JPH0592645A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming apparatus possible to back up in order to make maintenance work rapid and easy by informing maintenance procedure using the function of the image forming apparatus. CONSTITUTION:In an image forming apparatus outputting an image signal to an image forming part to form an image, a detection means 1 composed of a toner empty sensor 12 detecting the maintenance period of the part of an image forming unit 23, a memory means composed of a memory 2 storing the data of the part in an image signal form and an information control means composed of an information control part 4 outputting the memory content of the memory means to the image forming part of the image forming unit 23 when the maintenance period is detected by the detection means to form an image are provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus suitable for backing up maintenance work by notifying a maintenance procedure of parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus which detects the replacement time of consumable parts such as an ozone decomposing filter and a photosensitive drum, and displays the fact that the parts are replaced. No. 22356, JP-A-1-304468.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-306867).

[0003]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, only the replacement parts are shown. Therefore, during the replacement work, the attached instruction manuals are taken out and then used. It is necessary to find out the description part of the replacement procedure of the part from the instruction manual and perform the replacement work while reading the description part, and it is troublesome to replace the part due to its complexity. In addition, the attached instruction manuals may be lost, which is a factor that impedes the user's awareness of maintenance.

Further, it is necessary to separately provide a display section for displaying the replacement parts, which makes the structure complicated.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides an image forming apparatus capable of backing up in order to promptly and easily perform maintenance work by notifying the maintenance procedure by utilizing the function of the image forming apparatus. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for outputting an image signal to an image forming section to form an image, a detecting means for detecting a maintenance time of parts. And storage means for storing information of parts in the form of an image signal, and notification control means for outputting the stored contents of the storage means to the image forming section to form an image when the maintenance time is detected by the detecting means. It is equipped with and.

In the second aspect, the storage means stores the maintenance procedure of the component in the form of an image signal in association with the information of the component.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, the detecting means has a structure for detecting the maintenance time of each of the plurality of parts, and the storing means stores each information of the plurality of parts in the form of an image signal, and When the maintenance time is detected for one component, the notification control unit extracts the image signal of the component from the storage unit and outputs the image signal to the image forming unit.

[0009]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the information of the parts is stored in the form of the image signal, and the detecting means detects the maintenance time of the parts. Then, when the maintenance time is detected by the detection means, an image signal relating to the component is output to the image forming unit to form an image, and the maintenance is informed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, the maintenance procedure of the parts is stored in the form of an image signal. Then, when the maintenance time is detected by the detection means, the maintenance procedure of the component is output to the image forming unit to form an image.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the information about each of the plurality of parts is stored in the form of an image signal, and the detecting means detects the maintenance time of each of the plurality of parts. Then, when the maintenance time is detected for one component, the image signal for the component is extracted and output to the image forming unit to be image-formed to notify that the component should be maintained.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 21 includes an optical system unit 22, an image forming unit 23, and a transfer unit 2.
4, a fixing unit 25, a fan unit 26, a paper feed cassette 27, a pair of registration rollers 28, a discharge tray 29, and the like. In addition, these units 22 to 2
Reference numeral 6 is formed so as to be attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus 21 in order to facilitate replacement.

The optical system unit 22 has a laser, a polygon mirror and the like, and the image forming unit 2 emits a laser beam which is optically modulated according to an image signal input from a computer or the like.
The light is projected onto the photosensitive drum 30 of No. 3. The image forming unit 23 includes a photoconductor drum 30, a lens 31 that collects the laser light on the photoconductor drum 30, a charging device 32 that charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 30, and a blank lamp that removes charges in unnecessary areas. 33, a developing device 34 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 30 by the laser light by toner, a toner tank 35 for storing the toner and supplying the toner to the developing device 34, and a toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 30. It has a cleaning device 36 and the like for removing. The surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is uniformly charged by the charging device 32, and then the optical system unit 2
Laser light from the photosensitive drum 3 passes through the lens 31.
0, the photosensitive drum 30 is exposed to light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing device 34.

