JP2019003105A - Image forming apparatus and life determination system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus and a life determination system that can detect a change in surface state of a fixing member by using only an existing mechanism.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 40 determines a deterioration in surface roughness of a first roller 111 and a second roller 112 (belt 113), on the basis of the rotation speed of the second roller 112 when a brake unit 102 applies a predetermined breaking force to the second roller 112 while the image forming apparatus drives the first roller 111 at a predetermined driving force in a pressure contact state where the first roller 111 and second roller 112 are in pressure contact at a predetermined contact pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a life determination system for managing replacement timing of replacement parts.

  Multi-function devices equipped with functions such as copying, scanning, and printing that are installed in offices, etc., will have a long period of inability to use the device if the parts are ordered and replaced after the end of their service life. This causes great inconvenience to the user. Therefore, a periodic report indicating the usage amount of each replacement part is periodically sent to the maintenance management device of the management company through the network, and the replacement time is predicted by the maintenance management device. Is sent or exchanged with a service person.

  However, the accuracy of predicting the service life of parts is not sufficient with periodic reports alone. For example, the life of main members (rollers / belts and drive members) generally used in fixing devices is determined based on the operation time and the number of printed sheets. However, in PP (Production Printer) machines, etc., the conditions used (paper There are various errors in the determination of the lifetime based on the existing operation time and the number of printed sheets.

  In addition, since the permissible range for image quality varies from user to user, it is difficult to uniformly determine the life of a member based on existing standards such as operation time and the number of printed sheets.

  In particular, the phenomenon in which wax is transferred from a toner image called a gloss memory to a fixing member (roller / belt) and transferred to the image portion after one rotation is gradually accompanied by deterioration of the surface roughness of the fixing member. However, the level of the phenomenon manifested by the paper type is different, the ease of visual recognition varies depending on the content of the image even if the phenomenon occurs, the ease of visual recognition for each user, etc. Therefore, with existing standards such as operation time and number of printed sheets, it becomes difficult to determine whether or not gloss memory is generated at a level at which a complaint may be received from the user (a level at which the life of the member is exhausted). Yes.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for directly detecting the surface roughness of a fixing member with an optical sensor.

JP, 2006-206635, A

  Since Patent Document 1 is intended to repair the edge of a paper sheet, only a part of the fixing member (end position of a specific paper size) is detected by an optical sensor. In order to determine the degree of deterioration related to the gloss memory, which is the subject of the present application, it is necessary to detect the surface roughness of the entire fixing member. Or a structure that scans with a sensor over the entire width is required. However, since the optical sensor is vulnerable to high temperatures, it is practically difficult to detect the entire surface of the fixing member that is at a high temperature.

  Therefore, use only existing mechanisms without adding special mechanisms such as optical sensors. It is desirable to detect a change in the surface state of the fixing member.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a life determination system that can detect a change in the surface state of a fixing member using only an existing mechanism. It is an object.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An image forming apparatus for forming an image on recording paper,
A first roller and a second roller that convey the recording paper while sandwiching the recording paper therebetween in the fixing step of image formation;
A pressure contact portion that presses the first roller and the second roller together with a predetermined pressure force; and
A driving motor for driving the first roller;
A brake part for applying a braking force to the second roller;
A speed detector for detecting the rotational speed of the second roller;
When the first roller is driven at a predetermined rotational speed in a state where the first roller and the second roller are pressed against each other with a predetermined pressing force, the brake unit applies a predetermined braking force to the second roller. A determination unit that determines deterioration of surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller based on the rotation speed of the second roller when added to
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, when the first roller is driven at a predetermined rotational speed with the first roller and the second roller being pressed against each other with a predetermined pressing force, a predetermined braking force is applied to the second roller. Based on the rotation speed of the second roller, the degree of deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller is determined. The rotation speed of the second roller corresponds to the movement speed of the outer periphery when the second roller rotates, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft, or the like.

[2] The second roller is composed of a plurality of rollers and a belt spanning them.
In the pressed state, one of the plurality of rollers and the first roller are pressed against each other with the belt interposed therebetween. The image forming apparatus according to [1].

