JP2000098825A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make measurable the data on the service life of a component whose durable years are defined by measuring the amount of recovered toner while considering whether a toner image formed on a photoreceptor drum is transferred or untransferred to paper. SOLUTION: First, whether, a transfer image formed based on the image data of an original document read by optical scanning is present or not is judged. In the case where the transfer image is present, the number of pixels forming the transfer image at present is subtracted from the number of pixels obtained by totalization by a counter 36. Then, whether an untransferred image based on the formation of a patch is present or not is judged. In the case where the untransferred image is present, a value that is K times the number of pixels constituting the patch is subtracted from the number of the pixels obtained by totalization by the counter 36. K is normally an integer that is larger than or equal to 1. Then, in the case where the life data exceeds the useful life of the process cartridge 50 as a result of updating the result of counting the pixels, etc., an arithmetic part 21 instructs an image forming part in a device main body 10 to inhibit copying.

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 for processing an optically read original image data to output an image, and more particularly to an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of a type for measuring data relating to the life of a component having a durable life, and in particular, the number of pixels having a substitute characteristic of the amount of collected toner as one of the life data. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for measuring.

One example of a component having a durable life is a "process cartridge" in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means acting on the photosensitive member are integrated so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. In particular, the present invention is directed to a process cartridge of a type equipped with a cleaning means for removing waste toner remaining on a photosensitive drum or the like and a toner recovery tank. In the case of this type of process cartridge, the limit of the amount of collected toner is determined according to the size of the toner collection tank, and the amount of collected toner and the number of pixels as a substitute characteristic value are factors of the service life.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Various OA devices have been actively developed and developed.
It has been produced and widely used in offices of companies and research institutes. In particular, in a modern society where documentation is of paramount importance, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses for duplicating various originals have penetrated deeply into offices.

This type of image forming apparatus is generally based on an image input unit for optically scanning a document, an image processing unit for performing predetermined processing on input image data, and an image processing unit based on the processed image data. It is composed of an image forming unit that forms a restored image by an electrophotographic process, and transfers and fuses the image on paper. Further, the image forming apparatus is provided with a unit for placing or sequentially supplying a document from which an image is to be read, and a unit for sequentially supplying, conveying, and discharging transfer paper.

[0006] The electrophotographic process is realized by repeating charging, developing and cleaning processes on an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The photoreceptor drum exerting an electrophotographic process action is a consumable part having a durable life and requires maintenance work such as inspection, repair, and replacement as appropriate. For this reason,
At least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the photosensitive drum are integrated with each other to make it possible to freely attach / detach / replace the unit from the image forming apparatus.
A "cartridge" approach was devised.

[0007] According to the process cartridge system, the operability of maintenance work is remarkably improved. It is also possible for the user to perform maintenance without relying on a specialized service person. The process cartridge method is
Widely used in image forming apparatuses.

[0008] The service life indicating the replacement time of the process cartridge is basically determined by the degree of wear due to the use of the drum photosensitive member. It is considered that the usage amount of the drum photoconductor is substantially proportional to the number of prints and the rotation speed of the drum photoconductor. In other words, the number of prints and the number of rotations of the drum are factors that determine the useful life of the process cartridge.

On the other hand, in the case of a process cartridge equipped with a cleaning means for removing residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum and a toner recovery tank, the amount of residual toner that can be accommodated is limited by the size of the toner recovery tank. is there. Further, the amount of collected toner does not simply increase in proportion to the number of prints, but greatly fluctuates depending on various factors. Toner spilling out of the full collection toner tank can cause contamination and destruction of the apparatus 10. Therefore, the amount of collected toner must be recognized as one factor that determines the useful life of the process cartridge.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-281564, assigned to the present applicant, discloses that the number of prints, the total number of rotations of a drum, the number of pixels, and the like are used to measure the life of a process cartridge. ing.

