JP2017083702A - Image forming apparatus and management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately estimate the degree of reduction in performance of conveyance means according to a recording material to be conveyed.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a heating rotor 21b that conveys a recording material P; and a control arithmetic part 10 that calculates the degree of deterioration of the heating rotor 21b. The control arithmetic part 10 performs correction according to the rigidity of the recording material P when calculating the degree of deterioration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile apparatus using an electrophotographic system, and a management system thereof.

  Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is applied to a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like. In these image forming apparatuses, recording material type information set by the user is used, a thickness sensor is provided in the image forming apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or stiffness detection is performed in the image forming apparatus ( For example, the characteristics of the recording material are acquired as described in Patent Document 2). The acquired characteristics of the recording material are used to determine the image forming conditions, and images of a predetermined quality can be formed on various recording materials.

  The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is equipped with consumables such as a toner supply container, or members such as a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a fixing device, and a transfer device. Among these members, the members whose lifetime is shorter than the operation time guaranteed for the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the lifetime) are unitized. When these units reach the end of their lives, they are replaced with new units. Thereby, it corresponds to the continuous use of the image forming apparatus. However, in recent years, there is an increasing need to reduce the management cost of such an image forming apparatus. Even for the units described above, the unit life can be accurately detected or predicted, and the unit can be used for a long time until it reaches the end of its life, thereby reducing the frequency of unit replacement and reducing the management cost. It is desired.

  In order to accurately report the life of a replaceable unit, it is necessary to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration of the performance of each unit (hereinafter referred to as the degree of deterioration). For such a unit, as a method for accurately estimating the degree of deterioration of the rotary conveying means related to the conveyance of the recording material, a method for monitoring the number of recording materials conveyed and the number of rotations of the rotary conveying means is generally easy. is there. In this method, when the number of conveyed recording materials or the rotation conveying means exceeds the predetermined number of rotations, a message such as a notice of the unit life or the fact that the life has been reached is displayed on the image forming apparatus main body or connection. It is shown on the personal computer (hereinafter, PC) side. As a method for accurately estimating the degree of deterioration of the unit, there is the following method. For example, a method is proposed in which the calculation result is multiplied by a weighting coefficient according to a difference in modes of the image forming apparatus (for example, distinguishing between plain paper and OHT) or a difference in the number of sheets of recording material that are continuously conveyed. (For example, see Patent Document 3). In addition, a method has been proposed for improving the estimation accuracy of the degree of deterioration according to the smoothness of the recording material detected by the image forming apparatus and the basis weight of the recording material input by the user (see, for example, Patent Document 4). ).

JP 2000-284549 A JP 2012-226138 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-131978 JP 2014-178344 A

  When estimating the degree of deterioration of the unit according to the recording material used by the user, the estimation accuracy can be improved to some extent by considering the smoothness and basis weight of the recording material. However, according to the study by the present inventors, the degree of deterioration of the rotary conveying means is achieved despite the fact that the image forming apparatus is operated under the same conditions using recording materials having the same level of smoothness and basis weight. It has been found that there may be differences.

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration in the performance of the conveying means in accordance with the recording material to be conveyed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

  (1) A conveyance unit that conveys the recording material and a calculation unit that calculates the degree of deterioration of the conveyance unit, and the calculation unit corrects according to the stiffness of the recording material when calculating the degree of deterioration. An image forming apparatus.

  (2) A management system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network line, wherein the image forming apparatus is a plurality of recording materials. And a calculating unit that calculates a degree of deterioration of the conveying unit, and the management device includes the plurality of mounting units of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. A setting unit capable of collectively setting the stiffness of the recording material placed on each of the plurality of placement units, and the calculation unit is set by the setting unit. A management system, wherein the deterioration degree is calculated based on the rigidity, and the life of the conveying means is calculated based on the calculated deterioration degree.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration of the performance of the conveying means according to the recording material to be conveyed.

Schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus of Example 1 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fixing unit according to a first exemplary embodiment. Relationship diagram between various physical properties of the recording material of Example 1 and the amount of wear Explanatory drawing of the rigidity discrimination method of the recording material of Example 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of Example 2 Explanatory drawing of the correction coefficient matrix of Example 2. Explanatory drawing of the image forming apparatus and management system of Example 3, explanatory drawing of the management screen displayed on the host device

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples with reference to the drawings. The operation time guaranteed for the image forming apparatus main body and each unit is hereinafter referred to as a lifetime, and the degree of deterioration of the performance of each unit is hereinafter referred to as a deterioration degree.