  In the above-described invention, the second roller is composed of a plurality of rollers and a belt stretched around the outer periphery of the plurality of rollers, and the driving force received by one roller is transmitted to each roller through the belt. Further, when the first roller and the second roller are in a pressure contact state, one of the plurality of rollers constituting the second roller and the first roller are pressed against each other with the belt interposed therebetween.

[3] The braking force applied by the brake unit is changed in multiple stages, and the rotational speed of the second roller in each stage is detected by the speed detection unit,
The determination unit determines deterioration of the surface roughness based on a change state of a rotation speed of the second roller when the braking force is changed in multiple stages. [1] or [2 ] The image forming apparatus described in the above.

  In the above invention, the difference in rotational speed between the second roller when the weak braking force is applied to the second roller and when the strong braking force is applied is such that the surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller deteriorates. growing. Therefore, the applied braking force is changed in multiple stages, the rotational speed of the second roller at each stage is detected, and the deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller is determined based on the detection result. .

[4] The pressure force applied by the pressure contact portion is changed in multiple stages, and the rotational speed of the second roller in each stage is detected by the speed detection section,
The determination unit determines deterioration of the surface roughness based on a change state of a rotation speed of the second roller when the pressure contact force is changed in multiple stages. [1] or [ The image forming apparatus according to 2].

  In the above invention, the difference in rotational speed between the first roller and the second roller when the pressure contact force between the first roller and the second roller is increased and when it is decreased is so large that the surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller deteriorates. Become. Therefore, the applied pressure force is changed in multiple stages, the rotational speed of the second roller at each stage is detected, and the deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller is determined based on the detection result. .

[5] having a notification unit for notifying the determination result of the determination unit;
The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein:

[6] The notification unit performs the notification when the degree of deterioration of the surface roughness determined by the determination unit exceeds a predetermined threshold,
The image forming apparatus according to [5], wherein the threshold value can be changed by a user.

[7] The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the determination is performed at a predetermined timing set in advance.

  In the above invention, for example, the deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller and the surface of the second roller is determined at a predetermined timing set in advance, for example, when warming up in the morning.

[8] A unit life estimation system including a server and a plurality of image forming apparatuses according to any one of [1] to [7],
The server
Collecting information indicating the usage status of each image forming apparatus and the result of the determination when the fixing unit is replaced from the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
From the usage status collected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the result of the determination, for each usage status, obtain a threshold value of the deterioration degree of the surface roughness to be determined as the life of the fixing unit,
A service life determination system characterized in that a service life of a fixing unit of each image forming apparatus is determined based on the threshold value corresponding to the use status of the image forming apparatus.

  In the above invention, when the fixing unit (fixing device) is replaced in each image forming apparatus, the server collects information on the progress of the deterioration of the fixing unit immediately before that and the usage status of the image forming apparatus. . The usage status to be collected includes the usage frequency of the paper type, information on the paper type used mainly, the type of the user, and the like. Then, based on the collection of the above information from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, for example, a threshold value for the degree of progress of deterioration to be determined as the replacement time (lifetime) of the fixing unit is determined for the type of paper used mainly. Then, each image forming apparatus is notified of a threshold value corresponding to the type of paper mainly used in the image forming apparatus, and the life of the fixing device is determined using the threshold value. Alternatively, each image forming apparatus is classified according to usage status. The server determines the life of the fixing device.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the life determination system according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a change in the surface state of the fixing member using only an existing mechanism.

It is a figure showing an example of composition of a maintenance management system concerning an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows a structure of a part which drives a pair of fixing roller and them. It is a figure of the graph which shows the relationship between the strength of brake force (pressure contact force), and the rotational speed of a 2nd roller for every four deterioration progress degrees. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the image forming apparatus determines the degree of progress of deterioration of the surface of the fixing member.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a maintenance management system 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The maintenance management system 2 is configured by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses 40 to a management server 10 that is a maintenance management apparatus via a network such as the Internet. The management server 10 is installed in a maintenance management company that maintains and manages the image forming apparatus 40, and the image forming apparatus 40 is installed in the office of each user.

