the image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the determination of detachment necessity of the image forming apparatus; and 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of a network connection configuration of the image forming apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, a display control device includes a memory, a processor, and a display interface. The memory stores display information. The processor gives a command to display a detachment menu for accepting detachment of a trouble-occurred target unit based on the trouble occurrence of the unit included in an image forming apparatus. The display interface outputs display information in response to the display command from the processor. According to another embodiment, a method for an image forming apparatus involves displaying a detachment menu for accepting detachment of a trouble-occurred target unit based on trouble occurrence information from at least one of a printer, a scanner, a finisher, and a facsimile; displaying the detachment menu; and accepting a detachment input of the trouble-occurred target unit from the detachment menu. 
     Hereinafter, an example of an image forming apparatus including a display control device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations. 
       FIG. 1  is an external view illustrating an overall configuration example of an image forming apparatus M according to an embodiment. The image forming apparatus M is, for example, a multi-functional peripheral (MFP). The image forming apparatus M includes an image reading unit (scanner)  1 , an image output unit (printer)  3 , a control panel unit (a display and a user interface)  5 , a sheet accommodation unit  8 , and a card reader  9 . The image output unit  3  of the image forming apparatus M includes a fixing device that fixes a toner image. The control panel unit  5  includes a display  51  and an input interface  52 . 
     The image forming apparatus M forms an image on a sheet using a developer such as a toner. The sheet is, for example, a paper or a label sheet. The sheet may be anything as long as the image forming apparatus M can form an image on the surface thereof. 
     The control panel unit  5  accepts an operation from a user. The control panel unit  5  outputs a signal in response to the operation performed by the user to a system processing unit of the image forming apparatus M. 
     The image output unit  3  forms an image on a sheet based on image information generated by the image reading unit  1  or image information received via a communication line. The image output unit  3  forms an image through, for example, the following process. An image forming device of the image output unit  3  forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum based on the image information. The image forming device unit of the image output unit  3  forms a visible image by attaching the developer to the electrostatic latent image. As a specific example of the developer, there is a toner. A sheet feeding device of the image output unit  3  feeds a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit  8  or a sheet manually fed and a transferring device of the image output unit  3  transfers the visible image to the sheet. A fixing device of the image output unit  3  fixes the visible image to the sheet by heating and pressurizing the sheet. The sheet accommodation unit  8  accommodates sheets to be used to form images in the image output unit  3 . The card reader  9  receives card identification information stored in a wireless card through wireless communication with the wireless card. 
     The image reading unit  1  reads regarding target image information as brightness and darkness of light. The image reading unit  1  records the read image information. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a network. The recorded image information may be formed as an image on the sheet by the image output unit  3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus M includes the image reading unit  1 , an image processing unit  2 , the image output unit  3 , a system processing unit  4 , the control panel unit  5 , an external interface control unit  6 , an information management unit  7 , the card reader  9 , an option  10 , and a communication unit  11 . 
     The image reading unit  1  reads an image of a document set in a document table and outputs image data in accordance with the execution of a scanner mode or a copy mode, or reads an image of a document set in the document table and outputs image data when sheets are conveyed one by one from an automatic document feeding device called an auto document feeder (ADF). 
     The image processing unit  2  corrects grayscales of image data output from the image reading unit  1  or the external interface control unit  6  and improves the quality of the image data. The image output unit  3  outputs an image based on the image data processed in the image processing unit  2 . The system processing unit  4  controls the entire image forming apparatus based on a program stored in advance and information from each unit. For example, the system processing unit  4  forms at least a part of a display control device that controls display which will be described in detail below. 
     The control panel unit  5  performs guidance display of information related to the operation on the image forming apparatus for a user. The control panel unit  5  receives an operation input from the user and sets various kinds of information based on the operation input. For example, the control panel unit  5  sets setting information based on the operation input from the user. 
     The external interface control unit  6  is connected to an input and output device (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) such as a local area network (LAN) adapter or a universal serial bus (USB) memory for input and output of image data. The external interface control unit  6  can input a program or the like through the input and output device. The information management unit  7  manages (stores) setting information set with the control panel unit  5 . The card reader  9  reads card identification information from a card carried by a user who attempts to use the image forming apparatus M. 
