JPH1124514A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To facilitate management of the life of a photoconductor unit and other image forming units that are taken out by replacement, to calculate the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus itself,
Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of calculating the life of an image forming unit. SOLUTION: When a main body control board 36 is replaced, the number of used prints of the replaced image forming units 20 and 30 is:
A value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of prints N2 from the new state of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory 17 and a total print from the time of the new state of the apparatus body when the image forming units 20 and 30 are replaced. By calculating the difference between the fixed number of sheets N3 and N4 and writing the value of the difference in the main body memory 40 of the main body control board 36, the image forming unit counts up each time the number of used prints N7 and N8 is printed. The life of the image forming units 20 and 30 can be continuously managed.

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 such as a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which a photosensitive unit and other units relating to image formation are detachably provided in an apparatus main body. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional image forming apparatuses are described in, for example, JP-A-59-61854, JP-A-61-147267, and JP-B 1-4-1987. Although these conventional image forming apparatuses are differently referred to as process cartridges, process units, or process kits, they are each a device such as a developing device, a cleaning device, or a charging device arranged around the photoreceptor. The unit (hereinafter, referred to as a process unit) integrally assembled with the photosensitive member is detachably provided in the apparatus main body.

In the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the quality of the image is maintained by replacing the process unit whose life has expired with a new one. Or measure
Various proposals have been made as to how to display, how to judge, how to prompt the user to exchange, and the like.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, the life of the process unit is set so that the life of the photoreceptor is almost replaced with the life of the photosensitive member. The photoreceptor of the old process unit is only to be disposed of, and it is not considered that the photoreceptor is reprocessed and reused.

However, when a material having a long life such as amorphous silicon is used for the photoreceptor,
Even if the surface is slightly scratched, it can be reused by reprocessing to continue its use.

In the case where the photoconductor is reprocessed and reused as described above, it is possible to reuse the photoconductor of the process unit taken out by replacement by regenerating the photoconductor. It is necessary to control whether the photoconductor of the mounted process unit is new or remanufactured.

In addition, when the life of the process unit is measured by counting the use time and the number of prints of the process unit, and when the image forming apparatus itself guarantees a certain number of prints, the apparatus main body is used. When the main control board having the counter circuit and the main memory storing the number of prints up to that point has been electrically destroyed, the life of the process unit is calculated, and the number of prints of the image forming apparatus itself is calculated. There was a problem that calculation for guarantee could not be performed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in the case where the photosensitive member unit and other image forming units are detachably provided in the apparatus main body, and the photosensitive member is reproduced and reused, It is easy to manage the life of the photoconductor unit and other image forming units that are taken out by replacement, and to guarantee the number of prints of the image forming apparatus itself even if the main control board is destroyed electrically. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of calculating the image quality and the life of the image forming unit.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a photoreceptor unit having a photoreceptor and a part of a device acting on the photoreceptor, the photoreceptor unit being detachably provided on the device main body, and a device main body. An image forming unit that is provided detachably and performs an image forming operation together with the photoconductor unit, and controls the operation of each device to perform an image forming operation using the photoconductor unit and the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body control board having a main body memory for storing predetermined items, wherein a reproducible one is used for the photoconductor, an auxiliary memory is provided in the photoconductor unit, and the main body memory and the auxiliary memory are provided. In the attached memory, a unique number of the apparatus main body and a value to be counted up for each print of the total number of printed sheets since the apparatus main body is new are stored in the attached memory. A value that counts up for each print of the unique number of prints is stored, and a value that counts up for each print of the use time and the number of prints to be used for measuring the life of the image forming unit is stored in the main body memory. It is configured as follows.

According to the image forming apparatus having such a configuration,
In order to store the value counted up for each print of the number of prints specific to the photoconductor in the attached memory of the photoconductor unit, the stored value of the attached memory of the photoconductor unit taken out by replacement is read, and the photoconductor unit is read. It can be easily determined whether or not the photosensitive member can be reused by reproduction based on the number of printed sheets unique to the photosensitive member.