The transfer unit 24 has a transfer device 40 and a separating device 41. Then, the photosensitive drum 3
The toner image on 0 is transferred to the paper feeding cassette 2 by the transfer device 40.
The transfer sheet is transferred to the transfer sheet fed from No. 7, and the transfer sheet after the transfer is separated from the photosensitive drum 30 by the separating device 41.
The transfer sheet after the separation is conveyed to the fixing unit 25.
The fixing unit 25 fixes the toner image transferred on the transfer paper and then discharges it to the discharge tray 29.

The paper feed cassette 27 is a pair of registration rollers 28.
The transfer paper is fed to the transfer unit 24 via the. The registration roller pair 28 feeds the transfer sheet to the transfer device 40 at a predetermined feeding timing so as to synchronize the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 30 with the transfer sheet. The discharge tray 29 is for mounting the above-mentioned fixed and discharged transfer paper. The fan unit 26 is composed of a ventilation fan and an ozone decomposing filter arranged in a gas flow path by the fan, and ventilates the inside of the image forming apparatus 21 and absorbs and decomposes ozone generated when the photosensitive drum 30 is charged. Is.

Next, the structure of the maintenance notification unit will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The maintenance notification unit is composed of the detection means 1, the memory 2, the timer 3, the notification control unit 4, and the like. The detection unit 1 is composed of a sensor such as a timer 11 and a toner empty sensor 12. The toner empty sensor 12 detects the amount of toner in the toner tank 35 to detect the replacement time of the image forming unit 23, the cleaning time, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the maintenance time). That is, the toner empty sensor 12 is composed of a photo sensor or the like, and as shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus 21 is fixed in a proper position so as to face the image forming unit 23, and the detecting portion is fixed to the toner tank 3.
It is fitted on the convex portion 351 formed on the outer peripheral surface 5 of the image forming unit 5 so as not to become an obstacle when the image forming unit 23 is pulled out. At least the convex portion 351 of the toner tank 35 is formed of a transparent body, and the toner empty sensor 12 detects the toner T in the toner tank 35 via the convex portion 351. Then, the toner T is consumed and the toner empty sensor 12 causes the toner tank 3
When it is detected that the amount of toner in 5 is below the detection level (state of FIG. 2), the notification control unit 4 determines that the image forming unit 23 has reached the maintenance time.

The timer 11 integrates the usage time of the image forming apparatus 21, and based on the integrated time, the optical system unit 22,
The timing of maintenance of the transfer unit 24, the fixing unit 25, the fan unit 26, the registration roller pair 28, etc. is detected. That is, the optical system unit 22,
The transfer unit 24, the fixing unit 25, the fan unit 26, the registration roller pair 28, and the like are deteriorated due to use, and proper image formation cannot be performed, or the registration roller pair 28 and the like are soiled with toner and the like to cause transfer paper Will be polluted. Therefore, when the timer 11 detects that the preset usage time has elapsed, the notification control unit 4 determines that the maintenance time has come.

The memory 2 is composed of a ROM or the like, and stores information such as the name of each component (unit) and the maintenance procedure of the component in the form of an image signal. In addition,
Information of each component may be stored as character data in the memory 2, and the character data may be converted into an image signal when the component information is read from the memory 2.

The timer 3 detects that a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance procedure was notified. The notification controller 4 uses the detection unit 1 to detect the optical system unit 22,
The image forming unit 23, the transfer unit 24, the fixing unit 25, the fan unit 26, and the registration roller pair 28.
When the maintenance time of any of the above components is detected, an image showing the maintenance procedure of the component is formed (printed) on the transfer paper to notify it. That is, when the maintenance time of any component in the registration roller pair 28 or the like is detected, the notification control unit 4 selects and reads out an image signal related to the maintenance procedure of the component from the memory 2, and the optical system. The unit 22 and the image forming unit 23 are controlled to print an image showing the maintenance procedure on the transfer paper.

