JP2006308835A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device that uses a process cartridge, capable of properly controlling the disposable items of the process cartridge, by allowing a user to prepare for the disposables, before they run out by the arrangement that each user can grasp the time that the disposables of the process cartridge have run out, and their lifetimes. <P>SOLUTION: When the color image forming device 1 performs image formation by using a process cartridge 10 of which user is specified, the device detects the toner usage of the process cartridge 10 and the frequency of use of a development unit 12, at least in the image formation under the control of a CPU 2 for each image formation, writes them to a memory 13 and a memory 3 as disposables control information, forecasts the time the toner runs out, and the end of the lifetime of the development unit 12, based on the disposables control information in the memory 13 and the memory 3, and outputs and displays the result of the forecast in a display part 14 of the process cartridge 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that appropriately manages consumables for process cartridges.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in order to make it easier to replace toner, which has been a consumable item, a toner cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and the cartridge is replaced when the toner runs out. By doing so, the toner can be easily replenished.

  Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed for detecting the remaining amount of toner in such a toner cartridge and displaying or notifying a printed notice of a notice when the remaining amount of toner is below a predetermined amount (patents). Reference 1 and Patent Reference 2).

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge that is integrated with a photosensitive unit and a developing unit that forms a toner image on the photosensitive unit and is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus in response to a demand for downsizing the apparatus. Has come to be used.

  This process cartridge system has been widely used in image forming apparatuses because the maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be performed by the user himself and the operability can be remarkably improved.

  In an image forming apparatus using such a process cartridge, conventionally, a storage means is provided in the process cartridge, and the remaining amount and usage amount of consumables such as toner in the process cartridge are detected and stored in the storage means. Techniques have been proposed for calculating and notifying the remaining number of printable sheets and the life of the photosensitive member (see Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, etc.).

  Furthermore, conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which the remaining amount of recording agent and the amount of consumables used are detected and transmitted to the service center of the device (see Patent Document 5, Patent Document 6, etc.).

JP 2002-6669 A JP 2003-29584 A JP-A-10-274908 JP 2000-330434 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-120345 JP 2002-341703 A

  However, in the prior art, there is a need for improvement in appropriately managing consumables for each user.

  That is, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it can be seen that the remaining amount of toner has decreased, but the number of prints with the remaining toner, the timing when the toner runs out, etc. are unknown. It was necessary to improve the management of consumables.

  Further, in the prior art described in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4, the remaining amount or amount of consumables is detected to notify the remaining number of printable sheets, the life of the photosensitive member, etc. In order to manage consumables properly, there was a need for improvement.

  Further, in the prior art described in Patent Document 5 and Patent Document 6, only the remaining amount of the recording agent and the amount of consumables used are notified to the service center of the device, and the service center is notified. In order to improve the usability of the image forming apparatus by feeding back information to the image forming apparatus, there is a need for improvement.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible for each user to know when the consumables in the process cartridge run out and the lifetime, so that the user can prepare the consumables before the consumables run out, and appropriately manage the consumables. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using a process cartridge that can be performed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on a rotationally driven photoconductor based on image data, and the toner from the developing means is formed on the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. In the image forming apparatus for forming a toner image by supplying a toner image, and finally transferring the toner image on the photoconductor to a recording sheet to form an image, at least the photoconductor and the developing unit are accommodated in a cartridge. In addition, a process cartridge having a memory in which various information related to various consumables is written as consumable management information and a predetermined display means is detachably stored, and each user is specified and the process cartridge is used. When an image is formed, each time the image is formed, at least the amount of toner used in the image formation is detected and written as the consumable management information in the memory. Inclusive, and predict when no of the toner based on consumables management information of the memory, by displaying outputs the prediction result on the display unit, it has achieved the above objects.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a rotationally driven photoconductor on the basis of image data, and toner is supplied from a developing unit to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. In the image forming apparatus for forming a toner image by supplying a toner image, and finally transferring the toner image on the photoconductor to a recording sheet to form an image, at least the photoconductor and the developing unit are accommodated in a cartridge. In addition, a process cartridge having a memory in which various information related to various consumables is written as consumable management information and a predetermined display means is detachably stored, and each user is specified and the process cartridge is used. When image formation is performed, each time the image formation is performed, at least the frequency of use of the developing unit in the image formation is detected and the consumable management information is stored in the memory. Writing, and predict when the life is eliminated in the developing unit on the basis of the consumables management information of the memory, by the prediction result to display output on said display means, have achieved the above objects.