In order to manage the replacement time of the process cartridge, it is necessary to not only count the number of prints, the total number of rotations of the drum, the number of pixels, etc., but also store these count values appropriately.

Regarding the amount of collected toner, which is one factor of the life data, the amount of toner stored in the toner collection tank is not directly measured, but is replaced by the number of pixels of the toner image to be formed. That is being done.
This uses a mechanism that subtracts the amount of toner transferred to the print paper from the amount of toner transferred to the surface of the photosensitive drum by developing the electrostatic latent image to determine the amount of remaining toner, that is, the amount of collected toner. It was done.

The number of pixels of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum has a substitute characteristic of the amount of collected toner. This is based on the premise that the ratio between the amount of adhered toner and the amount of transferred toner, that is, the transfer rate is constant. Based on

However, the transfer rate is not always constant. This is because not all the toner images formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum are transferred to the paper.
For example, when a patch is formed on the photosensitive drum to adjust the operation in the image forming apparatus, when paperless printing (No Paper Run) is executed for maintenance and inspection, or when a paper jam occurs. For example, the toner image remains untransferred on the photosensitive drum without being transferred, and is removed as it is by the cleaning means and stored in the toner collection tank. The amount of collected toner in the untransferred area of the toner image is, of course, different from the amount of collected toner in the transferred image. More specifically, the amount of collected toner in an untransferred image is much larger than that in a transferred image.

If the number of pixels in the untransferred image is counted in the same manner as in the case of the transferred image, the amount of the collected toner is estimated to be smaller than the actual value. As a result, the use of the image forming apparatus is continued without detecting that the toner collection tank has reached a full state, toner overflows from the collection tank, contaminates the inside of the image forming apparatus, degrades image quality,
It can even lead to equipment destruction.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus of the type which measures data relating to the life of a component having a durable life.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming apparatus which measures the number of pixels having a substitute characteristic of the amount of collected toner as one of the life data.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately measuring the amount of collected toner in accordance with whether a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum has been transferred to a sheet or remains untransferred. To provide an image forming apparatus.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a first aspect of the present invention is an electrophotographic type of a type for measuring data relating to the useful life of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. (A) a pixel number counting means for counting the number of pixels corresponding to image information formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum as one of data relating to a service life; and (b) electrophotography. Transfer / non-transfer determining means for determining, for each part of the image information formed on the photosensitive drum, whether the toner image is a transferred image transferred to a sheet or an untransferred image in which the toner image remains untransferred; (C) processing means for counting the number of pixels by multiplying the number of pixels in the untransferred image by K, and (d) warning means for performing predetermined warning processing based on the count value of the pixel number counting means. Image forming apparatus characterized by the following It is.

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the non-transferred image may be a patch inserted between pages at predetermined intervals for maintenance / inspection or the like, or an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. It may be a black band formed for toner touch-up at initialization.

Alternatively, the untransferred image may be a toner image having image information formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the paperless printing operation mode.

Alternatively, the untransferred image may be a toner image having image information formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum when a paper jam occurs.

[0023]

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the amount of collected toner is measured in consideration of whether the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum has been transferred to a sheet or not.

As a result, the possibility that the toner collection tank becomes full before the process cartridge is diagnosed as having exceeded the service life is reduced, and an accident that the toner overflows from the collection tank is preferably avoided.

Also, it leads to guarantee of the image quality before the life,
Paper waste can also be prevented.

The process means including the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is configured in a process cartridge format detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a memory for storing data relating to a service life is stored in the process cartridge. You may have. In this case, the process of counting the number of pixels by the pixel number counting means is performed at the time of forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and at the time of discharging the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred to the outside of the image forming apparatus. It is preferable to write the number of pixels held by the number counting means into the memory. On the other hand, a method of adding the correction value of the number of pixels at the time of paper jam is conceivable, but in this case, processing at the time of jam will be complicated.