  The image forming apparatus 40 has a copy function that optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on a recording sheet, a scan function that stores image data of the read document as a file, or transmits the file to an external terminal via a network, This is a so-called multi-function peripheral having a print function for printing based on print data received from a user information processing terminal.

  The management server 10 monitors the presence / absence of an abnormality in each image forming apparatus 40 to be managed connected via the network, and manages the replacement timing of replacement parts.

  Each image forming apparatus 40 determines the degree of deterioration of a fixing member that fixes an image on a sheet when printing is performed, and transmits the determination result to the management server 10. Then, the management server 10 estimates the unit life of each image forming apparatus 40 based on the degree of progress indicated by the determination result received from each image forming apparatus 40.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 40. The image forming apparatus 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 that comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 40. The CPU 41 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, an image reading unit 44, a printer unit 45, an image processing unit 46, a nonvolatile memory 47, a hard disk device 48, a facsimile communication unit 49, and network communication through a bus. The unit 50, the operation panel 54, and the like are connected.

  The CPU 41 is based on an OS (Operating System) program and executes middleware, application programs, and the like. Various programs are stored in the ROM 42, and each function as the image forming apparatus 40 is realized by the CPU 41 executing various processes in accordance with these programs.

  The RAM 43 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 41 executes processing based on a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like.

  The image reading unit 44 functions to optically read a document and acquire image data. The image reading unit 44 includes, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document placed on a platen glass, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light for one line in the width direction, and a light source that irradiates light. A moving unit that sequentially moves the reading position and the reading position in line units by the line image sensor in the length direction of the document, and an optical path including a lens, a mirror, and the like that guides reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes a conversion unit that converts an analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data.

  The printer unit 45 has a function of forming an image corresponding to image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. Other methods may be used for image formation. In the fixing process of image formation, the fixing device presses and heats the toner image on the sheet to fix the sheet. The fixing device includes a pair of fixing rollers pressed against each other and a fixing lamp inserted inside the fixing roller to heat the fixing roller. The fixing roller and the fixing lamp are one of the replacement parts to be managed. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing device may have a configuration in which one of a pair of rollers is replaced with a plurality of rollers and a belt spanning the rollers.

  The image processing unit 46 performs processes such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation, rasterization processing for converting print data included in a print job into image data, image data compression / decompression processing, and the like.

  The nonvolatile memory 47 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and is used for storing setting values relating to various setting items.

  The hard disk device 48 is a nonvolatile, large-capacity storage device that stores various programs, received print jobs, and the like.

  The facsimile communication unit 49 performs a function of transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external apparatus having a facsimile function through a public line.

  The network communication unit 50 functions to communicate with the management server 10, information processing terminals of users and administrators, and other external devices through the network.

  The operation panel 54 includes a display unit 55 and an operation unit 56. The display unit 55 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD ... Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and functions to display various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 56 includes hard keys such as a numeric keypad and a start button, and a touch panel provided on the physical screen of the display unit 55. The touch panel detects a coordinate position where the physical screen of the display unit 55 is touched with a touch pen or a finger.

  The CPU 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 functions as the determination unit 61 and the notification unit 62 of the present invention by executing a program. The determination unit 61 plays a role of determining the degree of deterioration of the fixing member of the fixing device in the printer unit 45. Details of the determination method and the determination target will be described later. The notification unit 62 notifies the user of the result obtained by the determination unit 61 using the display unit 55 or the like. Further, the notification unit 62 transmits the determination result described above to the management server 10 via the network communication unit 50.

  Next, the determination target and the determination method described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the fixing device in the printer unit 45.

  The fixing device includes a pair of fixing rollers (including a belt and the like) that convey the recording paper while sandwiching the recording paper therebetween in the image forming fixing process, a driving motor 102 that drives one fixing roller, and the other fixing roller. And a switching unit 103 (pressing part) for switching a pair of fixing rollers between a pressing state and a separated state. The brake unit 101 also functions as a speed detection unit that detects the rotation speed of the other fixing roller.