Also, even if the main body control board is destroyed electrically, a value which is incremented for each printing of the total number of printed sheets from the time when the apparatus main body is new is also stored in the memory attached to the photosensitive body unit. Since the total number of printed sheets is newly stored in the main unit memory of the new main unit control board installed by replacement, it is possible to guarantee the number of printed sheets from the time of the new device body regardless of the replacement of the main unit control board. It is possible to make calculations.

In addition, in order to store in the main body memory of the main body control board a unique number of the apparatus main body and a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets since the apparatus main body is new, the photoconductor newly mounted by replacement is stored. In the attached memory of the unit, a unique number of the apparatus main body read from the main body memory and a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets since the apparatus main body is new can be stored.

Further, the attached memory of the photoconductor unit includes:
When the image forming unit other than the photoreceptor unit is replaced with a new one, the total number of printed sheets from the time when the apparatus body is new to the time when the unit is replaced is stored as a constant value which is not counted up for each printing. Even when the control board is replaced and the stored value of the number of used prints of the image forming unit is lost, the used number of prints of the image forming unit after the replacement is the total of the number of prints of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory from the time of new use. Calculated as the difference between the value that counts up each time the number of printed pages is printed and the fixed value of the total number of printed pages from the time of the replacement of the image forming unit. By writing to the main body memory of the control board, it is possible to restore the value that is counted up for each print of the number of used prints of the image forming unit,
It is possible to continuously manage the life of the image forming unit.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printer according to a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the printer 10 shown in FIG. 1, a drum 14 (photoreceptor) whose charge is made uniform by a main charger 11 of a drum unit (photoreceptor unit) 15
After that, the photosensitive unit is exposed to light and scanned by the optical unit 12 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is further developed by the developing roller 16 while rotating. The developing roller 16 is provided in a developing unit (image forming unit) 20, and develops the electrostatic latent image using toner powder supplied from a toner container 18 of the developing unit 20.

As the drum 14 further rotates,
The developed toner image is transferred to transfer paper passing between the transfer roller 22 and the transfer paper. The transfer paper is stored in a paper feed cassette 24, and is taken out therefrom by a paper feed roller 26 of a paper feed unit 28, and the drum 14 and the transfer roller 2 are transferred.
Between the two and pass through it. Alternatively, the transfer paper is fed from a manual feed tray provided corresponding to the side opening of the apparatus main body, and is conveyed between the drum 14 and the transfer roller 22.

The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred by the drum 14 and the transfer roller 22 is then sent to a fixing unit (image forming unit) 30 and passes between a heat roller 32 and a press roller 34 so that The toner powder forming the transferred toner image is fixed on transfer paper, and the transfer paper is thereafter discharged.

As a transfer paper discharging method, there are a face-up method in which the transfer paper is discharged with the printing surface facing up,
There is a face-down method in which the transfer paper is turned upside down (print side down) and discharged, and either one of the discharge methods can be freely selected.

The optical unit 12, the drum unit 15,
The developing unit 20, the paper feed unit 28, and the fixing unit 30 are controlled by an engine control board (main body control board) 36 to perform the above-described image forming operation. Via a host computer, such as a personal computer or a word processor, to perform a control operation. The optical unit 12 receives image data from the host computer via the main controller board 38.

The drum unit 15 includes the drum 1
4. Along with the main charger 11, the cleaning device 13, and other accompanying devices (not shown), the device is detachably provided on the device main body so that the device can be removed if necessary. Therefore, in a case where the printer 10 itself guarantees a predetermined number of printed sheets, for example, a guarantee of up to 300,000 sheets, if the drum 14 is scratched or the like, the drum unit 15 is removed and the drum 14 can be easily replaced. Can be done.