  In the first exemplary embodiment, the life of the rotary conveyance unit constituting the image forming apparatus is calculated according to the stiffness of the recording material detected by the stiffness detection unit provided in the conveyance path. Here, the stiffness of the recording material is a degree indicating resistance to folding and bending of the paper, and is also referred to as paper stiffness or paper stiffness. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. In this embodiment, a color image forming apparatus employing an intermediate transfer belt is used as an example of the image forming apparatus, but an image forming apparatus having another configuration may be used.

[Image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is a four-drum full color printer. The image forming unit includes photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K as image carriers provided in each color station of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It should be noted that Y, M, C, and K representing colors are omitted hereinafter unless necessary. The image forming unit includes a charging roller 2 as a charging unit, a scanner unit 11, a developing device 8 as a developing unit, a toner container 7 as a toner replenishing unit, a drum cleaner 16, an intermediate transfer belt 24 as a rotating body, two A next transfer roller 25 is provided. In addition, the image forming unit drives the intermediate transfer belt 24, and also functions as a driving roller 26, a stretching roller 13, an auxiliary roller 23, a primary transfer roller 4, and a fixing unit as a fixing unit. The unit 21 is provided. Further, the image forming unit includes a control calculation unit 10 that is a calculation unit that controls and operates the image forming unit. The photosensitive drum 1 is configured by applying an organic optical transmission layer to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and rotates when a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted. The drive motor rotates the photosensitive drum 1 in an arrow direction (clockwise direction) in the drawing according to an image forming operation.

  When the control arithmetic unit 10 receives the image signal, the recording material P is moved into the image forming apparatus by the pickup roller 14 and the paper feeding rollers 17 and 18 from the paper feeding cassette 15A which is a placement portion on which the recording material P is placed. Sent out. The recording material P is once sandwiched between roller-like synchronous rotators for synchronizing the image forming operation described later and the conveyance of the recording material P, that is, the registration roller pair 19a, 19b, and then stops and waits.

  On the other hand, the control calculation unit 10 forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the received image signal on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 charged to a constant potential by the charging roller 2 by the scanner unit 11. The developing device 8 is a means for visualizing the electrostatic latent image, and develops each color of YMCK for each station. The developing device 8 is provided with a developing roller 5 to which a developing voltage for visualizing the electrostatic latent image is applied. In this way, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is developed as a single color toner image by the developing device 8.

  The intermediate transfer belt 24 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and rotates in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in the drawing in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 when forming a color image. The developed single-color toner image is sequentially superimposed and transferred by the primary transfer voltage applied to the primary transfer roller 4, and becomes a multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 24. Here, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 24 is collected by the drum cleaner 16 installed in contact with the photosensitive drum 1. The drum cleaner 16 includes a cleaner blade 161 and a toner recovery container 162.

  The multicolor toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is conveyed to a secondary transfer nip portion formed by the intermediate transfer belt 24 and the secondary transfer roller 25. In accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 24 is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip portion, the conveyance of the recording material P that has been waiting while being sandwiched between the registration roller pairs 19a and 19b is resumed. The recording material P is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip portion by the registration roller pair 19a, 19b while being synchronized with the conveyance of the multicolor toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 24. A multi-color toner image is collectively transferred to the recording material P conveyed to the secondary transfer nip portion by the secondary transfer voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller 25. The fixing unit 21 is roughly divided into a pressure roller 21a having an elastic layer and rotating, a fixing nip portion N formed in pressure contact with the pressure roller 21a, and a heater as a heating unit for heating the fixing nip portion N. It is comprised from the heating rotary body 21b.