     For example, the option  10  includes a detachably mounted device called a finisher and the finisher punches in a punching unit and staples in a stapling unit. The punching unit holes the sheets to bind the sheets in a file or the like at designated positions on the sheets on which images are formed. In the stapling process, a plurality of sheets are collected and stapled to bind the plurality of sheets. The option  10  includes a facsimile. The fax transmits an image to a fax number of a transmission destination and prints out an image received from a fax number of a transmission source. 
     The communication unit  11  communicates with an external apparatus via a network. The network is a local area network and a wide area network. The communication unit  11  transmits and receives various kinds of information to and from an external apparatus via the network. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the system processing unit  4  or the like of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the system processing unit  4  includes a processor  41 , a page memory  42 , a storage unit  43 , a work memory  44 , a program memory  45 , an internal interface control unit  46 , and the like. The processor  41  is a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. 
     The processor  41  receives various kinds of signals and information from the image reading unit  1 , the image output unit  3 , the control panel unit  5 , and the card reader  9  via the internal interface control unit  46  and transmits various kinds of signals and information. For example, the internal interface control unit  46  functions as a card reader interface, and notifies the processor  41  of card identification information read by the card reader  9 . The internal interface control unit  46  functions as a display interface and outputs display information corresponding to a display command of the processor  41  to the control panel unit  5  (a display  51 ). 
     The processor  41  operates based on a program stored in the program memory  45  or the like. For example, the processor  41  controls activation using an activation command from a user via the control panel unit  5  as a trigger and controls detachment using a detachment command from the user via the control panel unit  5  as a trigger. For example, a display control unit  411  controls display in accordance with the display command. A detachment control unit  412  controls detachment in accordance with the detachment command. The work memory  44  temporarily stores a program stored in the program memory  45  or the like and temporarily stores data to be handled by the program. 
     The procedure of processes and control to be described in the embodiment can be performed by software. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize the processes and the control by merely installing a program for performing the procedure of the processes and the control in the image forming apparatus via a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the program. 
     For example, the program can be read from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium via the external interface control unit  6 , the read program can be stored in the storage unit  43  or the like, and the installation of the program can be completed. Thus, the processor  41  of the image forming apparatus can easily realize the processes and the control based on the installed program. 
     The page memory  42  temporarily stores image data read by the image reading unit  1  and passing through the image processing unit  2 . The page memory  42  temporarily stores image data output from the external interface control unit  6  and passing through the image processing unit  2 . The image data stored in the page memory  42  is developed in YMCK image data through a process by a raster image processor (RIP) in accordance with the execution of a print mode. The image processing unit  2  improves the quality of the YMCK image data and the image output unit  3  forms an image based on the YMCK image data with the improved quality. 
     The storage unit  43  is an information storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD) and stores the image data transmitted from the page memory  42 . The storage unit  43  may store some or all of the programs causing the processor  41  to operate. 
     The control panel unit  5  includes the display  51  and an input interface  52 . The display  51  is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display. The display  51  displays various kinds of information regarding the image forming apparatus M. The input interface  52  is an input device such as a touch panel provided to correspond to the display  51 . The input interface  52  detects a touch input from the user and outputs the touch input in association with positional information of X and Y coordinates on the display  51 . The control panel unit  5  may further include an input device such as a hard key. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the image processing unit  2  includes an input processing unit  21  and an image improvement processing unit  22 . The input processing unit  21  includes a lookup table (LUT) processing unit that corrects grayscale reproduction and corrects grayscale reproduction of image data input from the image reading unit  1  or the external interface control unit  6 . The image improvement processing unit  22  performs high-quality processing based on a filtering process, a magnification process, a density adjustment process, and a grayscale process on the image data. 
     Next, the display control and the detachment control by the system processing unit  4  of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment will be described. The processor  41  of the system processing unit  4  controls display based on a display control program or the like stored in the program memory  45  or the like. For example, the display control unit  411  outputs a display command in accordance with an instruction from the processor  41 . The detachment control unit  412  controls detachment in accordance with an instruction from the processor  41 . The information management unit  7  is a memory that stores management information. The management information stores display information for displaying on the display of the control panel unit  5 , trouble occurrence history of a unit, or the like. 