The developing unit 20, which is one of the image forming units for performing the image forming operation together with the drum unit 15, and the fixing unit 30, which is also one of the image forming units, are not removable from the apparatus main body. The developing unit 20 is provided with a life fuse 42, and the fixing unit 30 is provided with a life fuse 44.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus. The drum unit 15 is provided with a rewritable auxiliary memory 17 such as an EEPROM. As shown in FIG. N (unique number of the device main body such as manufacturing number)
1, the total number of prints N2 from the time when the apparatus body is new, and the total number of prints N3 and N4 from the time when the apparatus body is new when the image forming units such as the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 are replaced with new ones. And the number of reproductions N5 of the drum 14
Then, the number of prints N6 specific to the drum 14 is stored.

The number of prints N2 and N6 are counted up and stored one by one for each print.
3 and N4 are stored as fixed values that are not counted up for each printing.

The engine control board 36 includes a rewritable flash RO together with an MPU (microprocessor) and a control logic gate array used for control operations.
M40 (main body memory) is provided.

The flash R of the engine control board 36
As shown in FIG. N1, the total number of prints N2 from the time when the apparatus body is new, the usage time after replacement of the developing unit 20, the number of prints N7 (difference between the number of prints N2 and N3), and the number of prints after replacement of the fixing unit 30. The use time and the number of used prints N8 (the difference between the number of prints N2 and N4) are respectively stored. The number of prints N2, N7, N8 is counted up for each print after the replacement.

If the drum unit 15 is replaced with another drum unit 15 for some reason, the main unit of the apparatus stored in the flash ROM 40 of the engine control board 36 in the attached memory 17 of the newly mounted drum unit 15 Serial No. N1 and the total number of prints N2 from the time when the apparatus main body is new are written.

If the engine control board 36 is replaced with another engine control board 36 for some reason,
Flash R of the newly installed engine control board 36
In the same manner as described above, the serial number of the apparatus main body stored in the auxiliary memory 17 of the drum unit 15 is stored in the OM 40.
N1 and the total number of prints N2 from the time when the apparatus main body is new are written. The number of prints N6 specific to the drum 14 is designed to be read at any time.

When the life fuses 42 and 44 provided in the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 are turned on, the MPU of the engine control board 36 determines that the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 have been replaced with new units. Assuming that the life fuses 42 and 44 are cut off.

At this time, the number of used prints N7 and N8 of the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 stored in the flash ROM 40 are erased to prepare for the storage of the subsequent count value, and the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 The total number of prints N3 and N4 from the time when the apparatus body is new when the printer is replaced is stored in the attached memory 17, and the total number of prints N3 and N4 is not counted up for each subsequent print and is constant. Stored as a value.

Next, the printer 1 according to the above embodiment will be described.
The operation of 0 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the power of the printer 10 is turned on, first, it is checked whether or not the life fuses 42 and 44 provided in the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 are electrically connected. It can be seen that the unit 30 has been replaced with a new unit (YE in step S1).
S).

In this case, the life fuses 42 and 44 are cut off, and the number of used prints N7 and N8 stored in the flash ROM 40 are erased. N3 and N4 are written in the attached memory 17 (step S2). This value N3
And N4 are constant values that do not count up in subsequent printing as described above.

The engine control board 36 stores the serial No. of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory 17 of the drum unit 15. N1 (see FIG. 4) and the serial number of the device main body stored in the flash ROM 40 of the engine control board 36. N1 (see FIG. 5) is read and compared. If the N1 of the attached memory 17 is "00" and the N1 of the flash ROM 40 is not "00", it is understood that the drum unit 15 has been replaced with a new one. (YES in step S3).

In this case, the serial number of the apparatus main body stored in the flash ROM 40 is stored. N1 and the total number of prints N2 (see FIG. 5) from the time when the apparatus main body is new, are read, and written in the corresponding area of the attached memory 17 of the drum unit 15 (step S4).