[0027] Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are:
It will become apparent from the following more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a hardware configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 used for carrying out the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 includes:
It comprises an apparatus main body 10 and a process cartridge 50 designed and manufactured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 10.

The process cartridge 50 is a unit which integrates various components for realizing an electrophotographic process such as the drum photosensitive member 55 and is designed and manufactured detachably with respect to the apparatus main body 10. The “process cartridge” system is used because these components that realize the electrophotographic process are consumables that have a durable life and require appropriate inspection, repair, and replacement. This is a result of facilitating the maintenance work by making it possible to freely perform the operation (see the section of [Prior Art]).

The process cartridge 50 of the present embodiment
Is used to write life data relating to the service life of the process cartridge 50, in addition to parts for realizing an electrophotographic process, such as a drum photoreceptor 55, a primary charger 56, a cleaner 57, and a developing device (not shown). Memory 60
It has. These components are housed in a housing 51.

The memory 60 stores the process cartridge 5
EEPR so that stored life data is not lost even when power is not supplied from the apparatus body 10 such as when replacing the
OM (Electrically Erasable)
and Programmable Read Onl
y Memory) is preferably used. The life data stored in the memory 60 mainly includes parameters related to the usage amount of the process cartridge 50, such as the amount of collected toner, the number of rotations of the drum, and the number of prints. The details will be described later.

Here, the electrophotographic process will be briefly described. The surface of the drum photosensitive member 55 is
6, the drum surface is exposed according to the image data of the original read by an optical scanning system (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image. After the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image by a developing device (not shown), the toner image is transferred onto a conveyed sheet (not shown). Thereafter, the toner image is fixed on the sheet by an action such as heat melting and pressure bonding, and the sheet on which the fixed image is formed is transferred to the apparatus 1.
It is discharged outside 00. The toner remaining on the surface of the drum photoreceptor 55 after the transfer is removed from the surface by the cleaner 57, and collected in a collection toner tank (not shown) via a toner conveying mechanism (not shown).

On the other hand, the apparatus main body 10 is provided with a connecting portion 11 for receiving the process cartridge 50,
An image input unit for optically scanning an original, an image processing unit for performing predetermined processing on the input image data, an original supply unit for placing the original and automatically supplying the original sequentially, and sequentially transferring the transfer paper It includes paper supply / discharge means for supply / conveyance / discharge. However, since well-known techniques can be applied to these components and are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, they will not be described in this specification. Also, it should be noted that only some of the connections between the hardware blocks in the drawings are shown in order to avoid complication of the drawings.

In the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment,
A memory 40 for storing the life data of the mounted process cartridge 50, a life data measuring unit 30 for measuring the life data of the mounted process cartridge 50, and A processing unit 20 for performing predetermined arithmetic processing and writing data in the memory 40 is provided.

The memory 40 has a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) so that the stored life data is not lost even while the image forming apparatus 100 is powered off.
It is preferable to use a non-volatile semiconductor storage element such as an omAccess Memory. The parameters of the life data stored in the memory 40 are the same as those stored in the memory 60 described above.

The useful life of the process cartridge 50 is essentially determined by the degree of consumption due to the use of the drum photoreceptor. It is considered that the usage amount of the drum photoconductor is substantially proportional to the number of prints and the rotation speed of the drum photoconductor.

On the other hand, in the case of a process cartridge equipped with a cleaner 57 as in this embodiment, the amount of residual toner that can be stored is limited by the size of a collected toner tank (not shown). Further, the amount of collected toner does not simply increase in proportion to the number of prints, but greatly fluctuates depending on various factors. Toner spilling out of the full collection toner tank can cause contamination and destruction of the apparatus 10. Therefore, the amount of collected toner must be recognized as one factor that determines the useful life of the process cartridge 50.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the life data is
Consists of a plurality of parameter values indicating the usage amount of the process cartridge 50, such as the amount of collected toner, the number of rotations of the drum, and the number of prints.