[Fixing part]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the fixing unit 21. A heat-resistant cylindrical heating film 211 that constitutes the heating rotator 21b is gently placed on the outer periphery of a support holder 212 that holds the heating film 211 in a cylindrical shape and a metal fixing stay 213 that holds the support holder 212. It is mated. A plate-like heating element 214 is held in the longitudinal direction of the support holder 212, and the plate-like heating element 214 is fixed to the fixing nip by the pressure roller 21 a and the pressure F through the heating film 211 by a not-shown pressing means. Part N is formed. The heating film 211 sandwiched between the pressure roller 21a and the plate-like heating element 214 is driven to rotate around the support holder 212 and the fixing stay 213 with respect to the pressure roller 21a. A sensor 215 that is a temperature detecting means is brought into contact with the inner surface of the heating film 211, and the inner surface temperature of the heating film 211 is detected. Based on the detected temperature, the temperature of the heating film 211 is set to a predetermined value by the control calculation unit 10. It is controlled to be a value. The heating film 211 of the present example has a film 211B having a stainless material with a thickness of 35 μm as a base layer. On this film 211B, a 300 μm thick elastic layer 211R made of silicone rubber imparted with thermal conductivity and a 25 μm thick release layer 211S made of PFA material are sequentially formed.

  The recording material P holding the multicolor toner image is conveyed by the pressure roller 21a and is applied with heat and pressure at the fixing nip N, and the toner is fixed on the surface. Returning to FIG. 1, the recording material P after the toner image is fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 30 by the discharge rollers 20a and 20b, and the image forming operation is completed.

  The belt cleaner 28 cleans the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 24 after the transfer to the recording material P by the cleaner blade 281, and the collected toner is stored in the cleaner container 282.

  A series of image forming operations as described above are controlled by the control calculation unit 10. The control calculation unit 10 is connected to a control panel 35 and a host computer (not shown), and controls the image forming apparatus in accordance with commands input from them. Further, the control calculation unit 10 serves as notifying means for notifying the user of the state of the image forming apparatus and each unit by alert sound and message display, and as calculating means for calculating the life of the rotary conveying means of the image forming apparatus described later. Function. Furthermore, the control calculation unit 10 also functions as a storage unit that stores various parameters necessary for calculation for calculating the lifetime of the rotary conveyance unit.

[Life calculation method]
In the present embodiment, a method for predicting and calculating the degree of deterioration of the fixing unit 21 and calculating the lifetime of the fixing unit 21 based on the calculated value will be described. Specifically, the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S in the heating film 211 as a rotating means is calculated as a value obtained by the prediction calculation of the deterioration degree, and the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S is calculated as the stiffness of the recording material P. Correct according to. In the image forming apparatus used in the present embodiment, the control arithmetic unit 10 sets the standard value of the wear amount of the release layer 211S due to the conveyance of the recording material P to 0.84 × 10 ⁻⁴ μm per page. Each time the recording material P is conveyed, the wear amount is accumulated and held.

In an environment where the image forming apparatus is actually used, the accuracy of the prediction calculation is improved by using the wear amount per unit rotation number of the heating film 211 as a reference rather than the wear amount per unit page. There is also. Therefore, in this embodiment, the actually measured number of rotations of the heating film 211 is also measured, and the amount of wear is calculated with the standard value of the amount of wear per rotation being 0.17 × 10 ⁻⁵ μm, and accumulated and held. I decided to. Then, a life calculation is performed to indicate how much the accumulated wear amount has approached a predetermined life value of the fixing unit 21 as a percentage. As described above, the initial value of the thickness of the release layer 211S used in this example is 25 μm. However, when wear of the release layer 211S progresses and the thickness becomes extremely thin, a minute crack is generated in the release layer 211S, and the effect of the release performance is not fully exhibited, and the image quality deteriorates. There is a risk of it. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lifetime value of the accumulated wear amount of the releasable layer 211S is set to 23 μm, and the lifetime calculation is performed by the following equation (1).

In Expression (1), the remaining life of the fixing unit 21 (hereinafter referred to as the remaining life) is obtained. Here, the life value refers to an integrated value of the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S. In this embodiment, when the integrated value of the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S becomes 23 μm, the fixing unit 21 has a life. It is assumed that In other words, when the thickness of the releasable layer 211S is 2 μm (= 25 μm−23 μm), the life of the fixing unit 21 is defined. When the integrated value of the wear amount of the release layer 211S reaches 23 μm, it is time to replace the fixing unit 21.
Remaining life (%) = (1− (cumulative wear amount (μm) / 23)) × 100 Formula (1)
The calculation result of the remaining life (%) of Expression (1) is displayed on the control panel 35 and notified to the user.