  The pair of fixing rollers includes a hollow cylindrical first roller 111 and a second roller 112 disposed above the first roller 111 so as to face the first roller 111. The first roller 111 and the second roller 112 have axes parallel to each other and have a length equal to or greater than the maximum paper width. In the embodiment of the present invention, the diameters of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are the same.

  The switching unit 103 causes the first roller 111 to reciprocate between a pressure contact position where the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in a pressure contact state (a state where both are pressed together) and a separation position where the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are separated from each other. It is also possible to adjust the pressure contact force in the pressure contact state to a larger or smaller value.

  The driving motor 102 drives and rotates the first roller 111. When the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in a pressure contact state, the driving force applied by the driving motor 102 to the first roller 111 is transmitted to the second roller 112 via the first roller 111, and the second roller 112 is Follow.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the three rollers, the second roller 112, the brake roller 114, and the auxiliary roller 115, are installed with their axes in parallel. The lengths of these three rollers in the axial direction are the same, and a belt 113 is stretched so as to surround the three rollers so that the driving force is transmitted between the three rollers. The belt 113 has a width equivalent to that of the second roller 112, the brake roller 114, and the auxiliary roller 115, and is stretched over the entire axial length of each roller. There is no slip between the belt 113 and each roller (second roller 112, brake roller 114, auxiliary roller 115). In the press-bonded state, the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are pressed (pressed) with the belt 113 interposed therebetween. The sheet to be fixed passes between the first roller 111 and the belt 113.

  The brake unit 101 is a motor, and applies driving force and braking force to the brake roller 114. In normal times, the driving force is applied in the same direction as the driving force transmitted from the first roller 111 to the second roller 112 to assist the driving of the belt 113. The driving force that the brake unit 101 applies to the brake roller 114 is that the circumferential speed (moving speed) of the belt 113 driven via the brake roller 114 is when the drive motor 102 drives the first roller 111. The outer peripheral speed of the first roller 111 (the moving speed on the outer periphery) is set to be the same.

  When the brake unit 101 applies a braking force, the driving force is weakened compared to the above-described normal time so as to slow down the rotating speed of the brake roller 114, or the driving force is applied in the direction opposite to the normal time. The braking force applied to the brake roller 114 is transmitted to the second roller 112 and the auxiliary roller 115 through the belt 113.

  The torque on the second roller 112 side is smaller than the torque on the first roller 111 side, and even if a slight braking force is applied by the brake unit 101 (even if the rotational speed is slower than normal), the first roller 111 When the frictional force between the belt 113 and the belt 113 is large, the belt 113 rotates at the speed on the first roller 111 side, and the motor of the brake unit 101 rotates at a speed higher than the rotation speed instructed from the printer control unit 100. As the frictional force between the first roller 111 and the belt 113 decreases due to deterioration or the like, the motor of the brake unit 101 rotates at a rotation speed close to the instructed rotation speed. Note that the brake unit 101 as a speed detection unit detects an actual measured value of the rotation speed of the motor of the brake unit 101 and transmits it to the printer control unit 100 described later.

  The printer control unit 100 controls operations of the switching unit 103, the drive motor 102, and the brake unit 101. For example, the drive motor 102 and the brake unit 101 are instructed about the rotation speed and the rotation direction when the motor is rotated.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the determination unit 61 determines the deterioration of the surface roughness for the first roller 111 and the belt 113. Hereinafter, in the description related to the determination of the deterioration, the belt 113 is omitted. The structure will be described. That is, the deterioration determination target is the first roller 111 and the second roller 112, the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in pressure contact, the brake unit 101 applies a braking force to the second roller 112, and the second roller 112 A description will be given assuming that the rotational speed of the roller 112 is detected.

  As the surface of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 comes into contact with each other, the surface becomes rough, so that the degree of adhesion decreases and the surface becomes slippery. Therefore, the determination unit 61 determines that the brake unit 101 has a predetermined strong force when the first roller 111 is driven at a predetermined rotational speed while the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in a pressure contact state with a predetermined pressure contact force. When the braking force is applied to the second roller 112 (hereinafter referred to as determination brake processing), the rotation speed of the second roller 112 deteriorates the roughness of the contact surface between the first roller 111 and the second roller 112. Determine.

