JP2007156255A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus speedily and accurately responding to a user's complaint and improving the user's satisfaction by obtaining information which can be known to an image forming apparatus main body from an image which is felt to be unsatisfactory by the user. <P>SOLUTION: At least one of various pieces of information regarding image formation is printed to a recording material in the image forming apparatus provided with an image forming means transferring the image formed on an image carrier to the recording material and a means to store various pieces of information regarding image formation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of quickly responding to a request for improvement from a user.

  Conventionally, when the user is dissatisfied with the image printed, the print sample is sent to the service center of the image forming apparatus to request improvement in image quality. The service center guesses the problem from the sample and shows the user how to deal with it.

  However, there are many cases where there is no detailed information such as the state of the image forming apparatus main body or each consumable unit, usage history, type of trouble, etc., and the current situation is that an appropriate measure cannot be taken.

  Therefore, the service center asks the user to print a test sample with detailed information, and sends it again, so that he can respond, or he hears the detailed information by telephone contact with the user.

Recently, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an exchangeable process cartridge is provided with a non-volatile memory. In other words, detailed information such as the state of the image forming apparatus main body and each consumable unit, usage history, trouble type, and the like is written in the memory, and correspondence to the user is taken from these information when collecting the replaceable process cartridge.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-175370

  However, even if the user prints and sends the test sample in which the detailed information is described, a time lag is always generated, so that it cannot completely match the image print state information that the user feels unsatisfactory.

  For example, the temperature and humidity of the installation environment of the apparatus main body may have changed, and each consumable unit may have been replaced.

  In addition, since it is difficult for the main body of the apparatus to store the status of all print jobs, it is very possible to accurately know the print mode (print speed, feed / discharge port, etc.) at the time of image printing that the user feels unsatisfied with. Have difficulty.

  Since the service center handles the user based on this information, sometimes the wrong handling method is indicated or unnecessary parts are sent.

  In addition, for the user, paper consumption for printing the test sample on paper and annoyance of sending it to the service center are involved. In addition, if the service center response measures are not appropriate, dissatisfaction occurs that the failure is not improved despite the provision of information.

  On the other hand, when dealing with the user from information in the nonvolatile memory in the replaceable process cartridge, no information can be obtained unless the process cartridge is sent back to the service center. Even if the information is obtained, it is difficult to accurately know the printing mode and other information at the time of image formation that the user feels dissatisfied, and therefore it is impossible to appropriately and quickly respond to the user's dissatisfaction.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can quickly and accurately respond to a complaint from a user and increase user satisfaction by obtaining information that the image forming apparatus main body can know from an image that the user feels unsatisfied with. Is to provide.

The above object is achieved by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention
Image forming means for transferring an image formed on the image carrier to a recording material;
Means for storing various information relating to image formation;
In an image forming apparatus having
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that at least one of various kinds of information relating to the image formation is printed on the recording material.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably know information on the image forming state of a user sample image sent to the service center, and to promptly and appropriately respond to the user based on the information. be able to.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an electrophotographic full-color laser beam printer. First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described.

[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
Referring to FIG. 1, the entire configuration of a full-color laser beam printer 100 which is an image forming apparatus of this embodiment is shown.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 1 (1a, 1b) as four image carriers arranged side by side in the vertical direction. 1c, 1d). The photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing by a driving means (not shown). The periphery of the photosensitive drum 1 is irradiated with a charging device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in order according to the rotation direction, and an optical image based on image information. An exposure apparatus 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is arranged. In this embodiment, the exposure apparatus 3 is a scanner unit that irradiates a laser beam based on image information, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

  Further, around the photosensitive drum 1, a developing device 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) that develops a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and a photosensitive drum An electrostatic transfer unit 5 for transferring the toner image on 1 to a recording material S such as plain paper (transfer paper) is disposed.

  Further, around the photosensitive drum 1, cleaning devices 6 (6a) each provided with a cleaning blade 60 (60a, 60b, 60c, 60d) that removes transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after transfer. 6b, 6c, 6d).

  Here, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, the developing device 4, and the cleaning device 6 are integrated into a cartridge to form a process cartridge 7 (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d). . Hereinafter, the photosensitive drum 1 will be described in detail.

