JP2001042712A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible for a user to easily manage replacement of a photoreceptor at a low cost and realizable configuration. SOLUTION: A CPU 1 counts the number of printed sheets by counting up a value of the number of printed sheets every time one sheet of an image is printed by a printer 6. The CPU 1 resets the value of the number of printed sheets to '0' according to a reset instruction by a user on an operation panel. Prior to this reset, the CPU 1 stores counter reset information indicating the value of the number of printed sheets and the present date before the reset in a reset information storage region 3a. Further, according to a demand of a user, the CPU 1 makes the printer 6 print the history indicating the value of the number of printed sheets and the date at the time when the counter is reset according to the demand of the user based on the counter reset information stored in the reset information storage area 3a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for performing printing by an electrophotographic system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of printing apparatus uses, for example, a drum-shaped photoreceptor, and this photoreceptor deteriorates as it is used, and eventually hinders accurate image reproduction. It becomes like this.

Therefore, conventionally, the usage of the photoconductor has been monitored, and when the usage has reached a level at which image reproduction cannot be performed at a certain level or more, the user is prompted to replace the photoconductor. . In some cases, printing is not performed until the photoconductor is replaced.

In monitoring the usage of the photoconductor,
Generally, this is performed by counting the number of printed sheets from the start of use of the photoconductor.

In order to accurately count the number of printed sheets, it is necessary to detect whether or not an unused photoconductor is properly mounted when the photoconductor is replaced. Has a mechanism for automatically determining whether or not the mounted photoreceptor is unused.

[0006] As such a mechanism, a fuse is generally provided on the photoreceptor side, and the fuse is blown when mounted.

If such a mechanism is provided, when the photoreceptor is mounted, it is checked whether or not a fuse provided on the photoreceptor side has been blown. It is possible to determine whether or not is unused.

[0008]

However, the fuse is used only when the photoconductor is mounted,
It is usually used only once.

[0009] For this reason, the fuse is used less frequently for its cost, and is wasteful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object the purpose of simplifying the management relating to photoreceptor replacement while having a configuration which can be realized simply and at low cost. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing device that can perform the printing operation.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an electrophotographic printing method.
In the case of performing printing of a predetermined number of lifespans, for example, in a printing apparatus in which it is necessary to replace a photoconductor such as a photosensitive drum, counting means for counting the number of prints, for example, realized by software processing of a CPU, Resetting means for resetting the count value of the counting means to a value indicating that the number of printed sheets is "0", for example, realized by software processing of a CPU, in response to a predetermined reset instruction given by a user; A storage unit such as a reset information storage area capable of storing a plurality of the predetermined counter reset information; and a predetermined counter reset information indicating at least a count value of the counting unit before being reset by the reset unit. Is realized by software processing of the CPU, for example. A gravel creating means, a count value indicating the counter reset information stored within said storage means, notifying the user so as to be discriminated context of timing the count value is stored, for example, C
And a notification unit such as a history print control unit realized by software processing of the PU.

By taking such means, the number of printed sheets after the reset by the reset means is counted by the counting means. Then, when the count value is reset by the reset means, a history relating to the reset of the count value is created by storing the counter reset information indicating the count value before the reset in the storage means, and this history is used when the count value is reset. The user is notified so that the stored timing, that is, the context of the reset timing can be determined. Therefore, the user can check the status of the counter reset in the past, that is, the status of replacement of the photoconductor,
The user can easily manage the replacement of the photoconductor.

[0013] In the present invention, the history creating means may include a counter value indicating the date and time when the count value was reset together with the count value in the counter reset information. Is notified to the user when the date was reset.

By taking such measures, the user is notified of the history of the date and time as well as the history of the count value at the time of resetting. Therefore, the user can confirm the past counter reset execution interval, that is, the photoconductor replacement interval,
It is possible to recognize the exchange status of the photoconductor in more detail.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the printing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment includes a CPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, an image memory 4, a scanner 5, a printer 6, an encoding / decoding unit 7,
Network control circuit (NCU) 8, modem 9, and operation panel 1
0, which are connected to each other via a system bus 11.

The CPU 1 realizes an operation as a facsimile apparatus by performing control processing for comprehensively controlling each part of the facsimile apparatus based on a control program stored in the ROM 2.

The ROM 2 stores a control program for the CPU 1 and the like.

The RAM 3 is for storing various information necessary for the CPU 1 to perform various processes. Part of the storage area in the RAM 3 is used as a reset information storage area 3a for storing a plurality (five in the present embodiment) of counter reset information.

The image memory 4 temporarily stores received image data and image data waiting to be transmitted.

The scanner 5 generates image data by reading a transmission original, digitizing it, and performing various correction processes such as shading correction and darkness correction.

The printer 6 prints an image indicated by the image data on a recording sheet. The printer 6 is of an electrophotographic type and has a photosensitive drum (not shown).

The encoding / decoding unit 7 compresses and encodes the image data generated by the scanner 5 and decodes the compressed and encoded image data.

