JP2001154512A - Life management device for electrifying device and electrifying device and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability and productivity by recognizing the exchange time of the electrifying member of a transfer roll or the like before a trouble is generated. SOLUTION: This electrifying device provided with the electrifying member 2 arranged close to or in contact with a body 1 to be electrified and a bias impressing means 3 for impressing bias to the electrifying member 2 for electrifying the body 1 to be electrified to a prescribed potential is provided with an environment information measuring means 4 for measuring environment information, a computing and storing means 5 for computing and storing the degradation degree of the electrifying member 2 based on the environment information and the using information of the electrifying member 2 and a life judging means 6 for judging the life of the electrifying member 3 based on the degradation degree.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging device life management device used in an image forming apparatus and the like, and a charging device and an image forming device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum on which a toner image corresponding to an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a toner image on the photosensitive drum are intermediately transferred. An intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer device for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer body, and a secondary transfer device for collectively secondary transferring the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer belt to paper A device provided with a transfer device is known. Here, as the primary transfer device, for example, a transfer roll or the like that is arranged in contact with the intermediate transfer belt is used. The transfer roll forms an electric field between the photosensitive drum and the intermediate transfer belt to move the toner image on the photosensitive drum toward the intermediate transfer belt.

[0003] As such a transfer roll,
An electron conductive filler such as carbon or metal oxide dispersed in a base material made of resin or rubber, or an ion conductive material such as a polar rubber such as hydrin rubber or a metal ion salt is dispersed in the base material. One is known (see JP-A-7-248669).

[0004] Here, the former type in which the electron conductive type filler is dispersed has an advantage that the change in electric resistance due to environmental changes is small, but the electric conductive type filler is liable to agglomerate. There is a problem that it varies. On the other hand, the latter type, in which the ion conductive substance is dispersed, has an advantage that the dispersion of the electric resistance can be extremely reduced because the ion conductive substance can be dispersed at the molecular level with respect to the base material. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to set the transfer parameters and the like because the amount of change in the electrical resistance due to the environment, particularly the humidity, is large.

Therefore, a transfer roll (hereinafter referred to as a hybrid transfer roll) has been proposed in which an electron conductive filler and an ion conductive material are dispersed in a base material to obtain preferable characteristics of both. (See JP-A-10-254215).

[0006]

However, even if the above-described hybrid transfer roll is employed, the electric resistance increases with time, so that the voltage applied to the transfer roll, that is, the transfer voltage, increases, This causes a problem that toner on the transfer belt scatters (so-called discharge omission).

[0007] The time when such a trouble occurs depends on the installation environment of the image forming apparatus, and it is difficult to inform the operator of the time to replace the transfer roll before the trouble occurs. Since the rolls need to be replaced, there has been a technical problem that reliability is lacking and productivity is reduced.

[0008] Such a technical problem arises not only in the above-mentioned hybrid transfer roll, but also in a general contact transfer member (contact charging member) and a non-contact transfer member (non-contact charging member) such as corotron. It occurs similarly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and the reliability and productivity can be improved by grasping the timing of replacing a charging member such as a transfer roll before a trouble occurs. It is intended to provide a charging device life management device capable of improving image quality, a charging device using the same, and an image forming apparatus.

[0010]

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a life management device for a charging device according to the present invention comprises: a charging member 2 which is arranged in proximity to or in contact with a member 1 to be charged; An environment information measuring means 4 for measuring environmental information in a charging device comprising: a bias applying means 3 for applying a bias; and a charging device for charging the charged object 1 to a predetermined potential.
An arithmetic storage unit 5 for calculating and storing the degree of deterioration of the charging member 2 based on the environment information and the usage information of the charging member 2; and a life determination for determining the life of the charging member 2 based on the degree of deterioration Means 6.

In such technical means, the invention of the present application includes not only the above-described life management device for a charging device, but also a charging device using the life management device and an image forming apparatus using the charging device. set to target.

The object to which the present invention is applied may be appropriately selected according to the type of the object to be charged 1 as long as the object to be charged 1 is charged. For example, when the member to be charged 1 is a latent image carrier (image forming carrier) such as a photoconductor or a dielectric on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and carried by an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system, A device (charging device) for pre-charging the latent image carrier is a target. When the member to be charged 1 is an intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt or a final transfer material, the intermediate transfer member is used. And a device (transfer device) for transferring a toner image on a latent image carrier via a transfer material.