The number of prints is measured, for example, by counting the number of sheets discharged to a sheet discharge tray. The number of rotations of the drum can be measured by accumulating the driving time of a motor for driving the drum photosensitive member.
Further, the amount of the rotating toner can be substituted by the number of pixels of the toner image formed on the surface of the drum photosensitive member 55 (described later).

The number of prints and the amount of collected toner (or the number of pixels) are factors that strictly determine the life of the process cartridge 50, and have an upper limit. For this reason, in this embodiment, the number of prints and the number of pixels are counted in the form of counting down from the upper limit. Thus, for these factors, a small parameter value means a large cartridge usage. On the other hand, the number of rotations of the drum does not strictly determine the life of the process cartridge 50, but is merely a barometer for checking the state of deterioration of image quality, and has no upper limit. For this reason, in this embodiment, the number of drum rotations is counted in a count-up manner. Therefore, a large drum rotation speed directly means a large cartridge usage.

The measuring section 30 includes a recording control section 31, a drive system control section 32, and an image signal processing section 33.

The recording control section 31 is a unit for controlling the supply and discharge of paper on which a toner image is to be transferred, and counts the number of discharged paper, that is, the number of prints, by a counter 34 in a count-down manner. It has become.

The drive system control section 32 is a unit for controlling the drive of a motor (not shown) for rotating each rotating member such as the drum photosensitive member 50. Drum photoreceptor 50
The drum rotation speed obtained from the drive time of the drive motor is
It is counted by the counter 35 in a count-up manner.

The image signal processing section 33 performs predetermined signal processing on the image data of the document read by the optical scanning system (described above) to generate image data of an electrostatic latent image to be formed on the surface of the drum photosensitive member 55. It is a unit to do. According to the generated image data, the number of pixels of the toner image formed on the surface of the drum photoconductor 55 is calculated. Drum photoreceptor 5
A substantially proportional relationship is established between the amount of toner transferred to the surface of No. 5 and the amount of residual toner. In short, the number of pixels can be a substitute characteristic value for the amount of collected toner. The number of pixels obtained according to the image data is counted by the counter 36 in a count-down manner.

In the present embodiment, the number of pixels is not simply counted based on the generated image data, but each pixel is actually transferred to the paper or untransferred.
Counting is performed according to whether afterimages are formed on the five surfaces. The details of the counting process will be described later.

The measuring section 30 is mounted, for example, as a part of an image input section or an image forming section in the apparatus main body 10.

The processing unit 20 includes an arithmetic unit 21 and a storage control unit 2
Contains 2.

The operation unit 21 is provided with the process cartridge 5
It is a unit that manages life data of 0 and performs predetermined arithmetic processing. In order to process the life data, the storage contents of the memory 40 provided in the apparatus main body 10 and the memory 60 built in the process cartridge 50 are referred to or rewritten.

The storage controller 20 controls the actual reading and writing operations for the memories 40 and 60.

The processing section 20 is mounted, for example, as a part of an image forming section in the apparatus main body 10.

The apparatus main body 10 may include a display unit 12 for displaying various messages and operational hints to the user. For example, when the installed process cartridge 50 has exceeded its useful life based on the life data, the display unit 12 displays a warning message such as “Replace the process cartridge” and displays a warning. May be notified to the user of the replacement time.

Next, the operation of the present invention together with the operating characteristics of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus main body 10 during the image forming process.
The operation procedure of writing the life data measured in step (1) into the memories 40 and 60 (that is, updating the life data) is shown in the form of a flowchart. The processing procedure is realized, for example, by the arithmetic unit 21 executing a predetermined program code stored in its own built-in ROM.

The number of pixels constituting the life data is determined by the counter 3
6. The number of pixels is counted when forming an electrostatic latent image in the image signal processing unit 33 (described above). In the present embodiment, the process of updating the pixel values held by the counter 36 into the memories 40 and 60 is executed at the timing when the transfer sheet is discharged.