The NCU 8 has a PSTN (Public Switche).
d Telephone Network) is connected to the PSTN line C. This NCU 8 is connected to the connected PST.
For the N-line C, it performs status monitoring, transmission processing to the network, and the like. Further, the NCU 8 equalizes a facsimile transmission signal transmitted to the PSTN line C and sets a level.

The modem 9 is connected to the NCU 8.
The modem 9 modulates the image data and the control data to generate a facsimile transmission signal and a control signal to be transmitted to the PSTN line C. Also, the modem 9
The facsimile transmission signal and control signal arriving via the TN line C are demodulated to reproduce image data and control data.

The operation panel 10 is provided for the user to operate the CPU 1
And a display unit for displaying various information to be notified to the user.

By the way, the control means realized by the CPU 1 operating based on the control program stored in the ROM 2 includes a counting means, a resetting means, a history creating means, in addition to the well-known general means in a facsimile machine. And history printing control means.

Here, the counting means counts the number of sheets printed by the printer 6.

The reset means resets the number of printed sheets counted by the counting means to "0" in response to a reset instruction from the user.

The history creating means writes into the RAM 3 counter reset information including the number of printed sheets before resetting by the resetting means and the date of resetting.

In response to a request from the user, the history print control unit creates a reset execution history based on the counter reset information stored in the RAM 3 and performs a process of causing the printer 6 to print the history.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus configured as described above will be described. Note that the basic operation of the facsimile apparatus relating to facsimile communication and the like is the same as that of a conventional general facsimile apparatus, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. I decided to.

First, each time printing of one image by the printer 6 is completed, the CPU 1 executes a drum life monitoring process as shown in FIG.

In this drum life monitoring process, the CPU 1
First, since one sheet has been printed, the number of printed sheets is counted up (step ST1).

Then, the CPU 1 determines that the counted number of printed sheets is less than (1) a predetermined near-end value.

(2) Not less than a near end value and less than a predetermined end value.

(3) End value or more.

A determination is made as to which one of them is (step ST2 and step ST3). The end value is arbitrarily set at the time of design in accordance with the usage amount of the photosensitive drum at which image reproduction cannot be performed at a certain level or more, and is, for example, "10000". The near-end value is arbitrarily set at the time of design so as to be slightly smaller than the end value, and is, for example, “9500”.

If the number of printed sheets is smaller than the near end value, the photosensitive drum is in a state where printing can be normally performed for the time being, so that the CPU 1 executes the current drum life monitoring process without taking any action. finish.

On the other hand, if the number of prints is equal to or greater than the near end value and less than the end value, the photosensitive drum is still in a state where normal printing can be performed, but it is nearing the end of its service life. The operation panel 10 displays a near-end display for notifying the user (step ST
4). After that, the CPU 1 ends the current drum life monitoring process.

If the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than the end value, the photosensitive drum has reached the end of its life.
Performs print prohibition setting so that printing is not performed even if printing is required in another process (step ST5). Further, the CPU 1 causes the operation panel 10 to display an end display for urging the user to replace the photosensitive drum because the life of the photosensitive drum has expired (step ST6). And after this, CPU1
Ends the current drum life monitoring process.

In the facsimile apparatus, when the photosensitive drum is replaced, the user is obliged to give a counter reset instruction by a predetermined instruction operation on the operation panel 10.

Then, in response to such a counter reset instruction, the CPU 1 executes a counter reset process as shown in FIG.

In this counter reset processing, the CPU
First, 1 searches the reset information storage area 3a for an empty area where the counter reset information is not stored (step ST11), and determines whether there is an empty area (step ST12).

If there is no free area, the CPU 1 searches for an area storing the counter reset information whose reset date is the oldest (step ST13).

If a free area is found in the search in step ST11, the CPU 1 goes to that area. If no free area is found in the search in step ST11, the CPU 1 goes to the area found in the search in step ST13. The counter reset information including the current date and the number of printed sheets is written (step ST14).

Thereafter, the CPU 1 resets the number of printed sheets to "0" (step ST15), and ends the current counter reset processing.

In this way, every time the print sheet value is reset in response to a counter reset instruction from the user, the counter reset information indicating the date and time of the reset and the print sheet value before reset is reset. The information is stored in the information storage area 3a. Here, the reset information storage area 3a is capable of storing five pieces of counter reset information, and new counter reset information is stored in an empty area when there is an empty area, and is stored in the empty area when there is no empty area. Since the old counter reset information is overwritten on the reset information storage area 3a, the reset information storage area 3a stores the counter reset information relating to the latest five counter resets.

When the user requests confirmation of the counter reset history, the CPU 1 generates an image as shown in FIG. 4, for example, based on the counter reset information stored in the reset information storage area 3a. By causing the printer 6 to print, the execution history of the counter reset is notified to the user.