     For example, the processor  41  of the system processing unit  4  detects trouble occurrence such as a failure or damage in each unit such as the image reading unit  1 , the image output unit  3 , and the option  10 , which are included in the image forming apparatus M. For example, each unit monitors trouble occurrence and outputs a trouble occurrence signal corresponding to the trouble occurrence. The processor  41  detects trouble occurrence in each unit based on the trouble occurrence signal from each unit. 
     The image reading unit  1  includes an automatic document feeding device (feeder). When sheet jam or the like occurs in the automatic document feeding device, a trouble occurrence signal indicating trouble occurrence of the automatic document feeding device is output. The image output unit  3  includes a sheet feeding device (feeder). When a trouble such as a sheet jam occurs in the sheet feeding device, a trouble occurrence signal indicating trouble occurrence of the sheet feeding device is output. The finisher included in the option  10  includes a punching unit and a stapling unit. When a trouble such as a sheet jam occurs in the punching unit, a trouble occurrence signal indicating trouble occurrence in the punching unit is output. When a trouble such as a sheet jam occurs in the stapling unit, a trouble occurrence signal indicating trouble occurrence in the stapling unit is output. 
     The processor  41  stops the operation of each process in the image forming apparatus M when trouble occurrence is detected. When trouble occurrence is detected, the processor  41  gives a command to display information regarding the trouble occurrence. The internal interface control unit  46  serving as a display interface outputs display information regarding trouble occurrence in response to the display command from the processor  41 . The display  51  displays the display information regarding the trouble occurrence. 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating a display example of an initial screen including an initial menu. For example, when the processor  41  activates the image forming apparatus M (based on an activation instruction), the display  51  displays the initial screen. When the processor  41  detects trouble occurrence and gives a command to display information regarding the trouble occurrence, the display  51  additionally displays information regarding the trouble occurrence on the initial screen. 
     Further, the processor  41  determines whether the detected trouble is a target of a serviceman request, requests a serviceman based on a determination result, and gives a command to display a serviceman call including a detachment menu. The internal interface control unit  46  outputs display information of the serviceman call in response to the display command from the processor  41 . The display  51  displays the display information of the serviceman call. 
       FIG. 4B  is a display example of a serviceman call screen including a detachment menu. The detachment menu is a menu for accepting detachment of a trouble-occurred target unit. Here, for example, the trouble-occurred target unit is assumed to be a finisher. As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the display  51  displays a detachment menu for accepting detachment of the finisher in which the trouble occurs. 
     When the user selects an item of detachment displayed on the display  51 , the input interface  52  accepts an input of detachment and notifies the processor  41  of the input of detachment. The processor  41  gives a command to display a check screen based on the input of detachment. 
       FIG. 4C  is a display example of a detachment check screen. For example, the detachment check screen checks detachment of the trouble-occurred target finisher. When the user selects an item of YES displayed on the display  51 , the input interface  52  accepts the input of YES and notifies the processor  41  of the input of YES. The processor  41  virtually detaches the trouble-occurred target finisher based on the input of YES and invalidates the function related to the trouble-occurred target finisher. The processor  41  switches sheet conveyance from the image output unit  3  to the finisher of the option  10  to sheet conveyance from the image output unit  3  to a sheet discharge tray. The finisher continues the physically attached state. 
     The processor  41  gives a command to display a unit state indicating units that are not detached (that is, attached units) and units that are detached (detached units) after processing the detachment. The display  51  displays the unit state. 
       FIG. 4D  is a display example of a unit state screen indicating units that are not detached (attached units) and units that are detached (detached units). For example, on the unit state screen, the attached units and the detached units are identified for display by changing color. The attached units are displayed with a color other than gray and the detached units are displayed with gray. The unit state screen may be applied to the initial screen. Thus, when the image forming apparatus M is activated, the user can check the detached units. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating examples of display control and detachment control by the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the processor  41  monitors a trouble occurrence signal from each unit in operation (ACT 101 ). When the trouble occurrence signal is detected (YES in ACT 102 ), the operation stops (ACT 103 ). The processor  41  updates the trouble occurrence history stored in the information management unit  7  based on the trouble occurrence signal. The trouble occurrence history includes information indicating what kind of troubles occurs in which unit when. Further, the processor  41  gives a command to display the detachment menu for accepting the detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit (ACT 104 ). The internal interface control unit  46  serving as a display interface outputs display information for displaying the detachment menu in response to the display command from the processor  41  (ACT 105 ). The display  51  displays the detachment menu based on the display information (ACT 106 ). 