By the way, it is known that the wear amount of the release layer 211S varies depending on the type of recording material to be conveyed. Generally, it is considered that the higher the surface smoothness of the recording material and the smaller the basis weight, the smaller the amount of wear. However, according to the study by the present inventors, the releasable layer 211S is used in spite of performing image formation under similar conditions on different types of recording materials having similar smoothness and basis weight. It was confirmed that there was a difference in the amount of wear. FIG. 3A shows the wear amount of the release layer 211S measured when an image forming operation test is performed by the image forming apparatus using a plurality of recording materials having different smoothnesses. It is the result converted into. The horizontal axis of Fig.3 (a) is the smoothness (Beck smoothness) (sec) measured by the Beck type measuring method, and a vertical axis | shaft is the abrasion amount (* 10 < ^-4 >) per unit page of the mold release layer 211S. μm / Page). The smoothness refers to the degree of smoothness of the paper surface of the recording material, and is expressed as the time (seconds) required for a predetermined amount of air to pass through the gaps between the irregularities on the paper surface. The larger the value, the smoother the recording material. Show.

Similarly, FIG. 3B is a result of plotting the result of the same test against the basis weight of the recording material. The horizontal axis of FIG.3 (b) is basic weight (g / m < ² >), and a vertical axis | shaft is the abrasion loss (* 10 < ^-4 > micrometer / Page) per unit page of the mold release layer 211S. Both results can be said to be in line with general thinking as a general trend. That is, in FIG. 3A, the wear amount of the release layer 211S is smaller as the recording material has less unevenness on the paper surface (that is, higher smoothness). In FIG. 3B, the wear amount of the release layer 211S is smaller as the recording material has a smaller basis weight. However, the correlation coefficient ^{R 2} is about 0.15 in FIG. 3 (a), the correlation coefficient ^{R 2} is about 0.50 in FIG. 3 (b), the amount of wear of the releasing layer 211S prediction calculation It can be said that there is room for further improvement in improving accuracy.

Was subjected to further consideration for such a result lies in the strong correlation between rigidity and the release layer wear amount of 211S of the recording material, the correlation coefficient R ² is be a 0.73 found. The results are shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d). As a method for measuring the stiffness of the recording material in this study, the Clark stiffness tester method described in JIS P8143 is adopted. Here, as another technique correlated with Clark stiffness, for example, JAPAN TAPPI No. 40 Gurley method, JIS P8125 Taber stiffness tester method, or TAPPI UM409 simple method. It is considered that the same correlation as the wear amount of the release layer 211S can be obtained even if measurement is performed using other methods having a correlation with the Clark stiffness.

FIG. 3 (c), the horizontal axis of FIG. 3 (d), a stiffness of the recording material measured by Clark stiffness tester method (Clark ^stiffness) (cm ^3/100). The vertical axis of FIG. 3C is the wear amount per unit page of the release layer 211S (× 10 ⁻⁴ μm / Page), and the vertical axis of FIG. 3D is the unit rotation of the release layer 211S. The amount of wear per number (× 10 ⁻⁶ μm / rotation). In any case, the lower the stiffness of the recording material, the smaller the wear amount of the release layer 211S.

  Based on the above examination results, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the self-weight deflection amount of the recording material P is detected between the paper feed roller 17 and the paper feed roller 18 as detection means for detecting the stiffness. A distance measuring sensor 40 for measuring is disposed. Then, based on the self-weight deflection amount of the recording material P obtained based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 40, the stiffness of the recording material is obtained using the principle of the TAPPI UM409 measurement method. The correction calculation is performed on the standard value of the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S described above according to the obtained stiffness of the recording material.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a main part in the vicinity of the distance measuring sensor 40. As shown in FIG. 4, when the recording material P is fed from the paper feed cassette 15 </ b> A and the leading end of the recording material P passes through the nip portion of the paper feeding roller 17, the recording material P is more than the nip portion of the paper feeding roller 17. The tip bends downward due to its own weight. The difference between the distance from the distance measuring sensor 40, which is a known value, to the height of the nip portion of the paper feed roller 17 indicated by the one-dot chain line, and the distance from the distance measuring sensor 40 to the recording material P, indicated by the two-dot chain line, The amount of deflection is S. The control calculation unit 10 determines a correction coefficient P (S) of 0.5 to 1.6 obtained in advance through experiments or the like according to the own-weight deflection amount S obtained based on the distance detected by the distance measuring sensor 40. To do.