  In each of the above cases, for example, as described in claim 3, the image forming apparatus includes a predetermined nonvolatile memory, stores the consumable management information in the nonvolatile memory, and stores the process cartridge in the process cartridge. After the replacement, the consumables management information of the nonvolatile memory may be used for predicting the time when the toner runs out and / or predicting the time when the life of the developing unit is used up.

  For example, as described in claim 4, the image forming apparatus appropriately transmits the consumable management information to a remote service station of the image forming apparatus, and based on the consumable management information from the service station. When the predicted result of the time when the toner runs out and / or the time when the life of the developing unit is exhausted is transmitted, the predicted result may be output from a predetermined notification unit.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when image formation is performed using a process cartridge that specifies a user, at least the amount of toner used in the process cartridge and / or the process in the image formation each time the image formation is performed. The frequency of use of the developing means of the cartridge is detected and written in the memory as consumable management information. Based on the consumable management information in the memory, the time when the toner runs out and / or the time when the life of the developing means runs out is predicted. Since the prediction result is displayed and output on the display means of the process cartridge, it is possible to know for each user when the consumables of the process cartridge are exhausted and for each user so that the user can prepare the consumables before the consumables are exhausted. It is possible to manage consumables appropriately.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a color image forming apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is.

  In FIG. 1, a color image forming apparatus 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 2 and a memory 3, and stores an image forming unit that forms a color image (not shown) and a plurality of recording sheets. A sheet feeding unit that feeds recording sheets to the image forming unit one by one, a fixing unit that fixes the recording sheets formed with the image forming unit, and the process cartridge 10 is detachably mounted in the image forming unit Is done. In the color image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 2 controls the operation of each unit of the color image forming apparatus 1 to form a color image on a recording sheet using the process cartridge 10 based on the color image data. The memory 3 is a non-volatile memory that retains stored contents even when the color image forming apparatus 1 is powered off.

  The process cartridge 10 includes a toner cartridge 11 for each color of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), a developing unit 12 for each color, a memory 13, a display unit 14, and the like. The toner of each color is supplied from the toner cartridge 11 to the developing unit 12 of each color. Each color developing unit 12 of the process cartridge 10 includes a photosensitive member, a charging roller, a developing unit, and the like, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member based on the image data of each color is generated by the developing unit. The toners are sequentially overlapped and developed to form a color toner image.

  The color image forming apparatus 1 conveys the recording paper from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member of the process cartridge 10 and the transfer roller, and transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member of the process cartridge 10 to the recording paper by the transfer roller. Then, the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit, and the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit to fix the toner image on the recording paper, and then discharged. Eject onto the paper tray.

  When the color image forming apparatus 1 performs the image forming operation, under the control of the CPU 2, the consumables of each color for each user, for example, the remaining amount and usage of each color toner cartridge 11, and the developing unit 12 for each color are displayed. Information such as the number of times of use (frequency of use) is detected based on, for example, how many sheets have been printed and how many dots of toner have been used. For example, as shown in FIG. The number of prints of each color for each predetermined time zone is stored as consumable management information for each user. That is, the color image forming apparatus 1 includes a calendar function unit that measures calendar information such as date, day of the week, and the like, and the CPU 2 acquires calendar information from the calendar function unit when an image forming operation is performed by specifying the user. For example, in FIG. 2, between 12:00 and 18:00 on Monday, 70 color images using C, M, Y, and K are printed equally, and 130 black and white images using only K are printed. This shows that the minute printing has been performed. The CPU 2 sequentially stores the consumables management information for each time zone for each color for each user according to the passage of time and day of the week. In the following description, the number of printed sheets is used as the consumable management information.

  Then, the CPU 2 totals the total number of printed sheets of each color for each day of the week for each user and stores it in the memory 13 and the memory 3 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the process cartridge 10 includes the display unit (display unit) 14. For example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like is used as the display unit. Below, a management message relating to the remaining amount of toner in the process cartridge 10, the life of the consumables, etc. is displayed and output.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The color image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is equipped with a process cartridge 10 and acquires consumables management information such as the remaining amount and amount of toner used in the process cartridge 10 and the usage frequency of the developing unit 12. It manages the toner replacement time, the life of the developing unit 12 and the like, and displays a necessary management message on the display unit 14.

