JPH05257343A - Process kit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] If the process kit is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit are automatically controlled by the main body of the apparatus according to the usage status of the process kit. A process kit capable of forming a stable image at all times is provided. In a process kit attachable to an image forming apparatus main body, an image carrier, process means acting on the image carrier, and first storage means for storing image forming conditions according to characteristics of the process kit. And a second storage means for storing the usage amount of the process kit.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process kit attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electrophotographic apparatus, it is necessary to readjust the exposure amount and the charge amount each time a unit such as a photoconductor is replaced, and further to adjust the developing bias value. Met. That is, these adjustments are necessary to obtain a proper image, and such adjustments are extremely complicated. In addition, if the characteristics change depending on the usage amount of the unit, that is, the amount of durability and the usage environment,
Adjustment is necessary, and these adjustment operations require skillful serviceability, and are unreliable in that they are unreliable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to mount a process kit on the main body of an image forming apparatus so that the image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit can be adjusted according to the usage status of the process kit. An object of the present invention is to provide a process kit that can be automatically controlled by the apparatus main body side and can always form a stable image. The present invention for achieving the above object provides, in a process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, an image carrier, a process means acting on the image carrier, and a process. A process kit including: a first storage unit that stores an image forming condition according to the characteristics of the kit; and a second storage unit that stores the usage amount of the process kit. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is a unit-shaped process kit which can be attached to and detached from the main unit,
It is a process kit having an electric storage element for setting an image forming condition on the main body apparatus side according to the characteristics of an image forming member in the kit. Further, the embodiment described below is an image forming apparatus in which a removable process kit is loaded and an image is formed, and a connector means for receiving an electric signal of an electric storage element in the kit and a receiving means via the connector means. And an image forming unit that is driven based on the electric signal. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine. In the figure, 1 is an image carrier, that is, a photoconductor, 2 is a charger, 3 is an exposure lamp, 4 is a document, 5 is a short focus lens array for forming a document image on the photoconductor, 6 is a developing unit, 7 Is a transfer charger, 8 is a cleaning device for cleaning the photoconductor, and 9 is a discharge lamp. The photoconductor 1 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and is uniformly charged by the charger 2. The original 4 is illuminated by the exposure lamp 3, and the original image is transferred through the short-focus lens array 5 to the photoreceptor 1.
Imaged above. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor is visualized by the developing device 6, and the visualized toner image is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer charger 7, and the transfer paper is fixed to the fixing portion (see FIG. The sheet is conveyed to a fixing unit (not shown) and is carried out of the apparatus. Although the present embodiment shows the Carlson system, it goes without saying that it can also be applied to the NP system using a three-layer photoconductor. According to the embodiment using the present invention, at least one or a part of the charging device, the developing device, the transfer device, and the cleaning device described above and the photoconductor are integrated into one body. A storage device configured as an exchangeable unit and for automatically adjusting each part of the unit to appropriate image forming conditions according to its characteristics is combined with the unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the photoconductor 1, the charger 2,
The developing electrode of the developing device 6 and the cleaning device 8 are integrated, and are replaced as a unit at the time of replacement due to the end of the durable life of the photoconductor 1. A storage element 10 such as a ROM (may be a P-ROM) is incorporated in this unit, which is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 12 provided in the main body by a connector 22. CPU12 is a lamp lighting circuit 1 provided in the main body
3, high voltage transformers 14 and 15, developing bias circuit 16,
It is connected to the static elimination lamp circuit 17. Storage element 10 described above
Stores the information to determine the exposure amount, the charge amount, the developing bias value, and the discharge exposure amount so that each part of this unit operates under proper image forming conditions according to its various characteristics. CPU12 is the lamp lighting circuit 1 of the main body
3, driving the high voltage transformers 14 and 15, the developing bias circuit 16 and the charge eliminating lamp circuit 17. The exposure device, the charger, the developing device, the discharge lamp and the storage element are electrically coupled to the main body side by a connector 22. The storage element 1
Although 0 may be a P-ROM, the unit is likely to vary due to the characteristics of various materials such as the photoconductor and the developer, and due to the assembly tolerance of the charging system and the developing system, and these are controlled by a single ROM. Needless to say, P-ROMs that can be programmed and input information according to their characteristics are superior. The integrated unit is indicated by a broken line 18 and is hereinafter referred to as a kit. According to the embodiment using the present invention, it is possible to detect the usage amount of the above kit, that is, the durability amount and the usage environment, and change the adjustment amount according to the information of the detection means. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which means for detecting the usage amount is provided and the adjustment amount is changed according to the information. In this embodiment, a device for storing the amount used, for example RAM 19, is incorporated in the kit 18. That is, the usage amount is input to the RAM 19 by counting, for example, the operation time or the number of copies, and the information is used as a means for detecting the degree of deterioration of the material or the remaining amount, and the CP
Input to U12 and change the adjustment amount. As an input signal to the RAM, for example, during a relatively short time when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, by obtaining the rest time and the operating time of the apparatus as a signal, for example, the potential fluctuation (rise, rise) of the photoconductor is obtained. Downward phenomenon-mainly fluctuation of residual potential due to rest time and operating time) can be corrected.