Hereinafter, each step in FIG. 2 will be described.

The toner image is transferred to paper, and is heated and melted.
After the sheet is discharged after being fixed by the pressing action, the counter 34 counts the number of prints in a countdown manner. More specifically, the number of prints held is decremented by 1 (step S11).

Next, the count values of the counters 34, 35 and 36 immediately after the image forming process are written into the memory 60 of the process cartridge 50 (step S12).
At this time, the data may be written in the memory 40 of the apparatus body 10 as well.

Next, it is determined whether the newly engraved life data has exceeded the useful life given to the process cartridge 50 (step S13).

If the useful life has been exceeded, the operation unit 21
Instructs the image forming unit in the apparatus body 10 to prohibit copying (step S14). In addition, the display unit 12
Then, a message to the effect that the process cartridge 50 should be replaced may be output.

On the other hand, when the service life has not been exceeded,
It is determined whether or not the cartridge usage has reached a level at which a warning should be issued (step S15). The warning level may be arbitrary.

If the warning level has been exceeded, a predetermined warning process is executed for the user (step S16).
For example, a message to the effect that the time to replace the process cartridge 50 is approaching is output to the display unit 12.

As described above, in this embodiment, the process of updating the pixel values held by the counter 36 into the memories 40 and 60 is executed at the timing when the transfer sheet is discharged. As an alternative to this, for example, when a jam occurs, the memory 4
It is envisaged to update the contents of 0,60. However, according to this alternative method, the processing at the time of jam will be complicated.

Next, the procedure for counting the number of pixels will be described. The counting process of the number of pixels is performed by the image signal processing unit 3.
The process is performed at the timing of forming an electrostatic latent image on the drum 10 in 3. As described above, in the present embodiment, not only the number of pixels is counted based on the generated image data, but also each pixel is actually transferred to paper or an unimaged image is left on the surface of the drum photoreceptor 55. It counts according to whether you have done it.

An example of a case where an untransferred toner image remains is as follows.
This is a case where a patch is formed on the photosensitive drum 55 for the purpose of adjusting the operation inside the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for counting the number of pixels in this case. The processing procedure is realized, for example, by the arithmetic unit 21 executing a predetermined program code stored in its own built-in ROM. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a transfer image formed based on image data of a document read by optical scanning (step S21).

If there is a transferred image, the number of pixels constituting the current transferred image is subtracted from the number of pixels accumulated by the counter 36 (step S22). The reason why the subtraction is performed is that the counter 36 counts the number of pixels in a count-down format. On the other hand, if there is no transfer image, step S2
Skip 2.

Next, it is determined whether there is an untransferred image based on the patch formation (step S23). A patch is a pattern inserted between pages at a predetermined interval (for example, every predetermined number of pages) for the purpose of adjusting the operation in the image forming apparatus 100. A patch is a toner image formed in an untransferred area beyond the page size, and is an untransferred image.

If there is an untransferred image, the number of pixels constituting the patch is calculated as K based on the number of pixels accumulated by the counter 36.
The multiplied value is subtracted (step S24). K is usually
It is one or more positive numbers. The value of K is substantially the reciprocal of the ratio of the amount of toner attached to the photosensitive drum 55 and the amount of toner transferred to the paper, ie, the transfer rate. The counter 3 is to be subtracted.
This is because 6 counts the number of pixels in a count-down format, and if it is a count-up format, it may be added.

On the other hand, if there is no untransferred image, step S2
Skip 4

Next, it is determined whether or not the life data exceeds the useful life of the process cartridge 50 as a result of updating the count result such as the number of pixels (step S2).
5).

If the service life has been exceeded, the operation unit 21
Instructs the image forming unit in the apparatus body 10 to prohibit copying (step S26). In addition, the display unit 12
Then, a message to the effect that the process cartridge 50 should be replaced may be output.