The charging member 2 may be appropriately selected, for example, a member arranged in contact with the member 1 to be charged, a member arranged close to the member 1 to be charged, that is, a member disposed apart from the member 1 to be charged. Here, as a member in which the charging member 2 is arranged in contact with the member to be charged 1, for example, a roll member, a film member, a brush member, or the like can be mentioned. From the viewpoint of charging stability, the roll member is Preferably, it is used. And
The invention of the present application is, in particular, a type in which the life variation due to the environment is remarkable, that is, the roll member is made of a material having ion conductivity, or has a material having ion conductivity and has electron conductivity. It is preferable that the present invention be applied to an embodiment composed of a mixture of a material having a different material. On the other hand, as a member in which the charging member 2 is disposed close to the member 1 to be charged, that is, separated from the member 1 to be charged, for example, a corotron or the like is used.

Further, the environmental information measuring means 4 may be appropriately selected as long as it can measure the temperature and humidity around the apparatus.

The operation storage means 5 calculates and stores the degree of deterioration of the charging member 2 based on the environment information from the environment information measuring means 4 and the usage information of the charging member 2. Here, the usage information of the charging member 2 refers to information on the usage state of the charging member 2, whereby the calculation storage unit 5 calculates and stores the usage state of the charging member 2 for each environment. Specific examples of the usage information include, for example, information on the energization time of a bias applied to the charging member 2 by a bias applying unit 3, an image carrier on which a toner image is formed and carried, and an image carrier on the image carrier. And a transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the transfer material, the transfer material amount information passing between the image carrier and the transfer device is applied to the transfer device of the image forming apparatus. No. The operation storage means 5 may have an operation unit and a storage unit integrally, or may have the operation unit and the storage unit separately.

Further, the life judging means 6 judges the life of the charging member 2 based on the degree of deterioration calculated by the arithmetic storage means 5. Here, for example, if the judgment result by the life judging means 6 is displayed on the life display means 7, the charging member 2
Can be notified of the replacement time.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a color image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, a color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of image forming units 100 (specifically, 100K, 100Y, 100M, and 100C) on which respective color component toner images are formed by an electrophotographic method.
And an intermediate transfer belt 110 as a recording medium for sequentially transferring (primary transfer) each color component toner image formed by each image forming unit 100, and an intermediate transfer belt 110
A collective transfer device 120 for collectively transferring (secondarily transferring) the superimposed image transferred thereon to the sheet 117;
Cleaner 140 for removing residual toner on the belt 10
And a fixing device 150 for fixing the batch-transferred images on the sheet 117.

In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 100 for each color component (specifically, 100K, 100Y,
00M, 100C) are a uniform charger 102 on which the photosensitive drum 101 is charged, and a laser exposure device on which an electrostatic latent image is written on the photosensitive drum 101, around the photosensitive drum 101 as an image carrier. 103, a developing device 104 in which each color component toner is stored and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 101 is visualized, and a contact in which each color component toner image on the photosensitive drum 101 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 110 An electrophotographic device such as a primary transfer roll 105 as a transfer member and a cleaner 106 for removing residual toner and the like on the photosensitive drum 101 are sequentially arranged. And
As shown in FIG. 3, a transfer bias power supply 107 (specifically, a positive DC bias is applied to the primary transfer roll 105 (specifically, 105K, 105Y, 105M, 105C) of each image forming unit 100. Has 107
K, 107Y, 107M, 107C). Each of these transfer bias power supplies 107 can change an applied voltage, and can be used as a current source and also as a constant voltage source.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 110 is stretched over a plurality of (six in the present embodiment) support rolls 131 to 136. Here, the support roll 131 is a drive roll of the intermediate transfer belt 110, the support rolls 132 and 135 are driven rolls, and the support roll 133 is a correction roll (a steering roll) for regulating meandering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 110. : Provided so as to be tiltable with one end in the axial direction as a fulcrum), support roll 1
Reference numeral 34 denotes a backup roll of the collective transfer device 120 and a support roll 136 denotes an idler roll used for positioning the intermediate transfer belt 110 and forming a flat secondary transfer surface, as described later.

The intermediate transfer belt 110 is made of a resin such as polyimide, polycarbonate, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or various rubbers containing an appropriate amount of carbon black or the like, and has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁵ Ω · cm. And its thickness is set to 0.1 mm.