In the image shown in FIG. 4, the date and the number of printed sheets of the counter reset information having the oldest date are set to 1
This is shown as the second time, and thereafter, as the second and third times in ascending order of date. Further, in this example, since the counter reset has been performed only three times, and the reset information storage area 3a has two empty areas,
The fourth and fifth runs are indicated as "not performed". Further, in this example, the total value of the number of printed sheets indicated in each counter reset information is shown so that it is easy to understand how many printing processes have been performed by the facsimile apparatus.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the user does not need to check whether the photosensitive drum has been actually replaced or whether the mounted photosensitive drum is an unused one. Since the number of printed sheets is reset in response to the reset instruction, for example, in order to check whether the photosensitive drum has been actually replaced or whether the mounted photosensitive drum is unused, for example, There is no need to provide a mechanism using a fuse or the like, and the configuration becomes easy. Further, since the CPU 1 does not need to perform such a process of monitoring the state of the mechanism, the processing load is reduced.

For this reason, in this embodiment, it is possible to reset the number of prints even if the photosensitive drum has not been properly replaced. However, the history of the reset of the number of prints is shown in FIG. Is notified to the user as an image as shown in the above, so that the user can easily confirm that the erroneous reset of the number of printed sheets has been performed in the past, and it is possible to correctly replace the photosensitive drum later. is there.

That is, in the example of FIG. 4, the number of printed sheets relating to the third counter reset is "1008 sheets", and the date of the second counter reset and the date of the third counter reset. Interval between the first and second
Since the third counter reset is shorter than that during the third counter, it is understood that the possibility of erroneous operation by the user is high in the third counter reset, and the actual number of printed sheets of the photosensitive drum currently in use is related to the third counter reset. It can be seen that there is a high possibility that the number is larger by the number of printed sheets. Therefore, based on this point, the photosensitive drum can be replaced at an accurate timing.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus, but the present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus applied to another apparatus such as a copying machine. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to an independent printing device.

In the above embodiment, the execution history of the counter reset is reported to the user by printing an image as shown in FIG.
The notification may be made by another method, such as displaying at 0 or outputting a voice message.

In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0058]

According to the present invention, printing is performed by an electrophotographic method, and in a printing apparatus in which it is necessary to replace the photosensitive member when printing is performed for a predetermined number of lifespans, the printing number is reduced. Counting means for counting; reset means for resetting a count value of the counting means to a value indicating that the number of printed sheets is “0” in response to a predetermined reset instruction from the user; and the predetermined counter Storage means capable of storing a plurality of reset information; history creating means for storing in the storage means predetermined counter reset information indicating at least a count value of the counting means before being reset by the reset means; and the storage means The count value indicated by the counter reset information stored in the counter is stored before and after the timing at which the count value was stored. Notification means for notifying the user so that the user can determine whether the counter has been reset in the past, that is, the replacement state of the photoconductor, so that the user can check the status of the photoreceptor using a fuse or the like. A printing device that allows a user to easily manage the replacement of a photoconductor while having a simple and low-cost configuration that does not perform automatic body identification or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, the history creation means includes the counter reset information indicating the date and time when the count value was reset together with the count value, and the notifying means sets the count value and the count value together with the count value. Is notified to the user, so that the user can confirm the past counter reset execution interval, that is, the photoconductor replacement interval, and can notify the user of the photoconductor replacement status. Can be recognized in more detail, and a printing apparatus that allows a user to more easily manage the replacement of the photoconductor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a facsimile apparatus configured by applying a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a drum life monitoring process by a CPU 1 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a counter reset processing by a CPU 1 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image for notifying a user of a counter reset execution history to a user;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 3 a Reset information storage area 4 Image memory 5 Scanner 6 Printer 7 Encoding / decoding unit 8 Network control circuit (NCU) 9 Modem 10 Operation panel 11 System bus C: circuit

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2H027 DA45 ED01 EE08 EE10 EH03 FD08 GA47 GA49 GB02 GB05 GB18 GB19 HB02 HB05 HB06 HB14 HB17 ZA07 ZA09 5C062 AA02 AB22 AB42 AC04 AC21 AC22 AC55 AC60 AF00 AF06 AF07 BA00 BA01

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An electrophotographic printing method, comprising:
In a printing apparatus in which it is necessary to replace the photoreceptor when printing has been performed for a predetermined number of lifespans, in a printing apparatus, counting means for counting the number of prints, and in response to a predetermined reset instruction given by a user, The count value of the counting means is set to "0"
Reset means for resetting to a value indicating that: a predetermined counter reset information is stored; a plurality of predetermined counter reset information; a predetermined counter reset indicating at least a count value of the count means before being reset by the reset means History creation means for storing information in the storage means; and a user so that the count value indicated by the counter reset information stored in the storage means can be determined in a context of the timing at which the count value was stored. And a notifying means for notifying the printing apparatus. 2. The history creating means according to claim 1, wherein said counter reset information indicates a date and time when said count value was reset together with said count value, and said notifying means means said count value and said count value are reset. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user is notified of the date.