     When the input interface  52  accepts the detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit (YES in ACT 107 ), the processor virtually detaches the trouble-occurred target unit (ACT 108 ) and reboots each unit (ACT 109 ). Thus, the function of the trouble-occurred target unit is invalidated. 
     After the processor  41  processes the detachment, the processor  41  gives a command to display a unit state indicating the attached units and the detached units (ACT 110 ). The display  51  displays the unit state (ACT 111 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the display control and the detachment control corresponding to trouble occurrence in the finisher of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the processor  41  monitors trouble occurrence during operation (ACT 101 ). When the trouble occurrence such as sheet jam is detected (YES in ACT 102 ), the operation stops (ACT 103 ). The processor  41  gives a command to display the detachment menu for accepting the detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit (ACT 104 ). The internal interface control unit  46  serving as a display interface outputs the display information regarding the trouble occurrence in response to the display command from the processor  41  (ACT 105 ). The display  51  displays the display information regarding the trouble occurrence (ACT 106 ). 
     When the input interface  52  accepts the detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit (YES in ACT 107 ), the processor virtually detaches the trouble-occurred target unit (ACT 108 ) and reboots each unit (ACT 109 ). Thus, the function of the trouble-occurred target unit is invalidated. 
     After the processor  41  processes the detachment, the processor  41  gives a command to display a unit state indicating the attached units and the detached units (ACT 110 ). The internal interface control unit  46  outputs the display information to display the unit state in response to the display command from the processor  41  (ACT 111 ). The display  51  displays the unit state (ACT 112 ). 
     Next, a case in which the processor  41  determines detachment necessity in the command to display the detached menu (ACT 104 ) will be described. Here, a case of sheet conveyance jam inside the finisher will be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the determination of detachment necessity of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. The processor  41  detects the trouble occurrence signal (YES in ACT 102 ), stops the operation (ACT 103 ), and performs a jam troubleshooting guidance (ACT 1041 ). The display  51  displays the jam troubleshooting guidance. 
     For example, the user opens the cover of the finisher, troubleshoots the jam, and closes the cover (ACT 1042 ). When the jam troubleshooting is completed (YES in ACT 1043 ), the processor  41  clears a jam history included in the trouble occurrence history (ACT 1044 ). When the jam troubleshooting is not completed (NO in ACT 1043 ) and a detachment condition is not satisfied (NO in ACT 1045 ), the jam troubleshooting guidance continues (ACT 1041 ). 
     The management information of the information management unit  7  includes the detachment condition. For example, the processor  41  determines whether the jam occurs 5 times or more in total at the current jam based on the trouble occurrence history and determines that the detachment condition is satisfied (the detachment is necessary) based on the determination result that the jam occurs 5 times or more (YES in ACT 1045 ). Alternatively, the processor  41  determines whether the current jam is jam occurring within 5 minutes from the previous jam based on the trouble occurrence history and determines that the detachment condition is satisfied (the detachment is necessary) based on the determination result that the jam occurs within 5 minutes (YES in ACT 1045 ). In this way, when a jam occurrence frequency in the finisher is high, the processor  41  determines that the finisher is a detachment target. When the processor  41  determines that the detachment condition is satisfied (YES in ACT 1045 ), the processor gives the command to display the detached menu (ACT 1046 ) and the process transitions to ACT 105 . 
     In the embodiment, the processor  41  processes a certain entire unit as a trouble-occurred target unit based on trouble occurrence of the certain unit. A sub-unit included in a certain unit may be processed as a trouble-occurred target. For example, when trouble occurrence is accepted from the finisher, the processor  41  detects sub-units such as a punching unit and a stapling unit included in the finisher as detachment candidates and gives a command to display a detachment menu including the detachment candidates of the punching unit and the stapling unit. The internal interface control unit  46  outputs display information to display the detachment menu including the detachment candidates of the punching unit and the stapling unit. The display  51  displays a detachment menu including the detachment candidates of the punching unit and the stapling unit. 