Specifically, the control calculation unit 10 determines a correction coefficient P (S) of 0.5 to 1.6 according to the self-weight deflection amount S shown in FIG. The control calculation unit 10 multiplies the determined correction coefficient P (S) by the standard value (0.84 × 10 ⁻⁴ μm) of the wear amount of the release layer 211S per page of the recording material P. And then add up for each page. The wear amount accumulated in this way (accumulated wear amount (μm)) is expressed by the following equation (2). The accumulated wear amount in the formula (2) is an accumulation method based on the number of pages, but may be an accumulation method based on the rotation speed. In this case, the standard value of the wear amount per rotation is 0.17 × 10 ⁻ It can be similarly determined as ⁵ μm. Further, the accumulated wear amount may be obtained by using at least one of the accumulation method based on the number of pages and the accumulation method based on the rotation speed, and both may be obtained.
Accumulated wear (μm) = Σ (standard value × P (S)) Equation (2)

  When the self-weight deflection amount S is large, the correction coefficient P (S) is 0.5 times, and when the self-weight deflection amount S is small, the correction factor P (S) is 1.6 times. Further, for the recording material having the intermediate weight deflection amount, the correction coefficient P (S) is set stepwise, the wear amount per page is calculated, and the integrated wear amount is calculated. That is, the control calculation unit 10 determines the correction coefficient P (S) to be a smaller value as the self-weight deflection amount S is larger, in other words, as the stiffness is smaller. Similarly, the amount of wear per unit number of revolutions is similarly corrected and integrated in accordance with the weight deflection amount S.

As a result, it is possible to accurately predict the wear amount of the release layer 211S in any of the page number and rotation number integration methods. FIG. 3E shows the result of the prediction calculation based on the number of pages. The horizontal axis of FIG.3 (e) shows the predicted value (10 < ^-4 > micrometer / Page) which estimated the abrasion amount of the mold release layer 211S by the method of a present Example, and a vertical axis | shaft shows the mold release layer 211S. The measured value (10 ⁻⁴ μm / Page) of the wear amount is shown. The correlation coefficient ^{R 2} in FIG. 3 (e) is 0.73. This result shows that the prediction accuracy is improved as compared with the case where only the standard value is used or the case where the wear amount is calculated using the basis weight or the smoothness, and the lifetime of the fixing unit 21 is calculated based on the calculation result. Improved accuracy.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately predict and calculate the degree of deterioration of the fixing unit 21 according to the stiffness of the recording material, and the life of the fixing unit 21 according to the use situation of the user. Calculation can be performed with high accuracy. Note that the scope of application of the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the stiffness may be determined by a method other than the amount of deflection of its own weight used in the present embodiment, for example. In the calculation of the life, the degree of approach to the life value of the wear amount is indicated as a percentage, but other than this, for example, the remaining number of recording materials that can be printed before reaching the life may be indicated. Furthermore, an arbitrary method can be used, for example, showing the number of days based on the usage status up to that point.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration in the performance of the conveying means according to the recording material to be conveyed.

The examination results of Example 1 indicate that the wear amount per unit page or unit rotation number of the releasable layer 211S has a strong correlation with the stiffness of the recording material. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), slight differences are seen in the wear amount per unit page of recording material three near Clark stiffness 100 (cm ^3/100).

  According to further studies by the present inventors, this difference is due to the difference in the amount of filler contained in the recording material, and the higher the amount, the more wear the release layer 211S per unit page. The amount increases. In the case of general copy paper, the main component of the filler is calcium carbonate, but in addition to calcium carbonate, fillers such as silica, titanium oxide, talc and clay are included. Therefore, in this embodiment, when calculating the degree of deterioration of the rotary conveying means, not only the stiffness of the recording material but also the blending amount of the filler contained in the recording material is used as a parameter. Details will be described below.

[Prediction calculation]
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. Since the image forming operation and the components are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment includes sheet feeding cassettes 15B and 15C that are mounted as options in addition to the sheet feeding cassette 15A provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, each data of the stiffness of the recording material P to be used and the blending amount of the filler is input by the user via the menu screen displayed on the control panel 35. Each data of the stiffness of the recording material and the blending amount of the filler provided by the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus and the recording material P is input to the image forming apparatus via the control panel 35 by the user. In addition, the compounding quantity of the filler in the present Example was calculated | required using the ash content test method of JISP8251. In addition to this method, for example, by using a quantitative analysis method using fluorescent X-rays, the blending amounts of the various fillers described above are calculated for each component, and the sum of them is used as the blending amount, or focusing on a specific component You may use as a compounding quantity. The stiffness of the recording material P is measured by the Clark stiffness tester method described in JIS P8143. However, as described in Example 1, values obtained by other measurement methods may be used.