  That is, for example, when forming a color image, the color image forming apparatus 1 performs CPU 2 when an image forming operation is performed after a user inputs user authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user using an operation unit (not shown). However, after the user is specified based on the user authentication information, the image forming operation is started. That is, the color image forming apparatus 1 conveys the recording sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member of the process cartridge 10 and the transfer roller under the control of the CPU 2. On the other hand, the color image forming apparatus 1 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member of the developing unit 12 of the process cartridge 10 based on the image data, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is developed by the developing unit 12. The toner of each color of C, M, Y, and K is sequentially overlapped and developed in the part to form a color toner image. The color image forming apparatus 1 transfers the color toner image on the photosensitive member of the process cartridge 10 onto a recording sheet by a transfer roller, conveys the recording sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred, to the fixing unit, and then the toner image at the fixing unit. An image forming operation is performed in which the recording sheet on which the toner image is transferred is heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the recording sheet and then discharged onto a discharge tray.

  When the CPU 2 acquires user authentication information from the operation unit, identifies the user based on the user authentication information, and performs the image forming operation, the calendar information such as the date and time of the image formation, the day of the week, etc. 2 is acquired from the calendar function unit, and consumable management information such as the amount of toner used and the remaining amount of each color used for the image formation, and the number of uses (frequency of use) of each color developing unit 12 is acquired. As shown, the acquired consumable management information is stored in the memory 3 and the memory 13 in correspondence with the specified user.

  The CPU 2 acquires the consumable management information each time image formation specifying the user is performed, and stores the acquired consumable management information in the memory 3 and the memory 13 in correspondence with the user.

  Then, the CPU 2 comprehensively manages the consumables management information of each user, and determines whether or not there is a need for replenishment or replacement of consumables. For example, the CPU 2 calculates the total usage amount of the consumables management information for each user, and replenishes the consumables based on the consumables usable amount of the process cartridge 10 stored in the memory 3 or the memory 13 in advance. Determine the need for replacement. Specifically, for example, the CPU 2 calculates the total amount of toner used by each user for each color, and calculates the toner amount (toner usable amount) of the process cartridge 10 stored in the memory 3 or the memory 13 in advance. By subtracting the total amount of the used amount, the current remaining toner amount is obtained, and the remaining toner amount is compared with the used amount of the toner in the memory 3 and the memory 13 for each day of the week and each time period. When the remaining number of days that can be imaged and time are calculated by the amount, and the remaining number of days and time that can be imaged are shorter than the remaining number of days and time that are set in advance, It is displayed on the display unit 14 as a management message. Further, the CPU 2 calculates the sum of the number of times of use of the developing unit 12 of each user for each color, and subtracts the sum of the number of times of use from the usable number of times of the process cartridge 10 stored in the memory 3 or the memory 13 in advance. Thus, the remaining usable number of times of the current developing unit 12 is obtained, and the remaining usable number of times of the developing unit 12 is compared with the number of times of use of the toner in the memory 3 and the memory 13 for each day of the week and each time zone. The remaining number of days that can be formed by the number of remaining usable times of the developing unit 12 is calculated, the remaining number of sheets that can be formed, and the remaining number of sheets that can be formed. If it is shorter than the number of days / hours or the remaining number of sheets, the management message displays information on the remaining days / hours for image formation or the remaining number of sheets for image formation. And displays the output on the display unit 14 as di.

  Therefore, it is possible for each user to know when the consumables of the process cartridge 10 run out and the lifetime, so that the user can prepare the consumables before they run out. Can be done.

  Further, the color image forming apparatus 1 includes a memory 13 in the process cartridge 10 and stores consumable management information in the memory 13.

