JPH0486829A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize life control over consumables at low cost without any degradation in image quality by initializing the counting result of the utilization quantity of a process unit by putting a moving member in operation. CONSTITUTION:When an electrophotographic process unit 130 is loaded in a main body device, a switch depression member 204 presses in an initialization switch 202 and a counter 201 is initialized. Then when the main body device is started up, a gear 205 rotates and a gear 206 rotates correspondingly. Consequently, the member 204 disengages from the switch 202 and the counter 201 starts counting up thereafter. The counter 201 counts the utilization frequency of the unit 130 and when the unit 130 is replaced, the counter 201 is securely initialized, so the life control over consumables can be realized at low cost without any deterioration in image quality.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material using a developer, such as a laser printer or an electronic copying machine. .

(Prior Art) In recent years, in this type of apparatus, consumables such as a toner supply device are integrated into units, so that the consumables can be easily replaced.

By the way, in a device having such consumables, it is necessary to manage the life of the consumables in order to notify the user when to replace the consumables. Such life management has extremely important meaning in order to maintain image quality and the like. In other words, Figure 7 shows the blur on the print and the change in image density over time when a running test was performed.
It can be seen that as the running progresses, the fog gradually increases. -The fog is usually 1.50. , ;
It is considered to be at a practical level, and as shown in Figure 7, it falls outside the practical level at about 13,000 sheets per run. In addition, during running, the photoreceptor drum and elastic blade are worn out, resulting in scratched images, foreign matter adheres to the charger and transfer charger, and acid stains occur on the images. Therefore, it is necessary to replace consumables at the above-mentioned times.

Conventionally, life management of such consumables has been performed as follows.

■There is no special life management means, and life is determined when the developer is used up and printing is no longer possible.

(2) A toner supply device or the like is equipped with a sensor that detects the amount of developer, and when the amount of developer falls below a specified value, it is considered as life.

■The life is managed by the ROM on the control board inside the main unit.

However, such life management has the following problems.

■ Regarding life management, when the developer is used up,
Image defects such as decreased image density occur.

In the life management (2), since the sensor is inside the consumable item, a sensor is required for each consumable item, which causes an increase in the cost of the consumable item.

In addition, in the life management of It becomes possible. For this reason, printing may be performed with consumables such as the image carrier and the developer in a deteriorated state, which may result in image defects such as blurring and a decrease in image density.

In the case of life management (2), the ROM and its surrounding electric circuits are required to be flooded and required, which causes an increase in costs.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, life management of consumables in conventional image forming apparatuses sometimes causes deterioration of image quality or increases in cost.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and aims to provide an image forming apparatus that can manage the life of consumables without deteriorating image quality and at low cost.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention integrates an image carrier and a process means that acts on the image carrier. An image forming apparatus that supports a process unit that is detachable from the apparatus main body, and includes a counting means for counting the usage amount of the process unit, and an initializing means for initializing the counting result by the counting means. The process unit has a moving member whose position moves depending on the usage state of the process unit,
When the process unit is installed in the apparatus main body, if the process unit installed in the apparatus main body is an unused one, the moving member acts on the initialization means to change the counting result of the counting means. Initializes the unit, and if the process unit installed in the main body of the apparatus is in use, the moving member does not act on the initializing means and does not change the counting result of the counting means. Features.