  The user here includes both a “general user” who executes image formation on a predetermined recording material using the image forming apparatus and a “management user” who performs maintenance, management, etc. of the image forming apparatus. It is out. Since the general user may not be able to know the rigidity and filler information of the recording material P described above, in this embodiment, the input of such information is only for the administrative user in order to avoid confusion for the general user. Is to be done from the menu screen that can be accessed.

  On the menu screen displayed on the control panel 35, the information input of the stiffness of the recording material P and the filler can be individually set for a plurality of paper feed cassettes included in the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the same brand of recording material P1 is set in the paper feed cassettes 15A and 15B, and data of the same rigidity and the same amount of filler is input to the paper feed cassettes 15A and 15B. In addition, the recording material P2 is set in the paper feeding cassette 15C so that the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler are slightly higher than those of the recording material P1 set in the paper feeding cassettes 15A and 15B. The stiffness data and the blending amount data of the filler are input. As described above, the data of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler inputted for each paper feed cassette is held in the control calculation unit 10, and a deterioration degree prediction calculation described later is performed according to the paper feed cassette used for image formation. It is used when calculating the correction coefficient when

Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the wear amount of the release layer 211S in the heating film 211 is calculated as the predicted calculation value of the deterioration degree, and the stiffness and filler of the recording material held in the control calculation unit 10 are calculated. It corrects according to the compounding quantity. That is, in the control calculation unit 10, the standard value of the wear amount of the release layer 211S due to the conveyance of the recording material P is 0.84 × 10 ⁻⁴ μm per page, and 0 per rotation of the heating film 211. .17 × 10 ⁻⁵ μm. The wear amount of the releasable layer 211S is integrated and held every time the recording material P is conveyed and every rotation of the heating film. Then, the correction coefficient is obtained from the matrix shown in FIG. 6 according to the stiffness of the recording material P associated with the paper feed cassettes 15A to 15C used for image formation and the blending amount of the filler, and the same as in the first embodiment. The standard value is corrected as in the above equation (2).

Here, FIG. 6 shows the Clark stiffness on the horizontal axis, the blending amount (%) of the filler on the vertical axis, and the correction coefficient for the predetermined Clark stiffness and the blending amount of the filler. The correction coefficient is in the range of 0.5 to 1.6 as in the first embodiment. The correction coefficient is set to a smaller value as the stiffness is smaller, and is set to a smaller value as the blending amount of the filler is smaller. For example, when the Clark stiffness input from the menu screen is 120 or more and less than 125 and the blending amount of the filler is 14 or more and less than 15, the correction coefficient is 0.9. As a result, the wear amount of the releasable layer 211S can be predicted with higher accuracy in any of the page number and rotation number integration methods. The result of the prediction calculation based on the page number is shown in FIG. FIG. ^3F is a graph in which the abscissa represents the predicted wear amount (10 ⁻⁴ μm / Page) and the ordinate represents the actual wear amount (10 ⁻⁴ μm / Page). The correlation coefficient R ² obtained by prediction calculation in this example is 0.92, which improves the accuracy of the predicted value by adding the amount of filler in the prediction calculation. Therefore, the accuracy of the life calculation performed based on the calculation result of the present embodiment can also be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately predict and calculate the degree of deterioration of the fixing unit 21 according to the rigidity of the recording material and the blending amount of the filler, and the fixing unit 21 according to the use situation. Life calculation can be performed with high accuracy. In this embodiment, the rigidity of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler are held for each paper feed cassette. As a result, even when a plurality of paper types are used, a predictive calculation corresponding to each recording material is possible, so that a highly accurate result reflecting the user's usage status can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, the rigidity of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler are held for each paper feed cassette. For example, the correction coefficient obtained from the matrix in FIG. 6 is stored for each paper feed cassette. You may make it keep. In addition, the present embodiment is configured such that data of both the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler are input from the control panel 35. However, for example, the stiffness may be automatically detected according to the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 40 as shown in the first embodiment, and only the blending amount of the filler may be input from the control panel 35. Further, when a detection means for detecting the blending amount of the filler is provided, the blending amount of the filler can be automatically detected by the detecting means and used for the above-described prediction calculation. Such an input from the control panel 35 may be configured not only to be input from a menu screen accessible only by an administrative user but also from a menu screen accessible by a general user as necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration in the performance of the conveying means according to the recording material to be conveyed.