On the other hand, when the service life has not been exceeded,
It is determined whether or not the cartridge usage has reached a level at which a warning should be issued (step S27). The warning level may be arbitrary.

If the warning level has been exceeded, a predetermined warning process is executed for the user (step S28).
For example, a message to the effect that the time to replace the process cartridge 50 is approaching is output to the display unit 12.

The number of pixels may be counted in accordance with a flowchart equivalent to that of FIG. 3 not for a patch but also for a black band formed for toner touch-up when a new photosensitive drum is initialized.

Another example in which an untransferred toner image remains is a case where paperless printing (No Paper Run) is executed. The paperless printing is an operation mode in which the paper supply / discharge operation is discharged and only the image forming operation is performed for maintenance, inspection, and diagnosis. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a pixel count counting procedure in this case. The processing procedure is realized, for example, by the arithmetic unit 21 executing a predetermined program code stored in its own built-in ROM. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a transfer image formed based on image data of a document read by optical scanning (step S31).

Because of the paperless printing, the transferred image remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 55 without being transferred. Therefore, if there is a transfer image, a value obtained by multiplying the number of pixels constituting the current transfer image by K times from the number of pixels accumulated by the counter 36 is subtracted (step S32). K is usually 1
These are positive numbers. The value of K is substantially the reciprocal of the ratio of the amount of toner attached to the photosensitive drum 55 and the amount of toner transferred to the paper, ie, the transfer rate. The subtraction is performed by the counter 36.
Is counting the number of pixels in a count-down format, and if it is a count-up format, it may be added.

On the other hand, if there is no transfer image, step S32
To skip.

Next, it is determined whether there is an untransferred image (step S33).

If there is an untransferred image, a value obtained by multiplying the number of pixels constituting the presently transferred image by K times is subtracted from the number of pixels accumulated by the counter 36 (step S34). The reason why the subtraction is performed is that the counter 36 counts the number of pixels in a count-down format.

On the other hand, if there is no untransferred image, step S3
Skip 4

Next, it is determined whether or not the life data exceeds the useful life of the process cartridge 50 as a result of updating the count result such as the number of pixels (step S3).
5).

If the service life has been exceeded, the operation unit 21
Instructs the image forming unit in the apparatus body 10 to prohibit copying (step S36). In addition, the display unit 12
Then, a message to the effect that the process cartridge 50 should be replaced may be output.

On the other hand, when the service life has not been exceeded,
It is determined whether or not the cartridge usage has reached a level at which a warning should be issued (step S37). The warning level may be arbitrary.

If the warning level has been exceeded, a predetermined warning process is executed for the user (step S38).
For example, a message to the effect that the time to replace the process cartridge 50 is approaching is output to the display unit 12.

Another example in which an untransferred toner image remains is when a paper jam occurs. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the pixel number counting process in this case. The processing procedure is, for example, the above-described operation unit 21
Is executed by executing a predetermined program code stored in its own built-in ROM. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

When the occurrence of paper jam is detected, first,
It is determined whether there is an untransferred toner image on the photosensitive drum 55 (Step S41).

When the sheet has reached the photosensitive drum 55, a toner image has been transferred to the sheet, but when the sheet has not reached, the toner image remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 55. The toner image formed by the jam remains on the photosensitive drum 55 as an untransferred image. Therefore, based on the output of the image signal processing unit 33, the number of pixels corresponding to the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 55 is obtained (Step S42).

Then, a value obtained by multiplying the number of pixels obtained in step S42 by K times is subtracted from the number of pixels integrated by the counter 36 (step S43). K is usually one or more positive numbers. The value of K is substantially the reciprocal of the ratio of the amount of toner attached to the photosensitive drum 55 and the amount of toner transferred to the paper, ie, the transfer rate. The reason for the subtraction is that the counter 36 counts the number of pixels in a count-down format. In the case of a count-up format, the counter 36 may be added.