Further, it is also possible to correct fluctuations in the developing characteristics of the developer (rise and fall phenomena-mainly one material pause, fluctuations in tribo due to operating time). Furthermore, even if the power of the main body is turned off in the above long-time use, a signal obtained by electrically changing the mechanical signal of the main body or the kit or the mechanical signal of the counter or the like is obtained. As a result, the usage amount of the photoconductor can be input to the RAM. As an example of the signal source, an integration type counter, a chemical reaction type counter, a light change type counter, an electric quantity rotation number integration type counter, etc. are electrically RA
It can be used by converting it to the input signal of M. These are collectively shown as 23, 23 'in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which means for detecting the installation environment of the kit is provided and the adjustment amount is changed according to the information. In this example, for example, temperature,
Environment detection device 20 that detects humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc. is a kit 18
Be incorporated into. Information of this device is stored in the memory element 10, RAM1.
The CPU12 is input in the same way as the information of 9, and the kit is adjusted to the optimum image forming conditions. The environment detection device 20 may be incorporated outside the kit, that is, on the main body side, and this case is shown by 20 'in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the arithmetic processing unit 21 is incorporated in the kit 18 as an auxiliary means in the case where the main body sequence needs to be rewritten by changing the material. This is for example pre-rotation, post-rotation time, charging, exposure
It is a change of ON-OFF timing. Further, for example, in color image formation, if a color ROM, RAM, and CPU are incorporated, it is possible to form an image under optimum color conditions simply by setting a color kit. Similarly, a dedicated ROM when using a kit for photography, a copying kit, a line copying kit, etc. for each purpose.
, RAM, CPU can be incorporated. As described above, various kinds of kits can be considered for different purposes, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for setting the kit for one purpose. Note that the conditions in the chart may not all be satisfied, and one of them may be satisfied. Here, an embodiment will be described in which the non-uniformity of the latent image due to the characteristics of the photoconductor is corrected by the information of the ROM which is set in advance. When measuring the characteristics of a single photoconductor (shipment check)
In case, if the dark part potential (V _D ) of the photoconductor at a constant charging current (for example, -500 μA) is -500 V, the main body side outputs -500 μA without correcting the current value, and the proper potential of -500 V is obtained. become. However, the output of the main body is -500 μA and V _D is
-400 V, or V _D output is -500μA body side -600
For V, the output current value of each main unit side is corrected to -600 μA, -400 μA by the ROM of the process kit side to make V _D constant (-500 V). If the white background potential ( _VL ) is an appropriate value of -100V, the lighting voltage of the exposure lamp is not corrected, but is lit at 65V, for example. However, when the lighting voltage is 65 V, V _L = -150
When the voltage is V or 65 V and V _L = −50 V, the lighting voltage is corrected to 70 V and 60 V by the ROM on the kit side to set V _L to a constant −150 V. Further, if the halftone potential V _H having a reflection density of about 0.3 is -250 V, the developing bias voltage (B _De ) of -150 V is not corrected, but the potential is -300 V, -200 V.
In this case, in order to correct each of these, the developing bias voltage is changed to -200V and -100V based on the memory of the ROM to obtain an image of constant density. These charging current, lighting voltage, and developing bias may be corrected individually or in combination. Therefore, in the characteristic check of the photosensitive member alone, the charging current, the lighting voltage, the developing bias are kept constant, the potentials thereof are measured, and the values can be input to the P-ROM. As described above, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, even if the unit is replaced, each part of the unit is automatically adjusted to the proper image forming condition, and a good image can always be formed. Not only can it be stably linked to the main unit. Further, even when the black image forming unit is replaced with another color image forming unit or when another purpose is used, for example, when a photographic image or line image unit is used, the image forming conditions can be easily adjusted. .. Further, a stable image can be formed even when the durable environmental characteristics of the photoconductor, the developing material and the like are changed. As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the image forming conditions such as the photoconductor or the like are simply loaded in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming conditions corresponding to the parts replaced with respect to the main body are set to various conditions on the main body side. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is automatically adjusted and that is always adjusted so that a stable image is always formed even if the characteristics of parts change according to durability, environment, and the like. As described above, according to the present invention, if the process kit is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit can be adjusted according to the usage condition of the process kit. It is possible to provide a process kit that can be automatically controlled by the apparatus main body side and can always form a stable image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a process kit to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a modification thereof, and FIG. 3 is a modification thereof. FIG. 4, a block diagram showing a modification thereof, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of setting of the kit. [Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Photosensitive member 2 ... Charging device 3 ... Exposure lamp 4 ... Original 5 ... Short focus lens array 6 ... Developing device 7 ... Transfer charging device 8 ... Cleaner 9 ... Static elimination lamp 10 ... Storage element 12 ... CPU 13 ... Lamp lighting circuit 14, 15 ... High voltage transformer 16 ... Development bias circuit 17 ... Static elimination lamp circuit 18 ... Kit 19 ... RAM 20 ... Environment detection circuit 21 ... Arithmetic processing device 22 ... Connector 23, 23 '... Counter

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. A process kit mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, which stores an image carrier, process means acting on the image carrier, and image forming conditions according to characteristics of the process kit. A process kit comprising: a first storage means for storing the process kit; and a second storage means for storing the usage amount of the process kit. [2] In the process kit, at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image carrier are integrally unitized with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process kit according to claim 1, which is detachable. 3. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include an exposure amount for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image bearing member. 4. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include a charge amount for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image bearing member. 5. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include a developing bias for developing a latent image of an electrophotographic photosensitive member as the image bearing member. 6. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means has a ROM. 7. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the second storage means has a RAM. 8. The process kit according to claim 1, further comprising environment detection means.