JP2011203440A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which a user can replace parts safely even immediately after execution of image forming operation.SOLUTION: A detecting section 109a detects whether or not a part to be replaced is put in a state where replacement is required based on a detection information table 151. When the detecting section 109a detects that the part to be replaced is put in a state where replacement is required, a controlling section 109 stops supplying a current to a heating means (103a) immediately after termination of image forming operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and in particular, an image that detects whether or not a replacement part that is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement, and performs operation control based on the detection result. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  When it is detected that a replacement part detachably provided in the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement (hereinafter referred to as a replacement state), a message is displayed indicating that the replacement part has reached a replacement state. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 disclose image forming apparatuses that are displayed on the display panel of the apparatus and prompt the user to replace the parts that have reached the replacement state. In the following description, replacement parts mean parts such as an exposure unit, a photosensitive drum, various rollers, a toner supply container, and consumables such as a toner cartridge.

JP 2004-045557 A JP 2007-178579 A

  Incidentally, the image forming apparatus is provided with heating means such as a fixing device. Such an image forming apparatus shifts to a power saving state by stopping energization to the heating unit and stopping heating when a predetermined time elapses after execution of the image forming operation. The predetermined time is, for example, 180 seconds. However, even if the heating is stopped, the heating means may maintain a high temperature state for a few minutes after that in some cases.

  Further, as described above, when a message indicating that the replacement part has reached the replacement state is displayed on the display panel of the image forming apparatus, the general user himself, not a professional serviceman, may display it. It is assumed that the parts that have reached the replacement state are replaced.

  In such a case, if the user who sees the message replaces the replacement part immediately after executing the image forming operation, there is a risk that the user may accidentally touch the high-temperature heating means and get burned when replacing the replacement part. is there. Even if there is a sticker such as “Please do not touch” in the vicinity of the heating means, the user may accidentally touch the heating means in a high temperature state. Even a professional service person who is familiar with the internal structure of the image forming apparatus has the same danger.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus in which a user can safely replace parts even immediately after execution of an image forming operation.

  The first technical means controls the image forming operation, a detecting means for detecting whether or not a replacement part detachably provided in the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement, a heating means, and the like. In the image forming apparatus including a control unit that controls energization of the heating unit, the control unit detects that the replacement unit of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that needs replacement, when the detection unit detects The image forming apparatus is characterized in that energization to the heating unit is stopped immediately after the forming operation is completed.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, if the control means does not detect that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state where replacement is required, the image forming operation is performed. Even after the end, the energization to the heating means is continued.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the control means may be configured such that the detection means detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement. Until the predetermined condition is satisfied, the image forming operation is permitted.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the third technical means, the predetermined condition is that a remaining amount of a replacement part as a consumption member is a predetermined value or more, a rotation number of the replacement part as a rotating part is a predetermined value or more, and the number of printed sheets is At least one of the predetermined value and the replacement part replacement time is a predetermined time or more.

  A fifth technical means includes a cooling means for cooling the heating means in any one of the first to fourth technical means, and the control means stops the energization to the heating means, and then the cooling means. To cool the heating means.

  A sixth technical means is any one of the first to fifth technical means, wherein the control means detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state where replacement is required. Then, a message for prompting replacement of the replacement part is displayed and output.

  When the image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached the replacement state, the energization to the heating unit is stopped immediately after the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus is completed. Even immediately after execution of the forming operation, the user can safely replace the parts.

1 is an example of an overall cross-sectional view showing an outline of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is an external view of user I / F. It is a block diagram explaining the function of a control part in detail. It is an example of a detection information table. It is an example of the message which urges | exchanges replacement parts. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an energization control process for a heating unit in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an example of an overall cross-sectional view showing an outline of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document table 10, a document cover unit 11, an automatic document feeder 12, a laser light exposure device 20, a photosensitive drum 21, a charger 22, a developing device 23, a cleaner unit 24, and an intermediate transfer belt unit 25. A transfer roller 26, a paper feed cassette 27, a paper discharge tray 28, a pickup roller 30, transport rollers 31a to 31d, a registration roller 32, and a fixing unit 33.

The document table 10 is made of a translucent member such as glass and presses the reading surface of the document.
The document cover unit 11 covers the document table 10 and is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow M.
The document cover unit 11 is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 12 for automatically transporting a document on the document table 10.

  The laser beam exposure device 20 is provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1 and is charged with a photosensitive drum 21 (yellow (Y) photosensitive drum 21y) which is charged by a laser beam (reference symbol L) emitted from an LD (not shown). The magenta (M) photosensitive drum 21m, the cyan (C) photosensitive drum 21c, and the black (K) photosensitive drum 21k) are scanned, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image data is scanned on the photosensitive drum. 21 is formed.

The charger 22 uniformly charges the surface of each photosensitive drum 21 to a predetermined potential.
The developing unit 23 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on each photosensitive drum 21 with toners (not shown) of four colors Y, M, C, and K.
The cleaner unit 24 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after development and image transfer.
Four photosensitive drums 21, chargers 22, developing units 23, and cleaner units 24 are provided for each color.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 25 includes an intermediate transfer belt 25a, an intermediate transfer belt drive roller 25b, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 25c, an intermediate transfer roller 25d, and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 25e.

The intermediate transfer belt 25a is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 21, and is stretched and rotated by an intermediate transfer belt drive roller 25b, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 25c, and an intermediate transfer roller 25d.
Also, a color toner image (multicolor toner image) is formed by sequentially superimposing and transferring the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 21 on the intermediate transfer belt 25a.
The intermediate transfer belt drive roller 25b is a roller for driving the intermediate transfer belt 25a.

The intermediate transfer belt driven roller 25c is a roller for supporting the intermediate transfer belt 25a from the back side in order to bring the intermediate transfer belt 25a into contact with a cleaning blade (not shown) of an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 25e described later.
A high-voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 25d, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 21 is applied by the applied transfer bias. The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25a.
Four intermediate transfer rollers 25d are provided corresponding to each color of YMCK.

As described above, the electrostatic images visualized according to the hues on the photosensitive drums 21 are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 25a.
The image information stacked in this way is transferred onto the printing paper by the intermediate transfer belt 25a and the transfer roller 26 disposed at the contact position between the printing paper (recording paper) and the intermediate transfer belt 25a.
The toner that is not transferred onto the printing paper by the transfer roller 26 and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 25a may cause toner color mixing in the next process, and is therefore removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 25e. Is done.

The paper feed cassette 27 is a cassette provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1 for storing printing paper.
The paper discharge tray 28 collects printed sheets face down.

The image forming apparatus 1 also feeds printing paper supplied from the paper feed cassette 27 to the paper discharge tray 28 via the transfer roller 26 and the fixing unit 33 as indicated by reference numeral S (two-dot chain line). A substantially vertical sheet transport path is provided.
In the vicinity of the sheet conveyance path S, a transfer roller 26, a pickup roller 30, a plurality of conveyance rollers 31a to 31d, a registration roller 32, a fixing unit 33, and the like are disposed.

The pickup roller 30 is provided near the end of the paper feed cassette 27, picks up printing paper from the paper feed cassette 27 one by one, and supplies it to the paper transport path S.
The transport rollers 31 a to 31 e are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of the printing paper, and a plurality of the transport rollers 31 a to 31 e are provided along the paper transport path S.
The registration roller 32 temporarily holds the printing paper conveyed through the paper conveyance path S, and transfers the printing paper to the transfer roller 26 at a timing when the leading edge of the toner image stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 25a is aligned with the leading edge of the printing paper. It has the function to convey.

The fixing unit 33 includes a heat roller 33a, a pressure roller 33b, and the like disposed so as to rotate with the printing paper interposed therebetween.
The heat roller 33a has a function of fusing, mixing, and pressing the multicolor toner image transferred to the printing paper and thermally fixing the printing paper with the pressure roller 33b by thermocompression bonding the toner onto the printing paper. is doing.

  The image forming apparatus 1 can also be configured as an MFP. In this way, facsimile processing, electronic data filing processing, and the like are possible.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 101, an image processing unit 102, an image forming unit 103, a storage unit 104, a power control unit 105, a user I / F 106, an IC card I / F 107, a network I / F 108, and a control unit 109. Prepare.

The image reading unit 101 reads a document placed on the document placing table 10, generates document image data, and outputs the document image data to the image processing unit 102. The generated document image data may be output to the storage unit 104.
The image processing unit 102 performs various image processing for image formation on the document image data input from the image reading unit 101, and outputs it to the image forming unit 103.
The image forming unit 103 includes image forming parts such as a laser beam exposure device 20, a photosensitive drum 21, and a fixing unit 33, and prints original image data input from the image processing unit 102 on a recording medium such as paper or film. To do. The heating means 103a is composed of a fixing unit 33, for example.

The storage unit 104 includes a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and stores various control information and the like. The document image data output from the image reading unit 101 may be stored.
The power supply control unit 105 receives the control of the control unit 109 and performs energization control on each component of the image forming apparatus 1.

The user I / F 106 is an operation panel that provides a user interface function.
FIG. 3 is an external view of the user I / F 106, and includes a copy start key 106a, a numeric keypad 106b, and a display panel 106c having a touch panel function.

Returning to the description of FIG.
The IC card I / F 107 provides an interface to the IC card 2 in which printing data, user identification information, and the like are stored.
The network I / F 108 provides an interface to the network.

  The control unit 109 has a time counting function and controls each control block. Specifically, it controls the image forming operation in the image forming unit 103, and functions as a control unit that controls the energization of the heating unit 103a provided in the image forming unit 103 to bring it to a predetermined temperature.

The control unit 109 further includes a detection unit 109a and a detection information storage unit 109b.
The detection unit 109a functions as a detection unit that detects whether or not a replacement part that is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus 1 has reached a state that requires replacement. Here, the state where replacement is necessary, that is, the replacement state, as will be described later, is a state where replacement parts have reached the replacement time, a state where consumables have reached a predetermined amount, and a predetermined number of operations. The state etc. are mentioned.
The detection information storage unit 109b stores detection information such as the number of printed sheets and the replacement date and time of replacement parts.
The detection unit 109a refers to the detection information and detects whether or not the replacement part has reached a replacement state.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the function of the control unit 109 in detail.
As shown in FIG. 4, replacement parts A to D are detachably provided in the image forming apparatus 1 and connected to the control unit 109.

In the detection information storage unit 109b illustrated in FIG. 4, various pieces of information about the replacement parts A to D are stored in a table format, for example.
FIG. 5 is an example of the detection information table 151 that stores various types of information about the replacement parts A to D. The replacement part name column 151a stores a replacement part name. Here, replacement parts A to D are stored as replacement part names.

The date and time when the replacement part is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the mounting date and time field 151b.
When the replacement part is a rotating part such as a roller, the current rotational speed column 151c stores the rotational speed of the replacement part counted by the control unit 109 from the time when the replacement part is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. The

The current number of printed sheets column 151d stores the number of printed sheets counted by the control unit 109 from when the replacement part is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1.
In the remaining amount column 151e, when the replacement part is a consumable item such as a toner cartridge for storing toner powder, the remaining amount of the consumable item is stored.

The date / time column 151f of the replacement state stores a date / time indicating that the replacement part reaches the replacement state when the current date / time reaches the date / time stored in this column.
The number of revolutions 151g in the replacement state includes a number of revolutions indicating that the replacement part reaches a replacement state when the number of revolutions stored in the current number of revolutions column 151c reaches the number of revolutions stored in this column. Remembered.

  The number of printed sheets column 151h in the replacement state stores a number of printed sheets indicating that the replacement part is in a replacement state when the number of printed sheets stored in the current number of printed sheets column 151d reaches the number of printed sheets stored in this column. Is done. N / A (Not Applicable) means non-application.

  For example, the replacement part name stored in the replacement part name column 151a, the date and time of replacement state stored in the column (151f to 151h) indicating the information on the replacement state, the number of rotations in the replacement state, and the number of printed replacements are It is stored in a storage medium such as a memory chip provided in the component. Further, it is stored in advance in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

  When a replacement part is newly mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the control unit 109 stores the mounting date and time of the replacement part in the detection information table 151. Further, the date and time of the replacement state corresponding to the replacement part, the rotational speed of the replacement state, and the like are read from, for example, a storage medium provided in the replacement part and stored in the corresponding column. For example, when a photosensitive drum is newly installed as a replacement part in the image forming apparatus 1, 100,000 sheets are stored in the replacement number of printed sheets column 151h as the number of replacement sheets.

  Thereafter, as the image forming operation is executed, the control unit 109 stores the current rotation speed, the current number of prints, the remaining amount, and the like in the detection information table 151 according to the contents of the replacement part. For example, when the replacement part is a rotating part such as a conveyance roller, the control unit 109 counts the number of rotations of the replacement part and stores it in the detection information table 151. When the replacement part is a consumable item such as a toner cartridge that stores toner powder whose remaining amount decreases with use, the remaining amount of the consumable item is monitored and the remaining amount information is stored in the detection information table 151. .

  The detection unit 109a detects whether or not the replacement part has reached the replacement state based on the detection information of the replacement date and time, the rotation number, the number of printed sheets, and the remaining amount of each replacement part stored in the detection information table 151. Specifically, the numerical values stored in the mounting date / time field 151b, the current rotation number field 151c, and the current print number field 151d are the replacement state date / time field 151f, the replacement state rotation number field 151g, and the replacement state printing. If the numerical value stored in the number field 151h is exceeded, it is determined that the replacement part has reached the replacement state. In addition, when the numerical value stored in the remaining amount column 151e is slightly before the remaining amount of 0% (also referred to as the near end), for example, the remaining amount is 5% or less, it is determined that the replacement part has reached the replacement state.

  For example, when 20 copies are executed in the state shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 109 counts the number of printed sheets 20 and sets the current number of printed sheets column 151d of the replacement part C to 100,010 (= 99,990 + 20). ). In this case, since “100,000” stored in the print number column 151h of the replacement state of the replacement part C is exceeded, the detection unit 109a detects that the replacement part C has reached the replacement state.

  Then, the control unit 109 stops energization to the heating unit 103a immediately after the copying is completed. Note that this energization stop state is called a so-called sleep mode state. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, a message prompting replacement of the replacement part C is displayed on the display panel 106c.

If the detection unit 109a does not detect that the replacement part has reached the replacement state, the control unit 109 continues energizing the heating unit 103a in preparation for the next copy execution even after the copy is completed. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of copying, the energization to the heating means 103a is stopped. As described above, this predetermined time is, for example, 180 seconds.
This energization continuation state is referred to as a preheat mode in which the heating unit 103a is preheated, or is shifted to a temperature lower than the normal heating temperature, thereby reducing the power consumption of the standby image forming apparatus 1. It is said to save energy mode.

  In addition, when the replacement part is a consumable part whose remaining amount decreases with use, the remaining amount reaches the near end, and the detection unit 109a detects that the replacement part has reached the replacement time. The image forming operation in the image forming unit 103 may be permitted until a predetermined condition is satisfied.

  This predetermined condition means that when the remaining amount of the consumption member is used as a reference for detecting the replacement state of the replacement component, the remaining amount of the replacement component as the consumption member is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Further, when using the rotation speed of a replacement part functioning as a rotating part as the reference, the rotation speed of the replacement part as the rotating part is a predetermined value or more, and when using the number of printed sheets as the reference When the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the replacement part replacement time is used as the reference, it means that the replacement part replacement time is equal to or more than a predetermined time.

  That is, the predetermined condition is that the remaining amount of the replacement part as a consumption member is a predetermined value or more, the rotation number of the replacement part as a rotating part is a predetermined value or more, the number of printed sheets is a predetermined value or more, and the replacement time of the replacement part is a predetermined time. Any one of the above.

As described above, in the case where the replacement part is a consumable item whose remaining amount decreases with use, the predetermined condition means that the remaining amount of the consumable item reaches a predetermined value of 0%.
Thereafter, when the remaining amount reaches 0%, that is, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the control unit 109 prohibits the image forming operation in the image forming unit 103.

  Even when the replacement part is not a consumable part whose remaining amount decreases with use, the image forming operation may be permitted or prohibited depending on whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, when the replacement part is a rotating part, it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied until the current rotation speed exceeds a predetermined multiple of the rotation speed in the replacement state, for example, 1.05. To do. This predetermined multiple can be arbitrarily changed.

  The control unit 109 permits the image forming operation in the image forming unit 103 until the predetermined condition is satisfied, and prohibits the image forming operation in the image forming unit 103 when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

  In this way, even if the replacement part reaches the replacement state, the image forming operation can be executed until the predetermined condition is satisfied, so that the convenience for the user is increased.

  In addition, a cooling unit such as a fan for cooling the heating unit 103a may be provided in the vicinity of the heating unit 103a. After stopping energization of the heating unit 103a, the control unit 109 operates the cooling unit to cool the heating unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining energization control processing for the heating means in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
First, based on an instruction operation from a user, the image forming unit 103 starts executing an image forming operation, and when the image forming operation is finished (step S1), the detecting unit 109a performs image forming based on the detection information table 151. A replacement part that has reached a replacement state is detected from the replacement parts that are detachably provided in the apparatus 1 (step S2). Note that the control unit 109 updates the detection information table 151 as described above after the end of step S1 and before the process of step S2 is executed.

  When the detection unit 109a detects a replacement part that has reached the replacement state (step S3 / YES), the control unit 109 immediately stops energization of the heating unit 103a after the image forming operation ends (step S4). At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 109 displays and outputs a message prompting replacement of the replacement part on the display panel 106c (step S5).

  When the image forming operation is executed again (step S6 / YES), the control unit 109 resumes energization to the heating unit 103a (step S7) and returns to step S1. If the image forming operation is not executed again (step S6 / NO), the process ends.

  When the detection unit 109a does not detect a replacement part that has reached the replacement state (step S3 / NO), the energization to the heating unit 103a is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S8). Then, the process proceeds to step S6.

  As described above, when the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention detects that the replacement part has reached the replacement time, the image forming apparatus 1 immediately stops energization to the heating unit 103a after the image forming operation is finished, so-called sleep mode state. Migrate to As a result, the user can safely replace the parts immediately after the execution of the image forming operation.

  Further, immediately after the image forming operation is completed, the mode shifts to the sleep mode. Therefore, when the image forming is performed again without taking any time after the image forming operation is executed, it is necessary to perform so-called warm-up. As a result, the time until the image forming operation is executed is longer than that when the image forming operation is not shifted to the sleep mode state, and the user can be prompted to replace the part. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to other parts of the image forming apparatus due to the use of the replacement part, even though the replacement part has reached the replacement state, and to change the state of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus. It is possible to quickly return to the state where the original performance is guaranteed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... IC card, 10 ... Document mounting stand, 11 ... Document cover part, 12 ... Automatic document conveying apparatus, 20 ... Laser beam exposure apparatus, 21 ... Photosensitive drum, 21y, 21m, 21c, 21k ..., Y, M, C, and K photoconductor drums, 22 ... charger, 23 ... developing unit, 24 ... cleaner unit, 25 ... intermediate transfer belt unit, 25a ... intermediate transfer belt, 25b ... intermediate transfer belt drive Roller, 25c ... Intermediate transfer belt driven roller, 25d ... Intermediate transfer roller, 25e ... Intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit, 26 ... Transfer roller, 27 ... Paper feed cassette, 28 ... Paper discharge tray, 30 ... Pickup roller, 31a-31e ... Conveying roller, 32... Registration roller, 33... Fixing unit, 33 a... Heat roller, 33 b. F, 101 ... Image reading unit, 102 ... Image processing unit, 103 ... Image forming unit, 103a ... Heating means, 104 ... Storage unit, 105 ... Power supply control unit, 106 ... User I / F, 106a ... Copy start key, 106b Numeral keypad 106c Display panel 107 IC card I / F 108 Network I / F 109 Control unit 109a Detection unit 109b Detection information storage unit 110 Network I / F 151 Detection Information table.

Claims (6)

The replacement part detachably provided in the image forming apparatus controls the image forming operation while detecting whether the replacement part has reached a state that requires replacement, and controls the energization of the heating unit. In an image forming apparatus provided with a control means,
When the detecting unit detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that needs to be replaced, the control unit stops energizing the heating unit immediately after the image forming operation is completed. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The control means continues the energization to the heating means even after the end of the image forming operation when the detection means does not detect that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The control means permits the image forming operation until the predetermined condition is satisfied even after the detecting means detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The predetermined condition is that the remaining amount of a replacement part as a consumption member is a predetermined value or more, the number of rotations of the replacement part as a rotating part is a predetermined value or more, the number of printed sheets is a predetermined value or more, and the replacement part replacement time is a predetermined time An image forming apparatus comprising at least one of them. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
A cooling means for cooling the heating means;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control unit cools the heating unit with the cooling unit after stopping energization to the heating unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means, when the detecting means detects that the replacement part of the image forming apparatus has reached a state that requires replacement, displays and outputs a message prompting replacement of the replacement part. Forming equipment.

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