Self-diagnosis and self-repair system for image forming apparatus
First Claim
1. 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 image-forming apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the image-forming apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said self-repairing system comprising:
- memory means including;
a first memory for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the image-forming apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the image-forming apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge,a second memory for storing repair case knowledge, anda third memory for storing repair work script knowledge;
diagnostic means for determining whether the image-forming apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data from the first memory and the diagnostic knowledge from the first memory; and
a repair plan inference means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the image-forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for inferring a repair case from the repair case knowledge from the second memory and a work script from the work script knowledge from the third memory to provide a repair plan to select one of the actuator elements for influencing one of the operations in the image-forming apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system of the present invention has a plurality of sensors 1a, 1b and 1c and a system control circuit which includes a case memory portion and a work script memory portion. In response to application of state data from the sensors 1a, 1b and 1c, the system converts the state data into symbolic data. Then the symbolic data is evaluated to judge whether or not a fault exists and to specify a fault symptom. As a result of the judgement, a fault symptom and a fault in the objective machine are determined. Thereafter, cases stored in the case memory portion are retrieved on the basis of the results of the fault diagnosis and a fault simulation. A case which closely resembles the present state of the objective machine is selected. Then, repair work described in the selected case is executed.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. 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 image-forming apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the image-forming apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said self-repairing system comprising:
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memory means including; a first memory for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the image-forming apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the image-forming apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge, a second memory for storing repair case knowledge, and a third memory for storing repair work script knowledge; diagnostic means for determining whether the image-forming apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data from the first memory and the diagnostic knowledge from the first memory; and a repair plan inference means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the image-forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for inferring a repair case from the repair case knowledge from the second memory and a work script from the work script knowledge from the third memory to provide a repair plan to select one of the actuator elements for influencing one of the operations in the image-forming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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 image-forming apparatus, and sensor means for sensing conditions in the image-forming apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, said self-repairing system comprising:
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memory means including; a first memory for storing characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the image-forming apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the image-forming apparatus, and diagnostic knowledge, a second memory for storing repair case knowledge, and a third memory for storing repair work script knowledge, diagnostic means for determining whether the image-forming apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data from the first memory and the diagnostic knowledge from the first memory; and a repair plan inference means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the image-forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for inferring a first repair plan based upon a repair case from the repair case knowledge from the second memory and a work script from the work script knowledge from the third memory, and a second repair plan in the event that the first repair plan is unsuccessful in returning the image-forming apparatus to the normal condition. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A self-repairing image-forming apparatus comprising:
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interrelated elements including actuator elements which control operations in the image-forming apparatus; sensor means for sensing conditions in the image-forming apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof; memory means including a first memory for storing image-forming apparatus characteristic data, interrelationship knowledge, and diagnostic knowledge, a second memory for storing repair case knowledge organized into repair cases, and a third memory for storing repair work script knowledge organized into work scripts; diagnostic means for determining whether the image-forming apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon condition data from the sensor means, the characteristic data from the first memory and the diagnostic knowledge from the first memory; a repair plan inferring means, responsive to a determination by the diagnostic means that the image-forming apparatus is in an abnormal condition, for inferring a repair case to select one of the actuator elements for influencing one of the operations in the image-forming apparatus; and actuator control means for controlling an actuator means selected by the inferring of a repair case by the repair plan inferring means to influence the operation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A self-repairing method for carrying out repair of an image-forming apparatus which has a plurality of interrelated elements, the interrelated elements including actuator elements for carrying out operations in the apparatus, and memory means which stores characteristic data representative of various characteristics of the apparatus, interrelationship knowledge representative of the interrelationships of the elements of the apparatus, diagnostic knowledge, repair case knowledge, and repair work script knowledge, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving condition data indicative of the condition of the apparatus; determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon the received condition data, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; if the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, applying the repair case knowledge and the work script knowledge to infer a repair plan for influencing one of the actuator elements to change one of the operations in the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A self-repairing method for carrying out repair of 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 in the apparatus and providing condition data indicative thereof, 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, diagnostic knowledge, repair case knowledge, and repair work script knowledge, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving condition data; determining whether the apparatus is in a normal or an abnormal condition based upon the received condition data, the characteristic data and the diagnostic knowledge; if the apparatus is in an abnormal condition, applying the repair case knowledge and the work script knowledge to infer a repair work for influencing one of the actuator elements to obtain an anticipated condition of the actuator element, and if the inferred repair work fails to influence the actuator element to the anticipated condition, inferring new repair case knowledge based upon the applied case knowledge and work script knowledge. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification