JP2002072785A - Image forming apparatus, cartridge, and life display method for cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately transmit information regarding the Me of a process cartridge to a user. SOLUTION: A life detecting means for a photosensitive body 10 and a life detecting means for a developing apparatus 40 are provided and a CPU 90 compares detection results R1 and R2 of the both with each other and displays the smaller value as the remaining life R of the process cartridge at a display part 92 or host computer 96. At this time, the user is made to visually recognize the remaining life by display methods matching detection characteristics of the respective life detecting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a cartridge mountable on the main body of the image forming apparatus, that is, a process cartridge, a developing device formed into a cartridge, and a cartridge. It relates to the service life display method.

Here, as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, L
ED printers, laser beam printers, etc.), and electrophotographic facsimile machines.

The cartridge detachably mountable to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, developing means for supplying a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and electrophotographic photosensitive member. This means at least one of cleaning means for cleaning the body and storing the collected developer. In particular, a process cartridge is one in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is made detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Yes or
At least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine is generally constituted by the following image forming process elements. That is, an electrophotographic photoreceptor, charging means for uniformly charging the surface layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, exposure means for forming an electrostatic latent image by image exposure, and supply of toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image Developing means for visualizing the toner image as a toner image, transfer means for transferring the visualized toner image to a recording medium such as paper, fixing means for fixing the toner image on the recording medium, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member after the transfer. And cleaning means for scraping and collecting the remaining toner.

[0005] Further, the process cartridge system in which the above-described image forming process elements are used alone or collectively as a replacement part which can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, does not require maintenance by a service person. Since the user can perform the operation, the operability can be remarkably improved, and is widely adopted in the image forming apparatus.

In such a process cartridge, in order to prevent the occurrence of an image defect due to the depletion of toner, information about the remaining amount of toner is detected by some detecting means.
According to the result, the remaining life of the process cartridge is sent to a display means such as a printer itself, which is an image forming apparatus, or a host computer connected to the printer, to notify the user of the remaining life of the process cartridge, thereby managing the life of the process cartridge. .

There are various detection methods for detecting the remaining amount of toner, for example, a piezoelectric sensor method for detecting the presence or absence of toner based on whether or not toner is in contact, and an antenna for detecting a change in capacitance due to the presence or absence of toner. There are a sensing method, an optical method for detecting the amount of light transmitted through the inside of the toner container containing the toner, and the like.

Further, as a system in which a detecting device is not provided in the developing device, a pixel signal integrating system in which individual pixel signals for forming dots are counted, and the count is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient to obtain the toner consumption is, for example. JP-A-58-22
No. 4363 proposes this.

Among these various detection methods, the pixel signal integration method and the like are capable of sequentially detecting the remaining amount of toner and notifying the user of the remaining amount. Can provide high convenience to users. However, since the method is not a method for directly measuring the toner amount, there is a disadvantage that the accuracy is inferior.

Incidentally, in a process cartridge in which a photosensitive member is integrated with developing means for supplying toner and others, the life of the process cartridge is not always determined by the remaining amount of toner. In other words, when the printing rate of the image is low, the image is defective due to the depletion of the photoconductor, and when the transfer efficiency is reduced, the image is defective due to the inability to collect the residual toner such as the residual toner due to the fullness of the waste toner container. This may cause the process cartridge to reach its end of life.

Therefore, in addition to the means for detecting the remaining amount of toner, a means for detecting the life of the photoreceptor and a means for detecting the amount of collected residue are provided, and only the length of the life detected by these detecting means is compared. A method of notifying a user of a small detection result as process cartridge life information is disclosed in
No. 274908.

[0012]

The characteristics of the life detecting means, such as the detectable range and the detection accuracy, differ for each detecting means. However, in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of life detecting means, each of the detecting means has a different function. Due to the difference in detection characteristics, inconvenience may occur when notifying the user of the life of the process cartridge to the user.

For example, when a process cartridge in which the developing means and the photosensitive member are integrally formed is mounted, a comparison is made between the detection results of the remaining toner amount detecting means based on the pixel signal integration method and the photosensitive member life detecting means based on the charging time integrated value. According to the result, in the image forming apparatus that notifies the user of the remaining remaining life as the remaining life of the process cartridge to the user, the detection accuracy of the toner remaining amount detecting means is about ± 10% and the detection accuracy of the photoconductor life detecting means is ± 2%. Degree.

In such an image forming apparatus, when the user is notified that the remaining life of the process cartridge is, for example, 10%, the remaining life of the photosensitive member is smaller than the remaining amount of the toner, and the remaining life value of 10% notified to the user is less. At least 8% if the life of the photoreceptor has an accuracy of ± 2%
, And a considerable number of sheets can still be printed. Conversely, if the remaining amount of toner is smaller and the remaining life of the process cartridge 10% is an accuracy value of ± 10%, the remaining life is already 0%, and there is a possibility that one sheet cannot be printed normally anymore. is there. Therefore, the user cannot distinguish between the two simply by notifying the user of the life of 10% as in the conventional image forming apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and a method of displaying the life of a cartridge, which can accurately transmit information on the life of the cartridge to a user.

[0016]

The above objects can be attained by an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and a method for indicating the life of a cartridge according to the present invention. In summary, a first aspect of the present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer, and a cleaning device for collecting residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having any of the devices is detachable, the image forming apparatus includes two or more life detecting units for detecting the life of any of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device, and The electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, provided with two or more types of life display method for notifying the user of the life information of any of the cleaning device, a life detected by two or more life detecting means, An image forming apparatus, wherein one life display method is selected from two or more life display methods based on characteristics of the life detecting means.

According to one embodiment of the present invention,
A life notifying unit for notifying the life information of the cartridge according to the selected life display unit.

According to another embodiment, the apparatus is communicable with a device having the life notifying means, and transmits a signal for notifying the life of the cartridge to the device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer,
The cartridge includes a cleaning device that collects residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is provided in the image forming apparatus main body in a cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. The photoconductor, the developing device, and a storage unit for storing life information detected by two or more life detecting units that detect the life of any of the cleaning device, and the storage unit further includes:
(A) Notifying the user of the detection characteristics of each of the life detecting means for the cartridge and / or (b) the life information of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device to be applied to the cartridge. Do 2
A cartridge characterized by storing a determination algorithm of more than one kind of life display method.

According to one embodiment of each of the above inventions,
The means for detecting the life of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is a means for detecting any one of an integrated amount of charging time for the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an integrated amount of the number of rotations of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an integrated amount of the number of sheets passed. . Further, the life detecting means of the developing device includes:
It is a developer remaining amount detecting means of any one of a pixel signal integrating method, an antenna sensing method, an optical method, and a piezoelectric sensor method. Further, the life detecting means of the cleaning device is a recovered developer amount detecting means of any one of a surface position detecting method, an antenna detecting method, an optical method, and a piezoelectric sensor method. Further, the life display method is a method of displaying the detection accuracy of the life detecting means. Further, the cartridge is a process cartridge having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer,
The method for displaying the life of a cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, the method comprising: any one of a cleaning device for collecting a residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photoreceptor; The apparatus includes two or more life detecting units for detecting the life of any of the photoconductor, the developing device, and the cleaning device, and stores the life information of any of the electrophotographic photoconductor, the developing device, and the cleaning device. Two or more types of life display methods for notifying the user are provided. Based on the life detected by the two or more life detecting means and the characteristics of the life detecting means,
A life display method for a cartridge, wherein one life display method is selected from one or more life display methods.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the life of at least one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device is at least two times.
It has two or more different life detecting means. The characteristic of the life detecting means is a detection accuracy or a detectable range.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, a cartridge, and a method for indicating the life of a cartridge according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a laser printer as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment and a process cartridge mounted on the laser printer. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment,
An image is formed by an electrophotographic process.

The process cartridge 100 of the present embodiment
The image carrier 10 includes, as process means acting on the image carrier 10, a charging roller 20 serving as a charging unit, a developing device 40, and a cleaning device 70 for removing transfer residual toner on the image carrier 10. It is integrally provided and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300 via the attaching means 200.

A rotating drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 10 as an image carrier has an organic photoconductor (OP) as a photosensitive layer on an outer peripheral surface of an aluminum drum base.
C) An outer diameter of 30 mm formed by forming a layer,
A predetermined process speed (drum peripheral speed) Vp in the clockwise direction of
s (94.5 mm / sec in this embodiment).

The charging roller 20 applies a voltage from a power source 21 to charge the peripheral surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 10 to a predetermined potential. On the peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive drum 10, image information is formed as an electrostatic latent image by the exposure unit 3.

Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by a developing sleeve 4 which is a developer carrying member of a developing device 40, and the developed image is transferred from a paper feeding unit (not shown) at an appropriate timing. The image is transferred onto a transfer material 5 as a recording medium introduced into a transfer portion T between a drum 10 and a transfer roller 6 as a transfer unit.

The transfer material 5 having passed through the transfer section T is separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and is conveyed to the image fixing section 50 where the image is fixed. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 7 of the cleaning device 70, and is repeatedly used for image formation. The waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 7 is collected and stored in a waste toner container 80.

Next, the sequential detection of the life of the photosensitive member in this embodiment will be described.

The organic photoconductor (OPC) layer of the photoreceptor is mainly composed of two layers, a CT layer (charge transport layer) and a CG layer (charge generation layer). Depends on the reduction (scraping), and as the thickness decreases, the image quality decreases.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the charging time by the charging roller 20 which is correlated with the amount of CT abrasion of the photoreceptor 10 is integrated by the integrating circuit 93, and the integrated value L1a is stored in the first storage mounted on the process cartridge 100. A non-rewritable signal is written to the NVRAM 97 as a means as needed. The CPU 90 stores this charging time in the photoconductor life time L1 preset in the ROM 91 as the second storage means.
b, photoconductor remaining life R1 = (L1b−L1a) ×
100 / L1b is obtained.

Incidentally, there is a correlation between the amount of the CT layer abrasion of the photoreceptor 10 and the accumulation of the charging time, the accumulation of the number of revolutions of the photoreceptor 10, the accumulation of the number of sheets passed, and the like. .

Next, the sequential detection of the developer contained in the developing device 40 will be described.

In this embodiment, the sequential detection of the developer is 1
The page is divided into a plurality of areas, and in each area, the number of dots is used to discriminate whether the image is a solid image or a line image, and the toner consumption per dot according to each image type is determined in advance, This is multiplied by the number of dots to determine the amount of toner consumed in the area, and the amount of toner consumed in each area is added to determine the amount of toner consumed per page.

The apparatus of this embodiment is 600 dpi (dot)
per inch) laser beam printer, and letter size paper (216 mm × 27
9 mm) image formable area is 204 mm x 269 mm
In terms of dot conversion, 4878 dots × 6420 dots = 31316760 dots (total number of dots). Therefore, one page was divided into 40 × 60 pages. One area is approximately 5.1 mm × 4.5 mm (122 dots × 1
07 dots).

Here, the flow of the toner consumption calculation circuit for obtaining the toner consumption will be described with reference to FIG.

Data to be printed out from the host computer 96 is sent to the image signal processing section 30 as an electric signal. The image signal processor 30 converts this data into a video signal for each scanning line, generates a laser drive signal according to the video signal, and controls the light emission / extinguishing of the semiconductor laser 3 to irradiate the photosensitive drum 10.

When the video signal is transmitted to the semiconductor laser 3 as a signal for laser emission, a horizontal synchronizing signal (BD signal) comes to the head of the scanning line. Since the video signal comes after a certain time from the BD signal, the start position of the video signal can be determined by detecting the BD signal.

The dot count in the area counting means 31 starts counting the number of dots in each area from zero again at regular time intervals. The counting result is sent to the dot number storage memory 32, and the number of dots in each area is counted. Is stored. In this way, the number of pixel dots in the laser scanning direction in each area can be counted. The number of scanning lines can be determined by counting the number of BD signals.

In this embodiment, the counting result at the same position as the counted area of the previous scanning line up to 107 times is added to the previous counting result as the same area. Then, the BD signal 10
The count result in the scanning direction at the same position is stored in a new area every seven times. Thus, from 0 to 13054 for each region
The number (122 × 107 dots) is stored as the number of pixels. At this time, even if the counting in the scanning line direction is performed every predetermined time, a slight error may occur, and the scanning direction of each area does not always become 122 dots, and there is a slight increase and decrease. However, as will be described later, since the amount of toner consumption per dot is determined in advance for every 3000 dots, there is no significant effect on the division error in the scanning direction. Thus, the dot number storage memory 3 for each area
2 is stored.

Next, by multiplying the value of the toner consumption conversion table 33 by the multiplying means 34, the number of dots in each area is converted into the toner consumption and stored in the area consumption storage memory 35 for each area. This is stored as the toner consumption. Table 1 below shows a toner consumption conversion table used in this embodiment.

[0044]

[Table 1]

In Table 1, if the number of dots in each area is small, it is regarded as a line image, and if the number of dots is large, it is regarded as a solid image. The toner consumption amount is calculated for each area by multiplying the number of pixel dots in the area obtained previously by the value shown in Table 1. The values in Table 1 are values specific to the image forming apparatus, and the values need to be determined in advance by performing measurements with the apparatus. In the present embodiment, this table is divided into four types of toner consumption according to the number of dots.
What is necessary is just to determine suitably according to memory capacity, calculation speed capability, etc.

The toner consumption for each area thus calculated is added by the adding means 36 to determine the toner consumption of one page of the transfer material, and the result is integrated in the toner consumption calculation circuit 95. It is added to the integrated value in the consumption memory 37. Then, the CPU 90 calculates the integrated value L
2a is written to the NVRAM 97 as a non-rewritable signal. Further, the CPU 90 obtains the current toner remaining rate R2 = (L2b−L2a) × 100 / L2b by comparing with the initial toner amount equivalent value L2b preset in the ROM 91.

Next, a procedure for notifying the user of the remaining life of the process cartridge will be described.

The remaining photosensitive member life R1 obtained by the above-described photosensitive member life detecting means and the remaining toner ratio R2 obtained by the remaining toner detecting means are compared by the CPU 90.
The smaller value is displayed on the display unit 92 or the host computer 96 as the remaining life R of the process cartridge 100.

The display section 92 or the host computer 96 having a function as a life notifying means for notifying the user of the remaining life R of the process cartridge 100 is provided with a first life display adapted to the detection characteristics of the photosensitive member life detecting means. Two types of display methods can be used: a mode A and a second life display mode B adapted to the detection characteristics of the above-mentioned toner remaining amount detection means. FIG. 3 shows these display modes, and has a function of visually recognizing the detection accuracy of each detection means by the size of the hatched area.

The detection accuracy of the photosensitive member life detecting means displayed in the first life display mode A and the detection accuracy of the toner remaining amount detecting means displayed in the second life display mode B are measured in advance in the ROM 91. Near the end of life, the first life display mode A is about ± 2%,
Are about ± 10%. Note that neither the charging time integration type photoreceptor life detection means nor the pixel signal integration type toner remaining amount detection means uses a method of directly measuring the CT remaining amount or toner remaining amount, but integrating the CT shaving amount and toner consumption amount. Error gradually accumulates,
The detection accuracy at the end of the life of the process cartridge is lower than at the beginning.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship between the remaining life of the photosensitive member or the remaining toner ratio and the number of prints (the number of prints).

In the case where the printing rate per sheet is low and toner consumption is low, the photosensitive member reaches its end of life first.
As shown in (1), the life of the process cartridge is determined by the life of the photoconductor.

In such a case, as described above, the life of the process cartridge is notified to the user with a relatively high accuracy of ± 2% which is the detection accuracy of the life of the photosensitive member as shown in FIG. You.

Conversely, when the printing rate per sheet is high and toner consumption is high, the toner runs out first, so the life of the process cartridge is determined by the remaining amount of toner as shown in B in FIG. In this case, since the life of the process cartridge cannot be detected with high accuracy as in the case of A, a hatched area larger than that in the case of A is displayed as shown in B in FIG. The user can intuitively recognize that preparation is necessary.

As described above, the gist of this embodiment is as follows.
Judge whether the life of the photoconductor or the remaining amount of toner determines the life of the process cartridge.
By appropriately switching the life display method, it is possible for a user to grasp the life of the process cartridge as accurately as possible.

Embodiment 2 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

In this embodiment, in addition to the pixel signal integration system described in the first embodiment, an antenna sensing system is also used as the toner remaining amount detecting means. By providing the display mode, the user can more accurately grasp the life of the process cartridge.

The reason why the two methods are used together as the toner remaining amount detecting means is as follows. The toner remaining amount detection means of the pixel signal integration method used in the first embodiment is a method of estimating the integrated toner consumption amount by subtracting it from the initial toner amount, instead of directly measuring the toner remaining amount. Since errors in estimating the toner consumption from the number of dots continue to accumulate, there is a problem particularly in the reliability of the detection performance near the absence of toner. On the other hand, the antenna sensing method has sufficient accuracy near the absence of toner, but has detection sensitivity only near the absence of toner as described later, so that the user is notified of the life of the process cartridge throughout the life of the process cartridge. Must be used together.

Next, detection of the remaining amount of toner by the antenna sensing method will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, a metal rod 41 as a sensing member is disposed in the developing device 40 in parallel with the developing sleeve 4, and the developing sleeve 4 to which an AC bias is applied is provided.
A capacitance between the metal rod 41 and the capacitance detection circuit 94
The antenna detection type detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the toner in the developing device 40 by measuring the amount of the toner is constituted.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the capacitance and the remaining amount of toner. In the present embodiment, it is set so that the capacitance and the remaining amount of toner start to have a correlation when the remaining amount of toner falls below about 60 g. The reason why the correlation starts to be obtained from the toner remaining amount of 60 g is that the toner existing between the developing sleeve 4 and the metal rod 41 starts to decrease because the toner remaining amount is around 60 g.

By setting the distance D between the developing sleeve 4 and the metal rod 41 large, it is possible to make the correlation between the capacitance and the remaining amount of toner from a toner amount of 60 g or more, but the distance D is increased. In this embodiment, such a setting is used because the capacitance decreases and sufficient detection accuracy cannot be obtained.

Since the antenna detection type toner remaining amount detecting means in this embodiment is a method for directly detecting the toner remaining amount, no error is accumulated unlike the pixel signal integration method, and the detection accuracy is high. It is almost constant at about ± 5%.

The correlation shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 91 as a conversion table from the capacitance to the remaining amount of toner, and the CPU 90 converts the capacitance measured by the capacitance detection circuit 94 into this conversion. It is converted into the remaining toner amount L3a based on the table. Further, the CPU 90 has a ROM
A current toner remaining rate R3 = L3a × 100 / L3b is calculated from an initial toner amount L3b preset in step 91.

Next, a procedure for notifying the user of the remaining life of the process cartridge will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure for determining which of the detection results of the three detection means the user should use as the life of the process cartridge and which display mode to use as the notification means. FIG.

The procedure for informing the life of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The remaining life R1 of the photoconductor obtained by the photoconductor life detecting means and the remaining toner ratio Rx obtained by the remaining toner detecting means are obtained. Are compared by the CPU 90,
The smaller value is displayed on the display unit 92 or the host computer 96 as the remaining life R of the process cartridge. However, in the vicinity of the absence of toner where the detection accuracy of the toner remaining amount detection means of the pixel signal integration method is reduced,
The toner remaining amount detecting means is switched to the antenna sensing method.

That is, a threshold value Th for switching from the remaining toner amount detecting means of the pixel signal integrating method to the remaining toner amount detecting means of the antenna sensing method is set, and this threshold value Th and the toner by the toner remaining amount detecting means of the antenna sensing method are set. Remaining amount L
3a is compared with the threshold Th (S71). L3a> Th
In the case of (2), the value R2 detected by the remaining toner detecting means of the pixel signal integration method is used as the remaining toner rate Rx (S72), and is compared with the remaining photoconductor remaining life R1 (S7).
3). When the value R2 obtained by the pixel signal integration type toner remaining amount detecting means is small, the value R2 is set as the life R of the process cartridge, and the life of the process cartridge is displayed in the life display mode B (S74). When R1 is small, the value R1 is set as the life R of the process cartridge, and the life of the process cartridge is displayed in the life display mode A (S77).

In step S71, when L3a ≦ Th, the value R3 detected by the remaining toner detecting means of the antenna sensing method is used as the remaining toner ratio Rx (S3).
75), and is compared with the remaining photosensitive member life R1 (S76). When the remaining life R1 of the photoreceptor is short, the life of the process cartridge is displayed in the life display mode A using this value R1 as the life of the process cartridge (S77).
When the value R3 detected by the toner detection means of the antenna sensing type is small, the life of the process cartridge is displayed in the life display mode C using this value R3 as the life of the process cartridge (S78).

More specifically, when the remaining amount of toner L3a detected by the toner remaining amount detecting means of the antenna sensing method is equal to the threshold value Th = 6
Until the remaining amount becomes 0 g or less, the value R2 detected by the pixel signal integration method is used as the remaining toner ratio Rx. The value R3 detected by the sensing method is used.

When the remaining amount of toner determines the life of the process cartridge in connection with switching from the pixel signal integration method to the antenna detection method, the antenna detection method is used instead of the life display mode B of the pixel signal integration method. Use the life display mode C.

In the life display mode C, as shown in FIG. 8, the user is notified of the detection accuracy of ± 5% of the antenna detection method in the shaded area, so that the user can display the life display mode B in the pixel signal integration method. It is possible to ascertain the life of the process cartridge with higher accuracy than when using only the process cartridge. In addition, as the toner remaining amount detecting means, a toner remaining amount detecting means other than the antenna sensing method such as an optical method and a piezoelectric sensor method may be used together.

As described above, the gist of this embodiment is as follows.
When two toner remaining amount detecting units having different characteristics are used together, a life display method suitable for each of the two toner remaining amount detecting units is prepared, and by appropriately switching the life displaying methods, the user can use the process cartridge. Is to be able to grasp the life of the car as accurately as possible.

Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to those of the first and second embodiments, and therefore only the differences from the above embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the life information detected by each detecting means is stored in the NVRAM 97 mounted on the process cartridge 100. An algorithm for selecting a display method is also stored in the NVRAM 97. Thus, even when there are a plurality of types of process cartridges to be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and the characteristics are different from each other, the user can more accurately grasp the life of the process cartridge.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes a large-capacity developing cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a "large-capacity cartridge") in which toner is increased by 50% in addition to a standard developing cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a "standard cartridge"). It can be mounted, and both can be selected according to the needs of the user.

The life of the standard cartridge and the large-capacity cartridge can be detected by two life detecting means, that is, a pixel signal integration method and an antenna sensing method, as in the second embodiment. However, in a large-capacity cartridge, the section using the pixel signal integration method before switching to the antenna sensing method is almost twice as long as the standard cartridge, and errors in estimating toner consumption continue to accumulate, resulting in a very large amount. The switching threshold Th in the algorithm of FIG. 7 may be changed so as to switch to the antenna sensing method earlier than the standard cartridge because a large error may occur.
Has been changed. Specifically, a value of 80 g is stored as a switching threshold of the large-capacity cartridge in the NVRAM 97 mounted on the cartridge with respect to the value of the switching threshold Th60 g of the standard cartridge, and FIG. The position of the illustrated metal bar 41 is also adjusted in a direction away from the developing sleeve 4.

As described above, the developing sleeve 4 and the metal rod 4
Although the detection accuracy of the antenna sensing method is reduced by increasing the distance to 1, the accuracy is not changed in the percentage conversion with respect to the initial toner weight but in the gram conversion, and the accuracy is ± 5%. Therefore, there is no need to change the life display mode C used to notify the user of the life detected by the antenna sensing method, and the display mode is the same as that of the second embodiment.

In order to flexibly respond to a change in the specification of the cartridge, the accuracy of the life detection result by the life detecting means for both the standard and large-capacity cartridges,
The information of the life display mode to be used is stored in the NVRAM 97 mounted on the cartridge, so that even if the life detection accuracy or the life display mode is changed, it is possible to accurately inform the user of the life of the cartridge to the user. Has become.

Embodiment 4 Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the first and second embodiments, the structure in which the life of the process cartridge is determined based on the remaining amount of toner in the photosensitive member and the developing device has been described. However, as a factor for determining the life of the process cartridge, it is further described above. Is the amount of residue collected in the waste toner container.

The means for sequentially detecting the amount of waste toner in the waste toner container will be described.

When the waste toner container 80 is full of residues such as waste toner, cleaning by the cleaning blade 7 becomes impossible, resulting in deterioration of image quality. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sequential detection means of the surface position detection system, that is, the sequential detection means 82 in the waste toner container 80 sequentially follows the upper surface position of the waste toner and detects the upper surface position of the waste toner amount.
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the waste toner amount position detecting means 82 is disposed in parallel with the shaft 82a with both ends in the longitudinal direction supported by bearings 83, and is disposed on the upper surface of the waste toner 81. Following detector 82b
A connecting member 82c for connecting the shaft 82a and the detecting portion 82b, and a connecting member 82c provided at one end of the shaft 82a;
And a D-cut portion 82 located outside the waste toner container 80
d.

When the upper surface of the waste toner 81 in the waste toner container 80 increases as the waste toner 81 increases, the detecting portion 82b moves in the direction of arrow B with the shaft 82a as a fulcrum.
As a result, the shaft 82a also rotates together with the D cut portion 82d. The rotation of the D cut portion 82d is detected by the angle detector 9
At step 8, the data is written as a non-rewritable signal to the NVRAM 97 via the CPU 90.

Further, the CPU 90 compares the angle information when the waste toner container 80 is full, which is set in the ROM 91 in advance, with the current degree of reaching the full state of the waste toner container 80,
For example, the remaining life R4 is obtained.

Next, the remaining photosensitive member life R1 and / or R1 obtained by the photosensitive member life detecting means described in the first embodiment.
Alternatively, the remaining toner ratio R2 obtained by the remaining toner detecting means is compared with the remaining life R4 by the CPU 90,
The smaller value is displayed on the display unit 92 or the host computer 96 as the remaining life R of the cartridge.

When the remaining life R4 of the waste toner amount position detecting means 82 is the remaining life R of the cartridge, a life display mode suitable for the detection characteristics of the waste toner amount position detecting means 82 prepared in advance. D (not shown)
Displays the remaining life.

As another waste toner amount detection method,
The toner remaining amount detection method in the developing device can be basically applied. That is, an antenna sensing method, an optical method, a piezoelectric sensor method, or the like can be applied.

[0090]

As is apparent from the above description, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes two or more life detecting means for detecting the life of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device and the cleaning device, and The apparatus further includes two or more types of life display methods for notifying a user of life information of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device, and a life detected by two or more life detecting units. By selecting one life display method from two or more life display methods based on the characteristics of the life detecting means, it is possible to accurately transmit information on the life of the cartridge to the user, thereby improving convenience. be able to.

Further, the cartridge of the present invention has a life information detected by two or more life detecting means provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus for detecting the life of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device and the cleaning device. And (b) the electrophotographic photoreceptor to be applied to the cartridge, and Developing device, two or more types of algorithm for determining the life display method for notifying the user of the life information of any one of the cleaning devices, and storing the information on the life of the cartridge to the user can be accurately transmitted. Convenience can be improved.

Further, according to the cartridge life display method of the present invention, the image forming apparatus main body is provided with two or more life detecting means for detecting the life of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device and the cleaning device. And, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, provided with two or more types of life display method to notify the user of the life information of any of the cleaning device, the life detected by two or more life detecting means, By selecting one life display method from the two or more life display methods based on the characteristics of the life detection means, it is possible to accurately transmit information on the life of the cartridge to the user, thereby improving convenience. Can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a toner consumption calculation flow.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a method of displaying a life to a user.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the number of prints and a remaining life of a photoconductor or a remaining toner ratio.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining detection characteristics of an antenna sensing type detection unit.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a method for informing the life of the cartridge.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a method of displaying a life to a user.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a waste toner position detecting unit.

11 is a side view of the waste toner position detecting unit of FIG. 10 as viewed from line XX.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrophotographic photoreceptor 40 Developing device 70 Cleaning device 82 Waste toner position detecting means 100 Process cartridge 300 Image forming apparatus main body

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (reference) G03G 21/10 G03G 21/00 326 F term (reference) 2H027 DA06 DA27 DA41 DA45 DB01 DD03 DE02 DE03 DE04 EJ08 EJ15 GB01 GB11 HB02 HB12 HB13 HB14 HB15 HB17 2H034 BA00 CA06 2H071 BA04 BA33 DA08 DA13 DA15 2H077 DA08 DA15 DA31 DA57 DA58 DA62 DA72 DA78 GA04

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer, and a cleaning device for collecting residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having a removable cartridge is provided, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device each include two or more life detecting units for detecting a life of the cleaning device; The apparatus includes two or more types of service life display methods for notifying a user of service life information of either the developing device or the cleaning device. The service life detected by two or more service life detecting means and the characteristics of the service life detecting means. An image forming apparatus that selects one service life display method from two or more service life display methods based on the above. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least two different life detecting units for the life of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device. apparatus. 3. The life detecting means for the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
2. A means for detecting any one of an integrated amount of the charging time for the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an integrated amount of the rotation speed of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an integrated amount of the number of sheets passed.
Or the image forming apparatus of 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the life detecting means of the developing device is a developer remaining amount detecting means of any one of a pixel signal integrating method, an antenna sensing method, an optical method, and a piezoelectric sensor method. 2 image forming apparatus. 5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the life detecting means includes a surface position detecting method, an antenna detecting method, an optical method,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is any one of a piezoelectric sensor type and a collected developer amount detecting unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the life display method is a method of displaying detection accuracy of the life detecting unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a life notifying unit for notifying the life information of the cartridge according to the selected life display method. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of communicating with a device having the life notifying unit, and transmits a signal for notifying the life of the cartridge to the device. apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the life detecting means is a detection accuracy or a detectable range.
10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 11. An electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer, or a cleaning device for collecting residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A cartridge that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, wherein two or more of the electrophotographic photosensitive members, the developing device, and the cleaning device, which are provided in the main body of the image forming device, detect a life of one of the cleaning device. There is a storage means for storing life information detected by the life detection means, and the storage means should be applied to (a) a characteristic of each life detection means with respect to the cartridge and / or (b) a cartridge. Deciding two or more types of life display methods for notifying a user of life information of any one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device. Rhythm,
Cartridge. 12. The electrophotographic photosensitive member life detecting means detects one of an integrated amount of charging time for the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an integrated amount of the number of rotations of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an integrated amount of the number of sheets passed. The cartridge according to claim 11, which is a means for detecting. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the life detecting means of the developing device is a developer remaining amount detecting means of any one of a pixel signal integrating method, an antenna sensing method, an optical method, and a piezoelectric sensor method. cartridge. 14. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the life detecting means includes a surface position detecting method, an antenna detecting method, an optical method,
12. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge is any one of a piezoelectric sensor type detecting means for detecting the amount of collected developer. 15. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the life display method is a method of displaying the detection accuracy of the life detecting unit. 16. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge having at least an electrophotographic photosensitive member. 17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the life detecting means is a detection accuracy or a detectable range.
An image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 16. 18. An electrophotographic photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a developing device for developing the latent image with a developer, or a cleaning device for collecting residual developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A method for displaying the life of a cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein the image forming apparatus main body detects a life of one of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device, and the cleaning device. And two or more types of life display methods for notifying a user of life information of any one of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, the developing device, and the cleaning device. A cartridge wherein one life display method is selected from two or more life display methods based on the detected life and characteristics of the life detecting means. Life display method of di. 19. The electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing device,
For the life of any one of the cleaning devices,
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising at least two different life detecting means. 20. The characteristic of the life detecting means, wherein the characteristic is detection accuracy or a detectable range.
The image forming apparatus of 8 or 19.