Further, the collective transfer device 120 includes a secondary transfer roll 113 which is disposed in pressure contact with the toner carrying surface of the intermediate transfer belt 110 and a secondary transfer roll 113 which is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 110. A backup roll 114 (also used as a support roll 134) serving as an electrode is provided, and a power supply roll 115 to which a bias having the same polarity as the charged polarity of the toner is stably applied is abutted on the backup roll 114. On the exit side of the nip area of the secondary transfer roll 113, a peeling member 121 is disposed.

In the present embodiment, the backup roll 114 is made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) having a two-layer structure in which a foamed elastic material layer and an outer conductive layer are coated on the outer periphery of a metal core material. Was. The outer conductive layer is a semiconductive EPDM foam rubber in which carbon black is dispersed at 15 to 35% by weight, and the thickness of the conductive layer is 0.5 to 1.5.
mm, and its surface resistivity is 10 ⁷ to 10
It is controlled in the resistance area of ¹⁰ Ω / □. Further, the secondary transfer roll 113 is provided with a carbon black-dispersed fluorine having a thickness of 5 to 20 μm through a skin layer on a core layer made of a metal core material and a carbon black-dispersed foamed EPDM material fixed around the metal core material. One having a coating layer made of a resin material was used. The volume resistivity between the metal core material and the coating layer is 10 ⁴ Ωcm to 10 ⁶ Ωcm, and the roll hardness is 20 ° to 45 ° in Asuka C hardness.
゜.

The secondary transfer roll 113 is provided with a cleaning blade 122 made of, for example, urethane rubber, and removes the stain attached to the secondary transfer roll 113 to prevent the back surface of the paper 117 from being stained. Further, between the collective transfer device 120 and the belt cleaner 140, there is provided a static eliminator 112 for removing residual charges of the intermediate transfer belt 110 before the cleaning process.

Further, in the present embodiment, the paper transport system feeds the paper 117 from the paper tray 116 to the secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing, and transports the paper 117 after the secondary transfer. The sheet is guided to a belt 118, and is conveyed to the fixing device 150 by the conveyance belt 118.

Next, the primary transfer roll 105 will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the primary transfer roll 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a conductive core material whose outer periphery is coated with a conductive foamed elastic body. The conductive foamed elastic body has a sea-island structure of three types of rubbers having different solubility parameter values, and two types of carbon blacks having different oil absorbing properties are dispersed therein. In the present embodiment, the three types of rubbers having different solubilities are NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), and rubber having a solubility parameter value intermediate between those rubbers. For example, CR (chloroprene) or SBR (styrene butadiene rubber). Ketjen black and thermal black are particularly preferable as the carbon blacks having different oil absorbing properties. As described above, in the present embodiment, the primary transfer roll 105 has ion conductivity by the NBR rubber (polar rubber) and electron conductivity by the carbon black.

The volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll 105 is from 10 ^7.5 Ωcm ( ^7.5 log Ωcm) to 10 ⁹ Ωcm.
(9 log Ωcm). The present inventors investigated the relationship between the volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll 105 and the obtained image, and obtained the results shown in FIG. According to this, when the volume resistance value is less than 7.5 log Ωcm, the applied voltage is too low, and a transfer failure occurs.
From the above, it can be seen that the applied voltage is too high and the discharge phenomenon occurs due to the discharge phenomenon. Therefore, the primary transfer roll 105
Is preferably selected from the above range.

Further, using this primary transfer roll 105,
The paper P was passed through while applying a transfer bias by each transfer bias power supply 107, and the temporal change in the volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll 105 was examined. The result shown in FIG. 5 was obtained. Here, the applied current from each transfer bias power supply 107 is always constant irrespective of the number of sheets passed and environmental fluctuations. According to this, it was confirmed that the volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll 105 was increased by approximately one digit by passing 200 kpv (200,000 sheets). Therefore, even if the volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll 105 at the start of running, that is, at the initial stage, is 9 log Ωcm, the volume resistivity exceeds 9 log Ωcm with the passage of time, and a discharge phenomenon occurs due to a discharge phenomenon. Will do. Therefore, in the present embodiment, 7.5 lo
The primary transfer roll 105 having a volume resistivity of gΩcm is used.

This is because the NBR component having ion conductivity is ion-exchanged as the number of sheets passed increases, and the volume resistivity increases due to the characteristics of carbon black having electron conductivity as the number of sheets passed increases. It is estimated that Then, such ion exchange is actively performed when the transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roll 105 in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment is a high voltage. Accordingly, the degree of ion exchange, that is, the increase in resistance is different between a high-temperature and high-humidity environment and a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, and the timing at which discharge loss starts to occur also differs.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a life management device 200 for managing the life (life) of the primary transfer roll 105 is provided. In the figure, a temperature detection signal from a temperature sensor 161, a humidity detection signal from a humidity sensor 162, an LL counter 163
Print count value under a low-temperature and low-humidity environment (print number signal, the same applies hereinafter), a print count value under a normal temperature and normal humidity environment from an MM counter 164, and a high-temperature and high-humidity environment from an HH counter 165 Are taken in by the CPU 202 via the input interface 201, and the print count value to be executed from the print counter 166 is input to the CPU 202.
Executes a control program stored in the ROM 203 in advance, performs appropriate data processing with the RAM 204, and then outputs a message signal to the interface screen 171 via the output interface 205, the LL counter 163, the MM counter 164, HH counter 165
The print count value after the end of the job is sent to the printer.

Next, an image forming process of the color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. Now, when a start switch (not shown) is turned on, a predetermined image forming process is executed. More specifically, for example, when the color image forming apparatus is configured as a digital color copying machine, a document set on a document table (not shown) is read by a color image reading device, and the read signal is read by an image signal processing unit. , And temporarily store the digital image signals in a memory. Based on the stored digital image signals of four colors (K, Y, M, and C), toner images of each color are formed. .

That is, the image forming unit 1 according to the digital image signal of each color inputted from the image signal processing means.
00 (specifically, 100K, 100Y, 100M, 10
0C) are respectively driven. Then, each image forming unit 1
At 00, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the digital signal is written on the photosensitive drum 101 uniformly charged by the uniform charger 102 by the laser exposure device 103, respectively. And
Each of these electrostatic latent images is developed by the developing device 104 containing the toner of each color to form a toner image of each color. When this color image forming apparatus is configured as a device such as a printer, it is only necessary to form toner images of each color based on an image signal input to the image signal processing means from the outside.

The toner image formed on each photosensitive drum 101 is transferred to a primary transfer roll 10 at a primary transfer position where each photosensitive drum 101 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 110.
5, the image is sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 110.

The toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 in this manner is superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 110, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer belt 110 rotates. On the other hand, the paper 117 is supplied to the secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing, and the secondary transfer roll 113 is
Nip.

Then, at the secondary transfer position, the transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roll 113 as the batch transfer device 120 and the backup roll 114 causes
The toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 110 is
17 are collectively transferred. The sheet 117 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 150 by the conveyance belt 118, and the toner image is fixed. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 110 after the secondary transfer has a residual charge removed by the charge eliminator 112, and the intermediate transfer belt 11 after the secondary transfer.
The toner remaining on 0 is cleaned by the belt cleaner 140.

Next, the life management process of the primary transfer roll 105 by the life management device 200 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the image formation is started, first, a print counter value (number of prints) P to be executed from the print counter 166 will be described.
V is input, and a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor 161 and a humidity detection signal (temperature,
Humidity sensor information) is input, and the LL counter 1
From 63, the MM counter 164, and the HH counter 165, counter values (the number of prints) A, B, and C stored in each counter are read.

Next, when the temperature is 28 ° C. or more or the humidity is 65
% Or more, the HH counter value C is updated to C = C + PV under the condition of high temperature and high humidity.
When the temperature is 5 ° C. or less or the humidity is 25% or less, the LL counter value A is determined as A = A + PV under the condition of low temperature and low humidity.
MM counter value B is updated to B = B + PV under conditions other than the two conditions, that is, under the condition of normal temperature and normal humidity.

Then, the counter value under each environment is weighted to calculate the effective print counter value D. At this time, the weighting coefficient is 2.0 under high temperature and high humidity conditions, 1.5 under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions, and 1.0 under low temperature and low humidity conditions. This is because the higher the temperature and humidity, the more easily the ions are detached from the primary transfer roll 105.
This is due to an increase in resistance, that is, a significant deterioration of the primary transfer roll 105. The weighting coefficients are not limited to those described above, and are not limited to three levels. Thereafter, the calculated effective print counter value D is compared with a predetermined threshold value. This threshold value is set to, for example, 200 kpv at which the resistance increases by one digit as shown in FIG. At this time,
If the effective print counter value D is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a message urging replacement of the primary transfer roll 105 is displayed on the interface screen 171. On the other hand, if the effective print counter value D is less than the threshold value, the updated LL counter value A, MM counter value B, and HH counter value C
3, stored in the MM counter 164 and the HH counter 165. Thereafter, if there is a next job, the above-described process is repeatedly executed. If there is no next job, the process is terminated.