  The photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is configured by applying an organic photoconductor layer (OPC photosensitive member) to an outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm, for example. Both ends of the photosensitive drum 1 are rotatably supported by a support member, and a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to one end, so that the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated counterclockwise. The

  As the charging device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), a contact charging type can be used. In this embodiment, the charging member of the charging device 2 is a conductive roller formed in a roller shape. The roller 2 is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller 2 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

  The scanner unit 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) is disposed at substantially the same level as the corresponding photosensitive drum 1 in the vertical direction. In the scanner unit 3, image light corresponding to an image signal is irradiated to a polygon mirror 9 (9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d) rotated at high speed by a scanner motor (not shown) by a laser diode (not shown). The image light reflected by the polygon mirror 9 selectively exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 1 through the imaging lens 10 (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) to form an electrostatic latent image.

  As can be understood with reference to FIG. 2 as well, the developing devices 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are developer storage units, that is, toners respectively storing yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners. A container 41 (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) and a developing frame, that is, a developing container 45 (45a, 45b, 45c, 45d) are included.

  That is, with regard to the toner container 41, for example, the cyan developing device 4a has a toner container 41a containing cyan toner, the yellow developing device 4b has a toner container 41b containing yellow toner, and the magenta developing device 4c has a magenta color. The toner container 41c containing the toner and the black developing device 4d include a toner container 41d containing black toner. In each toner container 41, a developing roller 40 (40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d) as a developer carrying member for carrying and carrying the developer is disposed facing the photosensitive drum 1.

  In FIG. 2, the developer in the toner container 41, that is, the toner, is sent to the toner supply roller 43 by the toner conveyance stirring mechanism 42. Next, the toner is applied to the outer periphery of the developing roller 40 by the toner supply roller 43 and the developing blade 44 pressed against the outer periphery of the developing roller 40, and charges are applied to the toner. Then, by applying a developing bias to the developing roller 40, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed into a toner image.

  Although not shown, each developing device 1 is provided with a toner remaining amount detecting mechanism, and transmits the LED light into the toner container to sense the transmission time and detect the remaining amount of toner. ing.

An electrostatic transfer belt 11 that circulates and moves so as to face and contact all the photosensitive drums 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) is disposed. The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is formed of a film-like member having a thickness of about 150 μm and having a volume resistivity of 10 ¹¹ to 10 ¹⁴ Ω · cm. The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is supported by rollers 13, 14 a, 14 b, 15 on four axes in the vertical direction, and electrostatically attracts the recording material S to the outer peripheral surface on the left side in FIG. Circulatingly move to bring S into contact. Accordingly, the recording material S is conveyed to the transfer position by the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred.

  The transfer roller 12 (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) is arranged in parallel at a position in contact with the inside of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and facing the four photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. A positive charge is applied from the transfer roller 12 to the recording material S via the electrostatic transfer belt 11, and the recording material S in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 is applied to the recording material S on the photosensitive drum 1 by the electric field due to this charge. A negative toner image is transferred.

  The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is a belt having a circumferential length of about 700 mm and a thickness of 150 μm. The electrostatic transfer belt 11 is stretched around four rollers of a driving roller 13, driven rollers 14 a and 14 b and a tension roller 15, and rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Thereby, the toner image is transferred while the above-described electrostatic transfer belt 11 circulates and the recording material S is conveyed from the driven roller 14a side to the driving roller 13 side.

  The paper feeding unit 16 feeds and conveys the recording material S to the image forming unit formed by each process cartridge 7. The recording material S such as a plurality of transfer papers is stored in the paper feeding cassette 17. ing. At the time of image formation, the paper feeding roller 18 (half-moon roller) feeds the uppermost recording material S on the paper feeding cassette 17, and the leading edge of the recording material S abuts against the registration roller pair 19 to form a loop. The sheet is fed to the electrostatic transfer belt 11 by the registration roller pair 19 in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer belt 11 and the image writing position.

  The fixing unit, that is, the fixing unit 20 fixes the toner images of a plurality of colors transferred to the recording material S, and applies heat and pressure to the recording material S by being in contact with the rotating heating roller 21a. It has a pressure roller 21b. Downstream of this, there is a pair of paper discharge rollers 23 for discharging the recording material S out of the apparatus main body.

  Further, a paper discharge sensor (not shown) is disposed between the fixing roller pair 21 (21a, 21b) and the paper discharge roller pair 23 so that the recording material S can be reliably discharged out of the main body or the fixing roller. It monitors whether it is wrapped around the pair 21.

  In other words, the recording material S to which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred is conveyed by the fixing roller pair 21 when passing through the fixing unit 20 and is given heat and pressure by the fixing roller pair 21. As a result, toner images of a plurality of colors are fixed on the surface of the recording material S.

  The double-sided path 27 is formed on the back surface of the electrostatic transfer belt unit 5. A pair of conveying rollers 25 and 26 are arranged vertically in the double-sided path, and conveys the recording material S in the downward direction in the figure. At the lowest point, a U-turn path 27 is provided to change the conveying direction of the recording material S, and the recording material S guided to the U-turn path 28 is fed again to the registration roller pair 19.

  As an image forming operation, the process cartridges 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are sequentially driven in accordance with the print timing, and the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are rotated counterclockwise in accordance with the drive. Driven. Then, the scanner units 3 corresponding to the respective process cartridges 7 are sequentially driven. By this driving, the charging roller 2 imparts a uniform charge to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and the scanner unit 3 exposes the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 according to the image signal to perform photosensitive drum 1. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface. The developing roller 40 in the developing device 4 forms (develops) a toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by transferring the toner to the low potential portion of the electrostatic latent image.

  The leading edge of the toner image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in the uppermost stream is rotated and conveyed to a point facing the electrostatic transfer belt 11. At this timing, that is, the registration roller pair 19 starts rotating so that the printing start position of the recording material S coincides with the front end of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1, and the recording material S is supplied to the electrostatic transfer belt 11. To send.

  The recording material S is pressed against the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 so as to be sandwiched between the electrostatic adsorption roller 22 and the electrostatic transfer belt 11, and between the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and the electrostatic adsorption roller 22. Apply voltage. As a result, a charge is induced in the recording material S that is a dielectric and the dielectric layer of the electrostatic transfer belt 11, and the recording material is electrostatically adsorbed on the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt 11. As a result, the recording material S is stably adsorbed to the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and conveyed from the most upstream image forming unit to the transfer position of the most downstream image forming unit.

  While being conveyed in this manner, the toner image on each photosensitive drum 1 is sequentially transferred to the recording material S by an electric field formed between each photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 12.

  The recording material S to which the four color toner images have been transferred is separated from the electrostatic transfer belt 11 by the curvature of the belt driving roller 13 and is carried into the fixing unit 20. After the toner image is thermally fixed by the fixing unit 20, the recording material S is discharged out of the main body by the paper discharge roller pair 23 with the image surface facing down from the paper discharge unit 24.

  The operation of duplex printing will be described. When the printer body receives the double-sided printing signal, the paper discharge sensor detects that the recording material S has passed through the fixing roller pair 21. In response to the detection signal, the paper discharge roller pair 23 performs reverse rotation and guides the recording material S to the double-sided path 27. The recording material S having entered the double-sided path 27 is conveyed by the conveying rollers 25 and 26 to the registration roller pair 19 through the U-turn path 28. Thereafter, printing is completed by an image forming process similar to that for front-side printing, and the recording material S is discharged from the paper discharge unit 24 to the outside of the apparatus main body.

  Next, storage means for storing various information when the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image will be described.

  The control means A counts the lifetime of the process cartridge 7 that is a consumable unit. That is, the usage amount of the photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d), the charging device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and the developing device 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) in the process cartridge 7; That is, the rotation amount or rotation time is counted. Further, the rotation amounts of the drive roller 13 in the electrostatic transfer unit 5 and the pressure roller 21b in the fixing unit 20 are always counted, and the life of the consumable unit is counted. Further, the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus 100 is also counted, and the contents are recorded in the storage means M (FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the storage unit M is provided in the apparatus main body, but it can also be arranged in the process cartridge 7.

  When it is found that the consumable unit has been exchanged, the control means A once resets the value of the exchanged consumable unit and starts counting again. The control means A records in the storage means M information such as a paper feed port, a paper discharge port, or a print mode specified by a personal computer or the like at the start of the printing operation. The storage unit M can further record the temperature, humidity, and the like of the installation environment of the image forming apparatus 100 by an environmental sensor installed in a main body (not shown).

  Next, a method for printing various information during image formation by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a case where various information at the time of image formation is encrypted by dot printing in an image area. The term “in the image area” as used herein refers to an image guarantee area of the image forming apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the image guarantee area is located 5 mm inside from the edge of the paper, and the image area of this embodiment is also 5 mm inside from the edge of the paper.

  The control means A sends various information in the storage means M to the image processing section B, and the image processing section B uses the image sent from the personal computer or the like and the various information in the storage means M sent from the control means A as a dot image. To process. Since the subsequent image forming method is the same as that for normal printing, it is omitted here.

  The image processing unit B determines whether or not the dots obtained by encrypting various information at the time of image formation can be incorporated into an image sent from a personal computer or the like. If the dots can be incorporated, the various information encrypted in the image area IA The image processing is performed so that the dot printing area DA is provided and printing is performed in the image area IA.

  On the other hand, when the image cannot be incorporated (for example, when there is an image over the entire area of the image area), the encrypted dots are printed outside the image area, that is, in a margin part 5 mm from the edge of the paper. This will be described in Example 2.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which various information at the time of image formation encrypted by providing a dot print area DA in the lower left part of the image area IA is indicated by a dot Dt. FIG. 4 shows the details.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the diameter of the dot Dt is 100 μm, and each information is separated by a line Ln of 43 μm. The color of the dot Dt and the line Ln is yellow.

  In this way, by setting the dot diameter to 100 μm and the dot color and line color to yellow, information at the time of image formation can be shown at a level that does not affect the user image, that is, a level that cannot be recognized by the user. The meaning of each dot Dt is shown below.

  In FIG. 4, from the left side, four sets of three-point dots are information on each cartridge YCRG, CCRG, MCRG, BkCRG (that is, yellow cartridge 7a, cyan cartridge 7b, magenta cartridge 7c, black cartridge 7d). The next two sets of three-point dots are information about the main body, the next set of three-point dots are information about the electrostatic transfer unit 5, and the next set of three-point dots are information about the fixing unit 20. . The next two sets of three-dot dots are information relating to the print mode, and the next one set of three-dot dots is information relating to the paper feed port. The next set of three-point dots is information about temperature, and the next set of three-point dots is information about humidity.

  In other words, the life counts of the processable units 7 of the four colors yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, the electrostatic transfer unit 5, and the consumable unit of the fixing unit 20 are represented in four stages of 0 to 3 dots. The life count and print mode of the apparatus main body 100 are represented in seven levels of 0 to 6 dots. In addition, each of the three types of paper feed port, temperature, and humidity is expressed in four stages of 0 to 3 dots. FIG. 5 shows an example of each stage. FIG. 4 shows a case where all three dots are printed.

  As described above, by printing various information related to image formation in the image area IA, various information related to image formation of the sample image can be obtained from the print sample sent from the user. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately deal with the user.

  For example, if you know that the cause of the defective image is due to temperature or humidity, you can contact the user about the print mode to avoid it, and if the print sample is not printed in the recommended print mode, it is recommended It is also possible to inform the user of the print mode. Further, it can be determined from the number of printable pages of the consumable unit whether the problem has occurred due to the lifetime, and if necessary, the consumable unit can be sent to the user. It is also possible to inform the user how long the life of the consumable unit will be.

  By these, the user's dissatisfaction which had occurred by showing the wrong coping method to a user until now, or sending unnecessary parts can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, since various types of information relating to image formation are printed in a size that the user cannot recognize in the image area, the consumption of toner and ink is very small. In addition, since printing is performed in a color that is difficult for the user to recognize, the user does not feel uncomfortable with the image sample.

  Until now, in order to obtain information, the user has been required to print a test sample on which various information is printed on paper. However, according to the present embodiment, since there is already various information in the user sample, it is not necessary, and it is possible to eliminate the unnecessary paper consumption for the user and the troublesomeness of sending it to the service center.

  In addition, by encrypting various information related to image formation with a barcode or the like, a large amount of information related to image formation can be recorded in a small space.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, 11 types of information are indicated by 13 sets of three-point dots.

  However, the number of dots is further increased, the number of dots is increased, the serial number of the consumable unit, the history of the number of prints and the rotation time, the serial number of the image forming apparatus main body, the number of times of image formation and the number of sheets passed, errors It is also possible to add information on the type and the total number of errors.

  In addition, images with many inquiries from users often result from the lifetime of the consumable unit. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately deal with an inquiry from the user only by printing the dot obtained by encrypting the above-described image formation information from the time when the lifetime of the consumable unit is exceeded.

Example 2
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the description of the present embodiment, the same members and the like as those of the image forming apparatus 100 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of components that do not change structurally and functionally are omitted.

  In the first embodiment, a dot area DA is provided in the image area IA, and various information at the time of image formation is indicated in the dot area DA by dots Dt.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, various information is printed outside the image area with an encrypted barcode BC.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to cope with any user image by printing various information on the barcode area SA provided outside the image area. That is, even when the user image is entirely within the image area, it can be handled.

  The storage means M for various information is the same as in the first embodiment, and is therefore omitted. The control means A sends various information in the storage means M to the image processing section B, and the image processing section B processes the information into a barcode image. Since the subsequent image forming method is the same as that for normal printing, it is omitted here.

  The bar code BC obtained by encrypting various information at the time of image formation is printed at a place designated by the user or a place arbitrarily set by the image processing unit B. FIG. 6 shows an example in which barcode printing is performed in a margin (barcode area BA) at the trailing edge of the sheet. FIG. 7 shows the meaning of each digit of the barcode BA.

  Process cartridges YCRG, CCRG, MCRG, BkCRG (that is, yellow cartridge 7a, cyan cartridge 7b, magenta cartridge 7c, black cartridge 7d) of four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, electrostatic transfer unit 5, and fixing unit The life count of 20 consumable units is represented in 10 stages from 0 to 9, and the life count of the main body is represented in 100 stages from 00 to 99. Also, four types of print mode, paper feed port, paper discharge port, temperature, and humidity are represented by 10 levels of 0 to 9, respectively. These effects are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, 12 types of information are indicated by a 13-digit barcode BC. However, increasing the number of barcodes, further information on the serial number of the consumable unit, the history of the number of prints and rotation time, the serial number of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the number of image formations and the number of sheets passed, the error type, and the total number of errors It is also possible to add. In addition, it is possible to appropriately deal with inquiries from the user simply by printing a barcode obtained by encrypting the above-described image formation information from the time when the lifetime of the consumable unit is exceeded.

Example 3
Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This embodiment is also preferably embodied in the image forming apparatus 100 described in the first and second embodiments. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, the same members or the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those that do not change structurally and functionally are omitted.

  In Examples 1 and 2, various information at the time of image formation is shown as encrypted dots and bar codes on the printing surface side of the recording material S. In this example, the back surface of the recording material (opposite to the printing side). Various information is printed with encrypted dots and barcodes.

  By printing various information on the back surface of the recording material, it is possible to cope with any user image. In other words, even when the user image is entirely within the image area, it is possible to cope with it, and since it is the back side of the recording material, the user does not feel uncomfortable even if it is printed in any size.

  The storage means M for various information and the image processing means B are the same as in the first and second embodiments, and will be omitted. An image forming method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  A barcode obtained by encrypting various information at the time of image formation is transferred onto the electrostatic transfer belt 11. Next, the first recording material S is fed to the electrostatic transfer belt 11 at the timing when the barcode BC becomes the back surface of the first recording material. The barcode BC transferred on the electrostatic transfer belt 11 is transferred to the recording material S together with the user image formed on the surface of one sheet, and the fixing unit 20 records the user image and the user image on the surface of the recording material. A barcode toner image obtained by encrypting various information at the time of image formation on the back side of the material is fixed.

  For the first sheet, the barcode BC is printed by the above method, so that various information at the time of forming the first sheet can be obtained from the back surface of the first sheet S. On the other hand, the second and subsequent sheets can be dealt with by printing on the electrostatic transfer belt 11 in advance as in the first sheet, although it depends on the circumference of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 and the interval between the sheets.

  Of course, in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, printing on the back surface of the recording material S can be performed by executing a double-sided printing process.

  In this embodiment, 12 types of information are indicated by a 13-digit barcode. However, the number of barcodes is increased, and information on the serial number of the consumable unit, the history of the number of printed sheets, rotation time, etc., the serial number of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the number of times the image is formed, the number of errors, and the total number of errors are added. It is also possible. In addition, defective images with many inquiries from users are often caused by the life of the consumable unit, so the barcode that encrypted the above-mentioned image formation information is printed when the life of the consumable unit exceeds 80%. It is also effective to do.

Example 4
In the first, second, and third embodiments, an image forming apparatus that transfers the developer image (toner image) formed on the photosensitive drum 1 to the recording material S carried on the electrostatic transfer belt 11 will be described. did. However, in the present invention, a so-called intermediate transfer type image formation in which the developer image (toner image) formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is once transferred to the intermediate transfer member and transferred from the intermediate transfer member to the recording material S. Also in the apparatus, the above-described configuration of the present invention can be similarly applied to achieve the same operation and effect.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of such an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment has the same overall configuration as the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  However, this embodiment is different only in that the electrostatic transfer belt unit 5 provided for conveying the recording material S in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an intermediate transfer belt unit 5A. .

  Accordingly, members having the same configuration and function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description made in the first embodiment is used, and the description thereof is omitted here. Hereinafter, differences between the image forming apparatuses of the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 5A in this embodiment includes an intermediate transfer belt 11A having an endless belt shape instead of the electrostatic transfer belt 11 in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and each image forming unit, that is, a process. A developer image (toner image) on the photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) formed by the cartridge 7 (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) is directly transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11A.

  A toner image formed in each image forming unit and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11A is transferred to a second transfer unit in which a transfer roller 29 as a second transfer unit is arranged instead of the suction roller 22 of the image forming apparatus of FIG. Are collectively transferred to the recording material S conveyed from the paper feed cassette 17.

  The recording material S on which the toner images are collectively transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 20 and discharged to the outside.

  Also in the intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the above-described configuration of the present invention described in the first, second, and third embodiments can be similarly applied to achieve the same function and effect.

  In the intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus, when image information is printed on the back surface of the recording material S, it is necessary to use the double-sided path 27.

1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic structure sectional view showing one example of a process cartridge. It is a figure for demonstrating one Example of dot printing. It is a detailed view for explaining an example of dot printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the meaning of the dot in dot printing. It is a figure for demonstrating one Example of barcode printing. It is detail drawing for demonstrating one Example of barcode printing. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) Charging roller (charging device)
3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) Scanner unit (exposure device)
4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) Developing device 5 Transfer belt unit 5a Intermediate transfer belt unit 7 (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) Process cartridge (image forming unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Electrostatic transfer belt 11A Intermediate transfer belt 20 Fixing unit 100 Image forming apparatus M Storage means

Claims (9)

Image forming means for transferring an image formed on the image carrier to a recording material;
Means for storing various information relating to image formation;
In an image forming apparatus having
An image forming apparatus, wherein at least one of various kinds of information relating to the image formation is printed on the recording material.   The at least one of various kinds of information related to the image formation is printed in an image forming area on the recording material, outside the image forming area, or on the back surface of the recording material. Image forming apparatus. The various information is
(A) temperature and humidity of the installation environment of the image forming apparatus;
(B) Print mode when printing,
(C) Types of paper feed and paper discharge ports,
(D) the serial number of the consumable unit,
(E) History of number of printed sheets and rotation time,
(F) the serial number of the image forming apparatus body,
(G) Number of times of image formation, number of sheets passed,
(H) the type of error, or
(I) total error count,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various types of information relating to image formation are encrypted on a recording material by being encrypted with dots or barcodes.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein various types of information relating to image formation are printed on the recording material using colors that are difficult for a user to recognize.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the color that is difficult for the user to recognize is yellow.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various types of information relating to image formation are printed on the recording material in a size that is difficult for a user to recognize.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the size that is difficult for the user to recognize is 100 μm or less.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the various types of information relating to image formation are printed on the recording material in accordance with the number of printable sheets of a consumable unit or an image forming apparatus.

Images