(Function) In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the counting means for counting the usage amount of the process unit is operated by the moving member so that when the process unit installed in the apparatus main body is unused, the counting means counts the usage amount of the process unit. If the counting result is initialized and the process unit/nod attached to the main body of the device is in use, the counting result will not be changed, so life management of consumables will not cause deterioration of image quality. This can be achieved without any problems and at low cost.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a laser printer, which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 100 indicates the main body of the laser printer. A recess 101 is formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100 and is a first paper discharge section in which printed paper is stored. Further, an opening 102 is provided on one side of the apparatus main body 100 and is a second paper ejecting section through which printed paper is ejected. It is placed on a freely attached paper ejection tray 103. Furthermore, paper cassettes 104 and 105 are removably housed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 100. 106 is an operation panel for performing various operations of this laser printer, and 107 and 108 are openings for inserting and removing various IC cards such as a font card for adding functions and a card for application software.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the laser printer of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, in the vicinity of each of the paper cassettes 104 and 105 housed in the apparatus main body 100, paper sheets P, which are the transfer materials housed in each paper cassette 104 and 105, are placed in the order of top to bottom. Paper feed rollers 111.11. for sequentially taking out paper sheets and supplying them to the first paper transport path W1.
2 are arranged. The first paper transport path W1- includes paper transport kites 1-13 to 116 and two paper transport roller pairs 1-1.
] 7 and 118, and each of the paper transport kites 113 to 116 is integrated with a side cover 119 of the apparatus main body and can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body ] 00 around a support shaft 120. Further, on the downstream side of the first paper transport path W1, a second paper transport path W2 for transporting the paper P toward the image transfer position is arranged. This second paper transport path W2 is composed of paper transport guides 121 and 122 and a pair of aligning rollers 123. Note that an aligning switch 124 for detecting passage of the paper P is arranged upstream of the aligning roller 123. Furthermore, the side cover 1 of the device main body 100
A second paper transport path W2 is located above the paper transport path W2.
A manual paper feeding conveyance path W2- is provided which merges with the manual paper feeding path W2-. Note that 125 is a manual guide for guiding the paper P to the manual paper feeding conveyance path W2-. Further, on the downstream side of the aligning roller 123, a third paper conveyance path W3 is formed to ultimately guide the paper P to the image transfer position.

This third paper transport path W3 is composed of a pair of upper and lower paper transport guides 127 and 128 and 12 transfer guide rollers.

130 is an electrophotographic process unit. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of this electrophotographic process unit 130.

As shown in the figure, this electrophotographic process unit 13
0 is around the photosensitive drum 131 as an image carrier,
Along the rotation direction shown by arrow C, the photosensitive drum 1-31
a charging device 132 made of a scorotron for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131; a developing device 133 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131 using a two-component developer made of toner and carrier; Photosensitive drum 131
A transfer device 134 for transferring toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131 onto paper, a drum cleaner device 135 as a current agent removing means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 131 after transfer, and a static elimination lamp 136 are sequentially operated. arranged and configured.

The above-described developing device 133 includes a developing roller 138 having an internal magnet and two stirring rollers 1 in a developing case 137.
39 and 140. Further, a toner replenishing device 141 for replenishing consumed toner is attached to the developing device 133.

Further, the drum cleaner device 135 described above includes a toner storage section 143 in which the toner removed from the photoreceptor drum 131 is stored in the cleaner case 142, and a toner storage section 143 in which the toner removed from the photoreceptor drum 131 is stored.
An elastic plate 144 for contacting the surface of the toner 31 to scrape off residual toner adhering to the surface, and a toner conveying roller 145 for conveying the scraped off toner to the toner storage section 143 are arranged.

Further, in FIG. 2, 150 indicates a laser exposure unit. This laser exposure unit] 50 includes a case 151 that houses a laser diode (not shown), and a condensing lens device 152 that condenses the laser light of the laser diode.
, a light control device 153 that polarizes the laser beam from the condenser lens device 152, an Fθ lens 154, a reflection mirror 155, and a dustproof glass 1.56.

Further, 158 is the photosensitive drum 131 and the transfer device 1 described above.
This is a paper transport guide constituting a fourth paper transport yiw4 that guides the paper P that has passed through the creative transfer position between 34 and 34 to the fixing device 160.

The fixing device 160 mainly includes a heat roller 161 and a pressure roller 162 that is pressed against the heat roller 161. These heat roller 161 and pressure roller 162 are surrounded by an upper printer 163 and a lower casing 164, respectively. This ensures a temperature atmosphere necessary for fixing the toner image onto the paper P. Furthermore, a cleaner 16 for cleaning the surface of the P1 roller 161 is installed around the heat roller 161.
5. A thermistor 166 for detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller 161 and a paper peeling guide 167 for reliably separating the leading edge of the paper P from the heat roller 161 after fusing and fixing are arranged.

