US 12,273,487 B2
Image forming system detecting change in physical quantity (sound) from variable mechanism and determining and notifying an abnormal condition based on the change compared to a threshold
Seiji Hara, Shizuoka (JP); Yohei Suzuki, Shizuoka (JP); and Masatoshi Yoshida, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/523,065.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-189868 (JP), filed on Nov. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0179248 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 1/00037 (2013.01) [H04N 1/00015 (2013.01); H04N 1/00074 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; and
a management apparatus configured to manage the image forming apparatus,
wherein the image forming apparatus includes:
a variable mechanism configured to change from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state in response to being physically operated by a user;
a physical quantity detection unit configured to detect a change in physical quantity caused when a state of the variable mechanism changes;
an abnormality detection unit configured to detect an occurrence of an abnormal condition of the image forming apparatus; and
a transmission unit configured to transmit a detection result of the physical quantity detection unit and a detection result of the abnormality detection unit to the management apparatus,
wherein the management apparatus includes:
a determination unit configured to determine whether the abnormal condition is caused by a change in the state of the variable mechanism, based on the detection results transmitted from the transmission unit; and
a notification unit configured to provide a notification that the abnormal condition is caused by a change in the state of the variable mechanism in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine that the abnormal condition is caused by a change in the state of the variable mechanism when the abnormal condition is detected by the abnormality detection unit after the change in physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detection unit exceeds a threshold,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine that the abnormal condition is caused by a change in the state of the variable mechanism when a difference between the number of sheets printed up to a first time point at which the change in physical quantity exceeds the threshold and the number of sheets printed up to a second time point at which the abnormal condition is detected by the abnormality detection unit is less than or equal to a predetermined number of printed sheets, and p1 wherein the determination unit is configured not to determine that the abnormal condition is caused by a change in the state of the variable mechanism when the difference is larger than the predetermined number of printed sheets.