Thereafter, every time printing is performed in the printer 10, the number of prints N6 unique to the drum 14 and the total number of prints N2 are counted up by one (step S11), and the counted total number of prints is counted up. N2 is stored in the flash ROM 40 and the attached memory 17, and the number of prints N7 of the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 stored in the flash ROM 40 is used.
And N8 are counted up one by one (step S1).
2) Further, the counted number N6 of prints specific to the drum 14 is stored in the attached memory 17, and the processing is terminated.

The number of reproductions N5 of the drum 14 stored in the auxiliary memory 17 of the drum unit 15 (see FIG. 4)
Is not "00", it is understood that the drum unit 15 has been replaced with a reproduced one (YE in step S5).
S). In this case, steps S4, S11 and S
12 is performed.

If the engine control board 36 is replaced with a new one due to damage or the like without replacing the drum unit 15 (YES in step S6), the engine control board 36 is stored in the flash ROM 40 of the newly mounted engine control board 36. Serial No. of the main unit N1 (see FIG. 5) is “00”, so that the serial No. N1 and the total number of prints N2 (see FIG. 4) from the time when the apparatus body is new, read them out to the flash ROM 40 of the engine control board 36, and read those values N1 stored in the attached memory 17.
1 and N2 (step S7).

Then, the total number of prints N2 stored in the attached memory 17 from the time when the apparatus main body is new and the total number of prints from the time when the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 are replaced with new ones. The difference between the number of printed sheets N3 and N4 (see FIG. 4) is obtained, and the value of the difference is stored in a flash ROM.
In step 40, the number of prints N7 and N8 used by the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 are stored (step S8).

The serial number of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory 17 N1 (see FIG. 4) and flash ROM
40 stored in the serial number of the device main body. Is different from N1 (see FIG. 5) (NO in step S9), the flash R is stored in another empty area in the attached memory 17.
The serial number of the device main body stored in the OM40. N1 and the total number of prints N2 are read and written (step S10).

When such an overlap occurs many times and there is no extra space in the attached memory 17, the oldest stored contents are sequentially rewritten. In this manner, even if the drum unit 15 of another printer 10 or the engine control board 36 is inserted for some reason in the market, the history can be left in the attached memory 17.

The drum unit 15 is connected to the drum 1
When the drum unit 14 is replaced with another one due to a scratch or the like, the number of prints unique to the drum 14 is stored in the memory 17 attached to the drum unit 15 taken out from the apparatus main body.
Read it out and play it if less than 50,000 for example,
If the number is 50,000 or more, the drum 14 can be discarded.

As shown in FIG. 4, the attached memory 17 stores the number N5 of times that the drum 14 has been reproduced, and the drum 14 that has been reproduced once may not be reproduced, or may be reproduced a plurality of times. Can also.

If the same data is stored in a plurality of areas (at least three locations) of the attached memory 17, even if the power is turned off during data writing and the data being written is damaged, Alternatively, accurate data can be determined by majority decision of a plurality of data.

In the above embodiment, for example, 5
Although the number of sheets is set as a criterion for judging whether or not the drum 14 can be reproduced, it is needless to say that other numbers can be set as the criterion. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the number of sheets is guaranteed, for example, 300,000 has been described. However, it is needless to say that the number of sheets is not necessarily limited to 300,000.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photoreceptor unit removed by replacement is stored in the memory attached to the photoreceptor unit so as to store a value which counts up every time the number of prints unique to the photoreceptor is printed. By reading the stored value of the attached memory, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the photoconductor of the photoconductor unit can be reused by reproduction based on the number of prints unique to the photoconductor.

In the event that the main body control board is destroyed electrically, a value which is incremented for each printing of the total number of prints since the apparatus main body is new is also stored in the memory attached to the photosensitive body unit. Since the total number of printed sheets is newly stored in the main unit memory of the new main unit control board installed by replacement, it is possible to guarantee the number of printed sheets from the time of the new device body regardless of the replacement of the main unit control board. It is possible to make calculations.

