EP0476681A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-diagnosis and repair system for image forming apparatus
Assignee: Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-20
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-09-20
Abstract
Abstract This system according to the invention has plurality of sensors 1 a, 1 b and 1 c, a system control circuit 10 and plurality of actuators 6a, 6b and 6c. In response to an application of state data from the sensors 1a, 1 b or 1 c, the state data is compared with characteristic data in the system control circuit 10. Consequently, it is judged that a fault is caused depending on whether the state data is relatively lower or higher. If a fault is caused, inference of the fault caused is drawn on the basis of a comparison between qualitative data and fault diagnosis knowledge which are stored in the system control circuit 10. Then, it is judged which of elements of a image forming apparatus is abnormal. Accordingly, actuator operating signal is outputted as the results of the judgement.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuo Tomiyama
- 👤 Hiroyuki Yoshikawa
- 👤 Yasushi Umeda
- 👤 Yoshiki Shimomura
- 👤 Yoshifumi Ishii
- 👤 Hiroshi Kusumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2257; G03G15/55; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0733; G06F11/079; G06F11/0793; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: memory means for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; selection means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and actuator control means for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the one operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: memory means for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; selection means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and actuator control means for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the one operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said characteristic data comprises repair knowledge and wherein the selection means selects the actuator element in the apparatus based upon the repair knowledge and the interrelationship knowledge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said system comprises conversion means for converting condition data from the sensor means to symbolic data and wherein the diagnostic means determines the condition of the apparatus from symbolic data provided by the conversion means, and the diagnostic knowledge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selection means comprises repair plan inference means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said system further comprises updating means for updating certain of the characteristic data based upon condition data provided by the sensor means, after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the characteristic data comprises reference value data and the interrelationship knowledge comprises mathematical model knowledge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reference value data represent desired operating ranges for parameters associated with the elements of the apparatus and wherein the updating means changes an original desired operating range to a new desired operating range if, after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition, a parameter falls outside of its original desired operating range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the diagnostic means infers a possible fault cause from the interrelationship knowledge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the characteristic data comprises reference value data, and the interrelationship knowledge comprises mathematical model knowledge, and substance model knowledge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the characteristic data comprises first characteristic data which includes the reference value data and second characteristic data which is representative of materials operated upon by the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 8 - 10, wherein the second characteristic data is representative of copy paper and toner conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: a memory for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; a selector, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; a controller for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the one operation and thereby return the apparatus to its normal condition; and updating means for updating certain of the characteristic data based upon condition data provided by the sensor means after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: a memory for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; a selector, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; a controller for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the one operation and thereby return the apparatus to its normal condition; and updating means for updating certain of the characteristic data based upon condition data provided by the sensor means after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the characteristic data comprises reference value data representative of an original desired operating range for a parameter associated with one of the elements and wherein the updating means changes the original desired operating range to a new desired operating range if, after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition, the parameter falls outside of the original desired operating range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 12 or 13, wherein said system comprises a symbolic converter for converting condition data from the sensor means to symbolic data in accordance with the desired operating range, wherein the diagnostic knowledge comprises function evaluation knowledge, and wherein the diagnostic means compares symbolic data from the converter to the function evaluation knowledge to determine an abnormal condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the selector comprises repair plan inferring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
195 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: memory means for storing characteristic data which includes repair knowledge, representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge including function evaluation knowledge, and fault cause knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data, and the function evaluation knowledge, and for inferring possible fault causes based upon the interrelationship knowledge when the apparatus is determined to be in an abnormal condition; and repair plan inference means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for applying the interrelationship knowledge and the repair knowledge to infer a repair plan by which to control one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
195 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus which includes a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations carried out by the elements of the apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said system comprising: memory means for storing characteristic data which includes repair knowledge, representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge including function evaluation knowledge, and fault cause knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data, and the function evaluation knowledge, and for inferring possible fault causes based upon the interrelationship knowledge when the apparatus is determined to be in an abnormal condition; and repair plan inference means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for applying the interrelationship knowledge and the repair knowledge to infer a repair plan by which to control one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the repair plan inference means applies the repair knowledge to infer appropriate repair plans for a possible fault cause identified by the diagnostic means and applies the interrelationship knowledge and the possible fault cause to infer a repair plan which will cause minimum secondary affects from among the inferred appropriate repair plans.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