  When the user sets a number of parameters relating to the recording material P for each image forming apparatus, the usability may be reduced. Further, as described above, the data of the stiffness of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler is known only by the management user of the image forming apparatus and may not be known by the general user. In this case, these parameters are set by the management user. However, when the management user manages a plurality of image forming apparatuses and sheets, the same sheet parameter setting is repeated many times for each image forming apparatus. If such work can be set collectively, the work efficiency of the management user can be improved. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a configuration in which data on the stiffness of the recording material and the blending amount of the filler is input from the host device via the network line will be described.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a connection state between the plurality of image forming apparatuses 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> C and the host apparatus 50 according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatuses 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> C are all connected to the network line 60 via the network connection device 55. The host device 50 includes a control unit 50a that is setting means. The host device 50 can input the stiffness of the recording material P and the blending amount data of the filler for each of the paper feed cassettes 15 of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100C via the network line 60 by the control unit 50a. ing. In the image forming apparatus 100A to the image forming apparatus 100C, the network connection device 55 is connected to the control calculation unit 10, and the stiffness and filler blending amount data input via the network line 60 is also controlled as a storage unit. It is held in the arithmetic unit 10. Note that the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100A to the image forming apparatus 100C, the calculation of the degree of deterioration, and the like are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments. Omitted.

  The host apparatus 50 is connected to the same network line 60 as the image forming apparatus 100C from the image forming apparatus 100A, and can collectively manage the settings of the image forming apparatus 100C from the image forming apparatus 100A and monitor the operation status. It is possible. When transmitting the data of the stiffness of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler from the host device 50, for example, an image forming apparatus as a transmission destination is selected using a management screen as shown in FIG. 7B. .

  FIG. 7B shows the management screen 351. On the management screen 351, a tray setting input 352 and a setting transmission printer selection 353 can be input as a “paper parameter management setting menu”. In the tray setting input 352, the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler can be input for the recording material P set in the tray 1 to the tray 3 corresponding to the paper feed cassette 15A to 15C. Further, in the setting transmission printer selection 353, information on the installation location of the image forming apparatus 100A to the image forming apparatus 100C is displayed. In the setting transmission printer selection 353, it is possible to set to which image forming apparatus the data of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler set by the tray setting input 352 is transmitted. In this embodiment, the management screen 351 sets the data of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler. However, at least one of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler may be set. For example, the blending amount of the filler may be input from the management screen 351, the stiffness may be obtained based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 40, and the degree of deterioration may be calculated using these values. Furthermore, even when the stiffness is input from the management screen 351, the degree of deterioration may be calculated using the stiffness based on the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 40.

  For example, in FIG. 7B, the image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100A and the image forming apparatus 2 corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100B are checked. For this reason, the common stiffness and the blending amount of the filler are set for each tray 1 to tray 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2. The control unit 50a of the host device 50 transmits these pieces of information to the corresponding control calculation units 10 of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100C when the user inputs these data and then presses an OK button 354. To do. Accordingly, the host device 50 can collectively manage the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100C. In the present embodiment, data on the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler is input, but any configuration may be used as long as at least one of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler is input.

  The individual identification information of the image forming apparatus can be identified by a known method such as using an IP address registered in advance with the image forming apparatus. In this way, the host device 50 collectively transmits the data of the stiffness of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler to the plurality of image forming apparatuses selected from the management screen 351 for each sheet feeding cassette 15.

  As described above, the control calculation unit 10 of each image forming apparatus uses the data of the stiffness of the recording material P and the blending amount of the filler input via the network line 60 to accurately calculate the lifetime of the fixing unit 21. It can be carried out. Further, the result of the life calculation performed in each image forming apparatus is transmitted to the host apparatus 50 via the network line 60. As a result, the host device 50 can hold the life calculation result of the fixing unit 21 of each image forming apparatus as one piece of maintenance management information, so that the management load on the management user can be reduced.