Further, in order to store in the main body memory of the main body control board a unique number of the apparatus main body and a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets since the apparatus main body is new, the photoconductor newly mounted by replacement is stored. In the attached memory of the unit, a unique number of the apparatus main body read from the main body memory and a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets since the apparatus main body is new can be stored.

The memory attached to the photoconductor unit includes:
When the image forming unit other than the photoreceptor unit is replaced with a new one, the total number of printed sheets from the time when the apparatus body is new to the time when the unit is replaced is stored as a constant value which is not counted up for each printing. Even when the control board is replaced and the stored value of the number of used prints of the image forming unit is lost, the used number of prints of the image forming unit after the replacement is the total of the number of prints of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory from the time of new use. Calculated as the difference between the value that counts up each time the number of printed pages is printed and the fixed value of the total number of printed pages from the time of the replacement of the image forming unit. By writing to the main body memory of the control board, it is possible to restore the value that is counted up for each print of the number of used prints of the image forming unit,
It is possible to continuously manage the life of the image forming unit.

Also, according to the above embodiment, the number of times of reproduction can be stored in the attached memory 17, so that
By reading the attached memory 17 of the drum unit 15 newly installed by replacement, it is possible to easily determine whether the drum 14 is new or refurbished, and to read the drum 14 of the drum unit 15 taken out by replacement.
However, it can be easily determined whether or not reuse is possible by reproduction.

Further, by storing the number of prints N7 and N8 used by the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30,
The life of the developing unit 20 and the fixing unit 30 can be easily determined by determining whether or not they have reached a predetermined value.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer 10 according to a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the printer 10 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the printer 10 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the storage contents of an auxiliary memory 17 of the drum unit 15;

FIG. 5 is a flash ROM 40 of the engine control board 36.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the stored contents of the "."

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Main charger 12 Optical unit 13 Cleaning device 14 Drum 15 Drum unit 16 Developing roller 17 Attached memory 18 Toner container 20 Developing unit 22 Transfer roller 24 Paper cassette 26 Feed roller 28 Feed unit 30 Fixing unit 32 Heat roller 34 Press Roller 36 Engine control board 38 Main controller board 40 Flash ROM 42, 44 Life fuse

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photoreceptor unit having a photoreceptor and a part of an apparatus acting on the photoreceptor, the photoreceptor unit being removably provided on the apparatus main body, and an image forming operation being removably provided on the apparatus main body, together with the photoreceptor unit. An image forming unit for performing an image forming operation using the photoreceptor unit and the image forming unit, and a main body control board having a main body memory for storing predetermined items while controlling the operation of each device. In the image forming apparatus provided, a reproducible one is used for the photoconductor, an auxiliary memory is provided in the photoconductor unit, and the main body memory and the auxiliary memory have a unique number of an apparatus main body and a new apparatus main body. The value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets from the printer is stored, and the attached memory is counted up for each printing of the number of printed sheets unique to the photoconductor. Image forming means for storing a value for counting the use time and the number of used prints for measuring the life of the image forming unit in the main body memory. apparatus. 2. When the photoconductor unit is replaced with another photoconductor unit, a unique number of the apparatus main body stored in the main body memory is stored in an attached memory of the photoconductor unit newly mounted by the replacement. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets from when the apparatus main body is new is stored. 3. When the main body control board is replaced by another main body control board, the main body memory of the newly mounted main body control board is replaced with a unique number of the apparatus main body stored in the attached memory. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value to be counted up for each printing of the total number of printed sheets from when the apparatus main body is new is stored. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of reproductions of the photoconductor is stored in the attached memory. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction of the photoconductor is determined based on at least one of the number of reproductions of the photoconductor and the number of printed sheets unique to the photoconductor stored in the attached memory. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. When the image forming unit is replaced with a new one, the values of the used time and the number of printed sheets of the image forming unit before replacement stored in the main body memory are erased and the apparatus at this time is deleted. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attached memory stores a value which is not counted up every time printing is performed with respect to the total number of printed sheets since the new body.