Next, the operation of the maintenance notifying unit will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 by taking the case of the image forming unit 23 as an example. That is, when the operation is started, the timer 3 and the like are initialized (step S
1). Next, in order to determine whether it is time to replace the image forming unit 23, the toner empty sensor 12
Based on the detection result of (1), it is determined whether the amount of toner in the toner tank 35 has become below the detection level (step S2). If the toner amount is not consumed up to the detection level (NO in step S2), the determination in step S2 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the toner amount is below the detection level (state of FIG. 2) (YES in step S2), it is determined that it is time to replace the image forming unit 23, and the image forming unit 23 and its replacement procedure are transferred to the transfer paper. Is printed (step S3).

That is, the exchange procedure is printed on the transfer paper as follows, for example. 1. Open the front cover. 2. Operate the release lever and pull out the image forming unit. 3. Set a new image forming unit. 4. Close the front cover.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the image forming unit 23 has been replaced within a predetermined time, that is, whether the toner T has been detected by the toner empty sensor 12 within the predetermined time (step S4). If the toner T is not detected within the predetermined time, the image forming unit 2
Assuming that the replacement work of No. 3 is not performed (step S4
If NO, the process returns to step S3 and the notification operation of the replacement procedure is performed again.

On the other hand, when the toner T is detected within the predetermined time, it is determined that the image forming unit 23 has been replaced (YES in step S4), and the process returns to step S1.

In this way, the image forming unit 2 is detected by the detecting means 1 (toner empty sensor 12 and timer 11).
When the replacement time of 3 etc. is detected, the replacement procedure of the image forming unit 23 etc. is printed out on the transfer paper at the replacement time. Therefore, the replacement procedure of the image forming unit 23 etc. It is not necessary to find out the portion described in, and the image forming unit 23 and the like can be immediately replaced while reading the display on the transfer paper.

In the above flow chart, the replacement time of the image forming unit 23 is determined based on the detection result of the toner empty sensor 12, but when it is determined that the preset use time has passed by the timer 11 ( If YES in step S2), it may be determined that it is time to replace the image forming unit 23, and the replacement procedure may be printed on the transfer paper (step S3). Further, maintenance of parts is not limited to the image forming unit 23, and maintenance (replacement, replacement, etc.) of the optical system unit 22 and the like is performed when the use time of the optical system unit 22 and the like has elapsed.
The cleaning procedure may be printed on the transfer paper. Further, when the maintenance time of a part is detected, the name of the part to be replaced may be displayed on the transfer paper to prompt the replacement of the part.

In the above description, the maintenance procedure is printed out on the transfer paper, but the maintenance procedure may be displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 21. Moreover, you may make it notify by audio | voice etc.

As another sensor of the detecting means 1,
For example, there is a counter that counts the number of transfers so as to determine that the maintenance time is reached when the number of transfers reaches a predetermined number.

[0029]

According to the present invention, when the maintenance time of a component is detected, an image signal relating to the component is output to the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus to form an image, so that the image forming apparatus can be effectively used. ..

Further, when the maintenance time is detected, the maintenance procedure of the relevant part is output to the image forming section and an image is formed. Therefore, it is complicated to find out the part describing the maintenance procedure of the component from the attached instruction manual. There is no space, and maintenance work can be performed quickly and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a maintenance notification unit in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a maintenance notification unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 detection means 2 memory 3, 11 timer 4 notification control section 12 toner empty sensor 21 image forming apparatus 22 optical system unit 23 image forming unit 24 transfer unit 25 fixing unit 26 fan unit 27 paper feed cassette 28 registration roller pair 29 discharge tray

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Tsuchiya 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Shiku Hisa Miyazaki 1-228 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Shinohara 1-228 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Junichi Inada 1-228 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiji Kikuchi 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for outputting an image signal to an image forming unit to form an image, a detecting means for detecting maintenance time of a component, and a storing means for storing information of the component in the form of an image signal. An image forming apparatus comprising: a notification control unit that outputs the stored contents of the storage unit to the image forming unit to form an image when the maintenance time is detected by the detection unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the maintenance procedure of the component in the form of an image signal in association with the information of the component. 3. The detection means has a configuration for detecting the maintenance time of each of the plurality of parts, and the storage means stores each information of each of the plurality of parts in the form of an image signal, and the notification control. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the maintenance time is detected for one component, the means extracts the image signal of the component from the storage means and outputs the image signal to the image forming unit. ..