Further, on the downstream side of this fixing device 160, a paper ejection kite 171, a first paper ejection roller pair 172, a gate device 173,
A paper ejection guide pair 174 and a second paper ejection roller pair 175 are arranged in this order. The get device 173 is for switching the discharge destination of the paper P to either the first paper discharge section (recess 101> or the second paper discharge section (opening) 02).

In the laser printer having the above configuration, each component of the electrophotographic process unit 130 except the transfer device 134 is integrally removable from within the apparatus main body 100, as shown in FIG. That is, an openable and closable top cover 180 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 100, and a laser exposure unit 150 is fixed to the inner surface of this top cover 180. This top cover 1
80 is designed to be able to rotate upward by a maximum of about 60 degrees around one end thereof.

Here, in FIG. 2, 201 is a mechanical counter, which is placed on the main device side. This counter 20
1 has 4 digits and the initial value is “ooooo” as shown in Figure 5.
”, and this counter 201 is provided with an initialization switch 202 for initializing the count value.

This counter 201 is the aligning roller 1
23, and each time the paper P passes this aligning roller 123, the counter 201 is incremented by one. In this embodiment, when this counter 201- counts a predetermined value, for example 10,000 sheets, a word to that effect is sent from this counter 201 to a control circuit (not shown), and under the control of this control circuit, a message is displayed on the operation panel 106. At this time, a message is displayed indicating that the electrophotographic process unit 130 should be replaced.

In addition, the electrophotographic process unit 130 has a
As shown in FIGS. a> and (b), an engaging member 203 is provided which engages the initialization switch 202 and initializes the counter 201 when the electrophotographic process unit 1-130 is installed in the main unit. There is. This engaging member 203 is fitted to the tip of a guide shaft rotatably protruding from the electrophotographic process unit 130, and meshes with a switch pushing member 204 that pushes the initialization switch 202 when installed, and a gear 205 provided on the main device side. A gear 206 is provided.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6(a), when this electrophotographic process unit 130 is installed in the main unit, the switch pushing member 204 pushes the initialization switch 202, and the counter 201 is initialized.

Thereafter, when the main device is started up, gear 205 rotates and gear 206 rotates accordingly.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the switch pushing member 204 is removed from the initialization switch 202, and the counting by the counter 201 is thereafter stopped.

In this manner, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment counts the number of times the electrophotographic process unit 130 is used by the mechanical counter 201 provided on the main body 1 side, and when the electrophotographic process unit 130 is replaced. Since the counter 201 is configured to be reliably initialized, life management of consumables can be realized at low cost without deteriorating image quality.

In the above embodiment, after a message indicating that the electrophotographic process unit 130 should be replaced is displayed on the operation panel 106, the printing operation is disabled until the electrophotographic process unit 130 is replaced with a new one. Good too.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the counting means for counting the usage amount of the process unit is configured so that the process unit mounted on the apparatus main body is unused by the action of the moving member. If the consumables are used, the counting results will be initialized, and if the process unit installed in the equipment main body is in use, the counting results will not be changed, making life management of consumables easier. This can be achieved at low cost without causing any deterioration in image quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an electronic photograph of the sub printer of FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the electrophotographic process unit shown in FIG. 3 taken out from the main body of the apparatus; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the counter shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the initialization operation of this counter, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing fogging on prints and changes over time in image density when a running test is performed. 130... Electrophotographic process unit, 201-Mechanical counter, 202... Initial f jade/Sochi, 20
3... Engaging member, 204... Switch pushing member, 205.206... Gear. Applicant: Toshiba Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus that integrally supports an image bearing member and a process means that acts on the image bearing member, and is equipped with a process unit that is removable from the apparatus main body, the amount of use of this process unit is determined. comprising a counting means for counting, and an initializing means for initializing the counting result by the counting means, the process unit having a moving member whose position moves according to the usage state of the process unit, When the process unit is installed in the apparatus main body, if the process unit installed in the apparatus main body is unused, the moving member acts on the initialization means,
Initialize the counting results of the counting means, and if the process unit installed in the apparatus main body is in use,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the moving member does not act on the initializing means and does not change the counting result of the counting means.