By executing the above-described process, for example, under the condition that the image forming apparatus is always in a low-temperature and low-humidity condition, the actual number of prints is 200 kp.
v, an exchange message is displayed when the actual number of prints reaches 100 kpv under conditions where the image forming apparatus is always in a high-temperature, high-humidity condition. Becomes

As described above, in the present embodiment, the life is accurately displayed by weighting and integrating the degree of deterioration of the primary transfer roll 105 depending on the use environment. Since the user can be notified of the timing before the occurrence of discharge omission or the like, the reliability and productivity of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

In this embodiment, the primary transfer roll 1
Although the life management device 200 is provided in the storage unit 05, the invention is not limited to this. Of course, the life management device 200 may be provided in the secondary transfer roll 113 or the backup roll 114.

Embodiment 2 The present embodiment is almost the same as Embodiment 1, but as shown in FIG. 6, the energizing time for counting the energizing time for the primary transfer roll 105 instead of the print counter 166. A counter 167 is provided. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] Life management apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment.
The life management process of the primary transfer roll 105 by
This will be described in detail based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
When image formation is started, first, the power-on time counter 1
An energization time t to the primary transfer roll 105 from the temperature sensor 67 is input, and a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor 161 and a humidity detection signal (temperature and humidity sensor information) from the humidity sensor 162 are input.
3, counter values (energization time) E, F, and G stored in each counter are read from the MM counter 164 and the HH counter 165.

Next, when the temperature is 28 ° C. or more or the humidity is 65
% Or more, the HH counter value G is updated to G = G + t assuming that the condition is a high-temperature and high-humidity condition.
When the temperature is not more than 25 ° C. or 25% or less, the LL counter value E is updated to E = E + t under the condition of low temperature and low humidity.
The M counter value B is updated to F = F + t.

Then, the counter value under each environment is weighted to calculate the effective energization counter value H.
At this time, the weighting coefficient is 2.
0, 1.5 under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions, and 1.
It is 0. This is for the same reason as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the calculated effective energization counter value H is compared with a predetermined threshold value. This threshold value is set to 167 hours (corresponding to the number of prints of 200 kpv). At this time, if the effective energizing time counter value H is equal to or greater than the threshold value, a message urging replacement of the primary transfer roll 105 is displayed on the interface screen 171. On the other hand, if the effective print counter value H is less than the threshold, the updated LL
The counter value E, the MM counter value F, and the HH counter value G are stored in the LL counter 163 and the MM counter 16, respectively.
4. Store in the HH counter 165. Thereafter, if there is a next job, the above-described process is repeatedly executed. If there is no next job, the process is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment as well, the degree of deterioration that the primary transfer roll 105 receives depending on the use environment is weighted and integrated, so that an accurate life is displayed. Since the user can be notified of the replacement time before the occurrence of discharge omission or the like, the reliability and productivity of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

Third Embodiment The present embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, except that the environment-specific counters (the LL counter 163, the MM counter 164, and the HH counter 16 in the first embodiment) are used.
5) It is configured without. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a life management device according to the third embodiment. In FIG.
1, a humidity detection signal from the humidity sensor 162, and a print count value to be executed from the print counter 166 are taken into the CPU 202 via the input interface 201.
The CPU 202 executes a control program stored in the ROM 203 in advance, performs appropriate data processing with the RAM 204, and then sends a message signal to the interface screen 171 via the output interface 205. In this embodiment, the effective print counter value J (the effective print counter value D in the first embodiment) is stored in the RAM 204.
And the same) are stored.

Next, the life management process of the primary transfer roll 105 by the life management device 200 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When image formation is started, first, the number of prints PV is input from the print counter 166, and a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor 161 and a humidity detection signal (temperature and humidity sensor information) from the humidity sensor 162 are input. And RA
Effective print counter value J stored in M204
Is read.

Next, when the temperature is 28 ° C. or more or the humidity is 65
%, The effective number of prints PV 'is set to PV' = 2.0 PV under the condition of high temperature and high humidity, and when the temperature is 15 ° C. or less or the humidity is 25% or less, Under the condition, the effective number of prints PV ′ is P
V ′ = 1.0 PV, and under the other conditions, that is, at room temperature and normal humidity, the effective number of prints PV ′ is set to PV ′ = 1.5 P
V. Here, the reason for weighting under each environment is the same as in the first embodiment.