On the other hand, when the paper reaches the photosensitive drum 55 and the toner image is transferred to the paper,
Since no untransferred image remains on the drum 55, steps S42 and S43 are skipped.

Next, it is determined whether or not the life data exceeds the useful life of the process cartridge 50 as a result of updating the counting result such as the number of pixels (step S4).
4).

If the service life has been exceeded, the operation unit 21
Instructs the image forming unit in the apparatus body 10 to prohibit copying (step S45). In addition, the display unit 12
Then, a message to the effect that the process cartridge 50 should be replaced may be output.

On the other hand, when the service life has not been exceeded,
It is determined whether or not the cartridge usage has reached the level at which a warning should be issued (step S46). The warning level may be arbitrary.

If the warning level has been exceeded, a predetermined warning process is executed for the user (step S47).
For example, a message to the effect that the time to replace the process cartridge 50 is approaching is output to the display unit 12.

[Supplement] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example, and should not be construed as limiting. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims described at the beginning should be considered.

[0097]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
An excellent image forming apparatus of a type that measures data on the life of a component having a durable life can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excellent image forming apparatus that measures the number of pixels having a substitute characteristic of the amount of collected toner as one of the life data.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately measure the amount of collected toner depending on whether the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum has been transferred to a sheet or remains untransferred. Image forming apparatus can be provided.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the amount of collected toner is measured in consideration of whether the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum has been transferred to a sheet or not. As a result, the possibility that the toner collection tank becomes full before the process cartridge is diagnosed as having exceeded the service life is reduced, and an accident that the toner overflows from the collection tank is preferably avoided. Further, the image quality before the life is guaranteed, and waste of paper can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of writing life data measured by the apparatus main body 10 during image forming processing into each of memories 40 and 60 (that is, updating life data).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a pixel count counting procedure when a patch is formed on a photosensitive drum 55 for the purpose of adjusting the operation in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 Printing without paper for maintenance and inspection (No P
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating, in the form of a flowchart, a pixel number counting process procedure when (aper Run) is executed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a pixel count counting procedure when a paper jam occurs.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Device main body 11 ... Connection part (connector) 12 ... Display part 20 ... Processing part 21 ... Operation part 22 ... Storage control part 30 ... Measurement part 31 ... Recording control part 32 ... Drive system control part 33 ... Image signal processing part 34 , 35, 36 counter 40 memory (NVRAM) 50 process cartridge 51 housing 55 photosensitive drum 56 primary charger 57 cleaner 60 memory (EEPROM) 100 image forming apparatus

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H027 DA41 DB01 DC14 DD03 DE07 EC03 EE08 EK03 GB10 HB01 HB02 HB12 HB15 HB16 2H071 BA04 BA33 DA00 DA13

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the type for measuring data relating to the useful life of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, wherein (a) one of the data relating to the useful life is formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Means for counting the number of pixels corresponding to the obtained image information; and (b) for each part of the image information formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
Transfer / non-transfer determining means for determining whether the toner image is a transferred image to be transferred to paper or an untransferred image in which the toner image remains untransferred; and (c) multiplying the number of pixels in the untransferred image by K An image forming apparatus, comprising: processing means for counting the number of pixels; and (d) warning means for performing a predetermined warning process based on the count value of the pixel number counting means. 2. The non-transferred image is formed for a patch inserted between pages at predetermined intervals for maintenance and inspection, or for toner touch-up when initializing an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a black belt. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the untransferred image is a toner image having image information formed on a surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum in a paperless printing operation mode. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the untransferred image is a toner image having image information formed on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive drum when a paper jam occurs. 5. A process means including the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the process means being detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
The process cartridge is provided with a memory for storing data relating to a useful life in the process cartridge, and the process of counting the number of pixels by the pixel number counting means is performed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. And writing the number of pixels held by the pixel number counting means to the memory when discharging the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred to the outside of the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1.