  As described above, by configuring the management system of the image forming apparatus, data on the stiffness of the recording material and the blending amount of the filler for the plurality of image forming apparatuses managed by the management user including the paper to be used. It becomes possible to input by one operation. Thereby, it becomes possible to greatly reduce the workload of the management user.

  As described above, in each of the embodiments described so far, the heating film 211 is used as a target for predicting the degree of deterioration. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the heating film 211, the fixing unit 21. You may apply to the pressure roller 21a which is a component which comprises these. Further, only the predicted calculation value of the wear amount of the heating film 211 is used for the lifetime calculation of the fixing unit 21, but the lifetime calculation is performed by comprehensively considering the degree of deterioration of the other parts constituting the fixing unit 21 described above. May be performed. In addition to the fixing unit 21, for example, the secondary transfer roller 25, the paper feed rollers 17 and 18, and the like may be applied to all rotary conveyance units that contribute to the conveyance of the recording material P by contacting the surface of the recording material P. Is possible.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately estimate the degree of deterioration in the performance of the conveying means according to the recording material to be conveyed.

10 Control operation part 21b Heating rotator

Claims (18)

Conveying means for conveying the recording material;
Computing means for computing the degree of deterioration of the conveying means;
With
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit performs correction according to the stiffness of the recording material when calculating the degree of deterioration.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit performs correction according to a blending amount of a filler included in the recording material when calculating the degree of deterioration.   The calculation means determines the rigidity to at least one of the wear amount per sheet when the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance means and the wear amount per rotation when the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amount of wear obtained by multiplying by a corresponding coefficient is obtained as the degree of deterioration.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the stiffness is smaller. A detecting means for detecting the amount of deflection of the recording material;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the arithmetic unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the deflection amount detected by the detection unit is larger.   The calculating means includes at least one of an amount of wear per sheet when the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means and an amount of wear per rotation when the recording material is conveyed by the conveying means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an amount of wear obtained by multiplying by a coefficient according to a blending amount of the filler is obtained as the degree of deterioration.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the stiffness is smaller and the blending amount of the filler is smaller. A plurality of placement portions for placing recording materials;
Storage means for storing at least one of the stiffness and the blending amount of the filler for each of the plurality of placement units in association with each of the plurality of placement units;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculating unit calculates a life of the conveying unit based on the accumulated wear amount. 10. A management system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and a management apparatus connected to the plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network line,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A plurality of placement portions for placing recording materials;
Conveying means for conveying the recording material;
Computing means for computing the degree of deterioration of the conveying means;
Have
The management device
A setting unit capable of collectively setting the stiffness of the recording material placed on each of the plurality of placement units of the plurality of image forming apparatuses with respect to each of the plurality of placement units; Have
The management system calculates the deterioration degree based on the stiffness set by the setting means, and calculates the life of the conveying means based on the calculated deterioration degree.   11. The management system according to claim 10, wherein when calculating the degree of deterioration, the calculation unit performs correction according to the amount of filler contained in the recording material set by the setting unit.   The calculation means determines the rigidity to at least one of the wear amount per sheet when the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance means and the wear amount per rotation when the recording material is conveyed by the conveyance means. The management system according to claim 10, wherein an amount of wear obtained by multiplying by a corresponding coefficient is obtained as the degree of deterioration.   The management system according to claim 12, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the stiffness is smaller. A detecting means for detecting the amount of deflection of the recording material;
The management system according to claim 12, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the deflection amount detected by the detection unit is larger.   The calculating means includes at least one of an amount of wear per sheet when the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means and an amount of wear per rotation when the recording material is conveyed by the conveying means. The management system according to claim 11, wherein an amount of wear obtained by multiplying by a coefficient corresponding to a blending amount of the filler is obtained as the degree of deterioration.   The management system according to claim 15, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the stiffness is smaller and the blending amount of the filler is smaller. A detecting means for detecting the amount of deflection of the recording material;
The management system according to claim 15, wherein the calculation unit sets the coefficient to a smaller value as the deflection amount detected by the detection unit is larger.   18. The management apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the management apparatus manages the result of the lifetime calculation performed by the calculation unit in association with each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. 18. The management system described.

Images