Then, the effective print counter value J is set to J
= J + PV ′. Thereafter, the calculated effective print counter value J is compared with a predetermined threshold value. At this time, if the effective print counter value J is equal to or larger than the threshold, the interface screen 17 is displayed.
1 displays a message prompting replacement of the primary transfer roll 105. On the other hand, if the effective print counter value J is less than the threshold value, the updated effective print counter value J is stored in the RAM 204. Thereafter, if there is a next job, the above-described process is repeatedly executed. If there is no next job, the process is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment as well, the degree of deterioration that the primary transfer roll 105 receives depending on the use environment is weighted and integrated, so that an accurate life is displayed. Since the user can be notified of the replacement time before the occurrence of discharge omission or the like, the reliability and productivity of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the life of the primary transfer roll 105 is managed based on the print counter value J. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in the second embodiment and FIG. 9, it is a matter of course that life management may be performed by using an energization time counter 167 instead of the print counter 166.

Embodiment 4 This embodiment is almost the same as Embodiment 1, but as shown in FIG. 11, instead of the primary transfer roll 105, a corotron charger 108 (specifically, 108K, 108
Y, 108M, 108C). In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In such an embodiment, the discharge wire (no symbol) of the corotron charger 108 also has a different amount of deposited discharge products depending on the environment, and the amount of deposited discharge products is higher under high temperature and high humidity conditions. The degree of deterioration of the discharge wire, that is, the corotron charger 108, differs depending on the environment. Therefore, by providing the above-described life management device 200 to manage the life, it is possible to improve reliability and productivity.

In the present embodiment, the life management device 200 is provided in the corotron charger 108 as the primary transfer device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the uniform charger shown in FIG. It is a matter of course that the life management device 200 may be provided in the corona charger 102.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the life of the charging member is managed by calculating and storing the degree of deterioration of the charging member according to the environment, the replacement time of the charging member can be grasped before a trouble occurs, and the charging device and the like can be grasped. The reliability and productivity of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a primary transfer device of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between an applied current applied to a primary transfer roll and an induced voltage.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of sheets passed and the volume resistivity of the primary transfer roll.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control device according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control flow according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control flow according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a primary transfer device of an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Charged body, 2 ... Charging member, 3 ... Bias applying means,
4 environmental information measuring means, 5 arithmetic storage means, 6 life determining means, 7 life displaying means, 101 photosensitive drum, 105 primary transfer roll, 107 transfer bias power supply, 108 corotron charger, 110 ... intermediate transfer belt, 113 ... secondary transfer roll, 114 ... backup roll, 120 ... collective transfer device, 161 ... temperature sensor, 1
62 ... humidity sensor, 163 ... LL counter, 164 ...
MM counter, 165: HH counter, 166: Print counter, 167: Power-on time counter, 17
1: Interface screen, 200: Life management device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Naoto Yoshino 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Minoru Niwa 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masao Okubo 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Takahashi 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoko Miyamoto 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Address Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuya Soga 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuji Iseki 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72 Inventor Makoto Katayama 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Address F-term in Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H027 DA06 DA11 DA14 DA38 DA41 HB02 HB07 HB09 HB16 JC02 ZA08 2H032 AA02 AA05 AA15 BA09 BA11 BA23 CA02 CA12 CA13 CA14

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A charging device, comprising: a charging member which is arranged in proximity to or in contact with a member to be charged; and a bias applying means for applying a bias to the charging member, wherein the charging device charges the member to be charged to a predetermined potential. Environment information measuring means for measuring information; calculation storage means for calculating and storing the degree of deterioration of the charging member based on the environment information and the usage information of the charging member; and A life management device for a charging device, comprising: life determination means for determining a life. 2. The charging device life management device according to claim 1, wherein the usage information is information on a current supply time of a bias applied to the charging member by the bias applying unit. Life management equipment. 3. A charging device comprising the charging device life management device according to claim 1. 4. The charging device according to claim 3, wherein the charging member is a roll member that is arranged in contact with the member to be charged. 5. The charging device according to claim 4, wherein the roll member is made of a material having ion conductivity. 6. The charging device according to claim 4, wherein the roll member is made of a mixture of a material having ion conductivity and a material having electron conductivity. Charging device. 7. An image forming apparatus comprising the charging device according to claim 3. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
4. The charging device according to claim 3, wherein the transfer device includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed and supported, and a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a transfer material. 5. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that: 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the use information is information on a transfer material amount passing between the image carrier and the transfer device. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image carrier is an image forming carrier on which a toner image is formed and carried. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image carrier is an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image is carried intermediately.