A self-repairing system for image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 16 or 17, wherein the repair plan inference means applies the repair knowledge to infer appropriate repair plans for a possible fault cause identified by the diagnostic means, and applies the interrelationship knowledge and the possible fault cause to assign a priority to each of the inferred repair plans with the repair plan which is determined to cause minimum secondary affects assigned the highest priority.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 16 to 18, wherein, if the highest priority repair plan is unsuccessful, the repair plan inference means controls another of the actuator elements according to the repair plan having the next highest priority.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A self-repairing system for an image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 16 to 19, wherein said system further comprises updating means for updating certain of the characteristic data based upon condition data provided by the sensor means after one of the inferred repair plans has been performed and the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus comprising: interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations in the apparatus; sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof; memory means for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the various elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; selection means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and actuator control means for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus comprising: interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations in the apparatus; sensor means for sensing conditions in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof; memory means for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the various elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; selection means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and actuator control means for controlling an actuator means selected by the selection means to influence the operation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 21, comprising conversion means for converting condition data from the sensor means to symbolic data and wherein the diagnostic means determines the condition of the apparatus from symbolic data from the conversion means and the diagnostic knowledge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 or 22, wherein the characteristic data comprises repair knowledge and wherein the diagnostic means identifies a fault symptom and wherein the selection means comprises repair plan inference means, which selects the one actuator element based upon a fault symptom identified by the diagnostic means, the interrelationship knowledge, and the repair knowledge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said system further comprises updating means for updating certain of the characteristic data based upon condition data provided by the sensor means, after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the characteristic data comprises reference value data and the interrelationship knowledge comprises mathematical model knowledge.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
76 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the reference value data represent desired operating ranges for parameters associated with the elements of the apparatus and wherein the updating means changes certain of the characteristic data by changing an original desired operating range to a new desired operating range if, after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition, a parameter falls outside of the original desired operating range.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the characteristic data comprises first characteristic data which includes the reference value data and second characteristic data which is representative of materials operated upon by the apparatus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the second characteristic data is representative of copy paper and toner conditions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A self-repairing image-forming apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the diagnostic means infers a possible fault cause from the interrelationship knowledge.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
144 words
A self-repairing method for an image-forming apparatus which has a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements for carrying out operations in the apparatus, sensor means for sensing conditions of the actuator elements, and memory means which stores characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelation knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge, said method comprising the steps of: determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; if the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and controlling the selected one of the actuator elements to influence the one operation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
144 words
A self-repairing method for an image-forming apparatus which has a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements for carrying out operations in the apparatus, sensor means for sensing conditions of the actuator elements, and memory means which stores characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelation knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge, said method comprising the steps of: determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; if the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, selecting one of the actuator elements to influence one of the operations in the apparatus based upon the characteristic data and the interrelationship knowledge; and controlling the selected one of the actuator elements to influence the one operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in claim 30, comprising the steps of converting condition data from the sensor means to symbolic data.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 30 or 31, wherein the characteristic data comprises reference value data and said method further comprises the step of updating the stored reference value data based upon the symbolic data after the apparatus has been returned to its normal condition.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the reference value data represent desired operating ranges for parameters associated with the elements of the apparatus, and the step of updating the reference value data comprises the steps of changing an original desired operating range to a new desired operating range.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the step of selecting one of the actuator elements comprises the steps of: identifying a fault symptom; and inferring repair plans based upon an identified symptom and the interrelationship knowledge.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 34 or 35, wherein the step of identifying a fault symptom comprises identifying a possible fault cause.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in claim 35 wherein diagnostic knowledge comprises function evaluation knowledge, and wherein the step of determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition comprises the steps of comparing the symbolic data with the function evaluation knowledge.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 34 to 36, wherein the step of inferring repair plans comprises the steps of: inferring secondary affects attributable to each inferred repair plan based upon the interrelationship data and the possible fault cause, selecting a repair plan having the least inferred secondary affects from among the inferred repair plans, and selecting the actuator element capable of influencing operations of the apparatus in accordance with the selected repair plan.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 34 to 37, the memory means stores repair rule knowledge, wherein the steps of inferring a repair plan comprise the steps of inferring sequences of steps for reducing an inferred secondary affect and applying the repair rule knowledge to select a preferred sequence, and wherein the repair rule knowledge comprises knowledge that (a) a preferred sequence must not include a step which is contradictory with a step in the selected repair plan, (b) the preferred sequence must be inferred to have minimum further secondary affects, and (c) the preferred sequence is aborted if an operation forms a sequentional loop during performance of the preferred sequence.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
38 words
A method of self-repair as claimed in one of claims 34 to 38, wherein if a selected repair plan fails, an alternative repair plan is selected on the bases of the next least number of inferred secondary affects.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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