  Therefore, after replacing the process cartridge 10, the service person reads the usage amount of the user's toner and the developing unit 12 from the memory 13, so that the process cartridge 10 is replaced and the consumable management information in the memory 13 is referred to. Thus, it is possible to know the tendency of the usage amount for each user over a long period of time, and it is possible to predict when the consumables of the new process cartridge 10 are exhausted or when the lifetime is exhausted, thereby improving the accuracy of the prediction. And more appropriate services can be provided. For example, when C (cyan) is most used, a new process cartridge 10 is proposed, such as suggesting the use of an inexpensive process cartridge 10 having a larger C (cyan) toner size than other colors. Can provide effective service.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of color image forming apparatuses 1 a to 1 n are connected to a remote diagnosis apparatus (CSS) 20 of a service station by wire or wireless, and the color image forming apparatuses 1 a to 1 n are connected. Consumables management information for each user of the process cartridge 10 is transmitted to the remote diagnosis apparatus 20.

  The remote diagnosis device 20 of the service station, based on the consumable management information for each user sent from each color image forming device 1a to 1n, the color image forming device 1a to 1n used by the user or the user. It is used as customer management information for managing consumables and necessary maintenance management each time.

  Then, the remote diagnosis device 20 of the service station, based on the customer management information, displays the customer consumable management information for notifying the necessity of exchanging the consumable when the expendable consumable replacement time approaches. The information is transmitted to the devices 1a to 1n, displayed on the display units of the color image forming devices 1a to 1n, notified, and displayed on the display unit of the remote diagnosis device 20, or recorded on recording paper.

  Further, the service person of the service station needs the color image forming apparatuses 1a to 1n based on the customer consumable management information displayed on the display unit of the remote diagnosis apparatus 20 or recorded and output on the recording paper. Consumables can be prepared in advance, and the necessary replacement of consumables can be appropriately performed at a necessary time, so that the color image forming apparatuses 1a to 1n can be prevented from stopping driving due to exhaustion of consumables. .

  Therefore, the usability of the color image forming apparatuses 1a to 1n can be further improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge in which a photoreceptor and a developing unit are integrated.

1 is a block diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the consumables management information memorize | stored in the memory of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the consumables management information which totaled the total number of printed sheets of each color for each day of the week in FIG. The block block diagram of the example which connects and manages the several image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 to a remote diagnosis apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a to 1n Image forming apparatus 2 CPU
3 Memory 10 Process Cartridge 11 Toner Cartridge 12 Development Unit 13 Memory 14 Display Unit 20 Remote Diagnosis Device

Claims (4)

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the rotationally driven photoconductor based on the image data, toner is supplied from the developing means to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and a toner image is formed. In an image forming apparatus for finally transferring a toner image on a body onto a recording sheet to form an image, at least the photosensitive member and the developing unit are housed in a cartridge, and various information about various consumables is consumable. A process cartridge having a memory written as management information and a predetermined display means is detachably stored. When each user is identified and the image formation using the process cartridge is performed, each time the image formation is performed. In addition, at least the amount of toner used in the image formation is detected and written in the memory as the consumable management information, and the consumable management information in the memory is recorded. And predict when no of the toner Zui, image forming apparatus and displaying outputs the prediction result on the display means.   An electrostatic latent image is formed on the rotationally driven photoconductor based on the image data, toner is supplied from the developing means to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and a toner image is formed. In an image forming apparatus for finally transferring a toner image on a body onto a recording sheet to form an image, at least the photosensitive member and the developing unit are housed in a cartridge, and various information about various consumables is consumable. A process cartridge having a memory written as management information and a predetermined display means is detachably stored. When each user is identified and the image formation using the process cartridge is performed, each time the image formation is performed. In addition, at least the usage frequency of the developing unit in the image formation is detected and written as the consumable management information in the memory, and the consumable management information in the memory is recorded. Said to predict when the life of the developing means is eliminated, the image forming apparatus and displaying outputs the prediction result on the display means based on the.   The image forming apparatus includes a predetermined nonvolatile memory, stores the consumables management information in the nonvolatile memory, and stores the consumables management information in the nonvolatile memory after the replacement of the process cartridge. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is used for predicting a time when the toner is lost or / and predicting a time when the life of the developing unit is not used. The image forming apparatus appropriately transmits the consumable management information to a remote service station of the image forming apparatus, and based on the consumable management information from the service station, the time when the toner runs out and / or the developing unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a prediction result at a time when the lifetime is to be lost is transmitted, the prediction result is notified from a predetermined notification unit. 5.

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