     The input interface  52  accepts the detachment candidates selected from the user. The processor  41  detaches a detachment candidate in response to the acceptance of the detachment of the detachment candidate. When the entire unit is detached, the entire unit is unusable. However, by detaching some of the sub-units among a plurality of sub-units included in the unit, it is possible to continuously use the remaining sub-units. 
     The image forming apparatus M may display a relationship between detachment and a detachment operator. The image forming apparatus M includes the card reader  9 . The processor  41  accepts an operation input from the control panel unit  5  when card identification information read by the card reader  9  matches card identification information registered in the management information of the information management unit  7 . The processor  41  stores detachment management information in which the card identification information read from the card reader  9  is associated with detachment (operation) accepted with the detachment menu in the information management unit  7 . User identification information such as a user name is associated with the card identification information stored in the management information of the information management unit  7 . 
     Further, the processor  41  gives a command to display the detachment management information based on a display request for the detachment management information from the control panel unit  5 . The internal interface control unit  46  outputs the display information of the detachment management information. The display  51  displays the detachment management information. The display  51  may display the initial screen including the detachment management information. The detachment management information may be information in which the card identification information is associated with the detachment accepted with the detachment menu or may be information in which the user identification information is associated with the detachment accepted with the detachment menu. When the detachment management information on the initial screen or the like is displayed, the user who attempts to use the image forming apparatus M can also understand a detachment situation and which user performs the detachment. By knowing the user performing the detachment, it is possible to inquire about the detachment situation. 
     Next, the use of a network function will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of a network connection configuration of the image forming apparatus M according to the embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the image forming apparatus M is connected to a network. A user PC  200 , an administrator PC  300 , a service center server  400 , and the like are connected to the network. 
     As described above, the processor  41  detaches a trouble-occurred target unit based on an input of detachment. Further, the processor  41  instructs to output detachment information indicating detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit to the outside. The detachment information includes information regarding trouble occurrence in the trouble-occurred target unit. The communication unit  11  transmits the detachment information to the user PC  200  (ACT 200 ). The communication unit  11  transmits the detachment information to the administrator PC  300  (ACT 300 ). The communication unit  11  transmits the detachment information to the service center server  300  (ACT 300 ). 
     For example, since an administrator of the administrator PC  300  can know the trouble occurrence in the image forming apparatus M and the detachment, the administrator can contact with a serviceman timely. By transmitting the detachment information to the service center server  300 , it is possible to transfer the detachment information to the serviceman in advance. Thus, the handling of the serviceman becomes smooth and it is possible to expect a downtime reduction effect of the image forming apparatus M. 
     According to the above-described embodiment, when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus M, a user can designate a detachment target unit or sub-unit. Thus, the processor  41  detaches the designated detachment target unit or sub-unit. Thus, the user can use functions of the remaining valid units or functions of the remaining valid sub-units. 
     Since the display  51  distinguishes and displays units that are detached (detached units) and units that are not detached (attached units) from each other, the user can know a detachment situation and use functions of valid units. For example, the display  51  can distinguish and display these units on the initial screen at the time of activation. The user can know such information initially. 
     The processor  41  determines the necessity for acceptance of detachment of a trouble-occurred target unit based on the trouble occurrence history, and then gives a command to display the detachment menu based on the determination result. For example, a unit whose trouble occurrence frequency is high can be handled as a detachment target. 
     The information management unit  7  stores the detachment management information in which the card identification information is associated with detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit or stores the detachment management information in which the user identification information is associated with the detachment of the trouble-occurred target unit. The display displays the detachment management information on the initial screen. By displaying the detachment management information, the user who does not perform a detachment operation can grasp a detachment situation when the user attempts to use the image forming apparatus M. 
     Since the communication unit  11  transmits the detachment information to an external apparatus, handling of a serviceman can be efficient for recovery based on the information obtained from the external apparatus. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatus and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.