  As the deterioration progresses, it becomes easier to slip and the driving force is less likely to be transmitted from the first roller 111 to the second roller 112, so the rotational speed of the second roller 112 during the determination brake process decreases. The determination unit 61 determines that the deterioration of the roughness of the surface in contact with the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 progresses as the rotational speed of the second roller 112 during the determination brake process is lower.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, at the time of the above-described determination, the rotational speeds of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 during the determination brake process are compared, and the larger the difference is, the closer the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in contact with each other. It is determined that the surface roughness has been deteriorated. In the embodiment of the present invention, the rotational speed of the drive motor 102 and the rotational speed of the first roller 111 are linearly proportional, and the measured value of the rotational speed of the motor of the brake unit 101 and the rotational speed of the second roller 112. Also, the rotation speed of the first roller 111 is calculated from the rotation speed of the driving motor 102, and the rotation speed of the second roller 112 is calculated from the measured value of the rotation speed of the motor of the brake unit 101. And

  Note that the rotation speeds of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 correspond to, for example, the rotation speed (movement speed) of the outer periphery of each roller, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft, and the like.

  The rotation speed of the drive motor 102 is the rotation speed instructed when the printer control unit 100 drives the drive motor 102. The actual measured value of the rotational speed of the motor of the brake unit 101 is detected by the brake unit 101 and the detection result is transmitted to the printer control unit 100. The determination unit 61 makes contact between the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 based on the difference between the rotational speed of the driving motor 102 acquired by the printer control unit 100 and the measured value of the rotational speed of the motor of the brake unit 101. Determine deterioration of surface roughness. In addition, you may make it detect actual value also about the rotational speed of the 1st roller 111. FIG.

  The determination method described so far is the first determination method. Hereinafter, a determination method other than the first determination method will be described.

  Next, a second determination method with higher determination accuracy than the first determination method described above will be described. In the second determination method, the brake force applied to the second roller 112 is applied in multiple stages during the above-described determination brake process, and the rotational speed of the second roller 112 at each stage (the rotation of the motor of the brake unit 101). Check the actual measured speed).

  4 shows the braking force applied by the second roller 112, that is, the braking force (rotational speed) instructed to the motor of the brake unit 101, and the rotational speed of the second roller 112 (measured value of the rotational speed of the motor of the brake unit 101). ) With four graphs for each progress of deterioration of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 (deterioration progress 1 to 4). It is assumed that the progress of deterioration proceeds in the order of deterioration progress 1 → deterioration progress 2 → deterioration progress 3 → deterioration progress 4.

  In FIG. 4, the difference between the rotational speed of the second roller 112 (actual measured value of the motor speed of the brake unit 101) when the brake is weakly applied and when the brake is strongly applied is greater in the graph in which the deterioration progresses. Larger, and its inclination becomes larger.

  Therefore, the determination unit 61 rotates the second roller 112 at each stage when the braking force applied to the second roller 112 is applied in multiple stages (actual measurement value of the rotation speed of the motor of the brake unit 101). The change rate of the actually measured rotational speed with respect to the braking force is obtained from the change of the above, and the larger the change rate (the greater the inclination when graphed), the roughness of the surface where the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are in contact with each other. It is determined that the deterioration is progressing.

  The first determination method and the second determination method may be used in combination, or only one of them may be used. Further, in the second determination method, when the braking force is applied in multiple stages, a state where the braking force is not applied may be set as one stage.

  In the second determination method, the pressure contact force between the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 may be changed in multiple stages instead of the braking force. In this case, the braking force applied at each stage is constant. In the case of changing the pressure contact force in multiple stages, as in the graph of FIG. 4, the rotation speed of the second roller 112 when the weak pressure contact force is applied and when the strong pressure contact force is applied (the rate of change of the measured rotation speed with respect to the pressure contact force). ) Is larger as the degree of deterioration progresses, and the slope of the graph also increases. The determination unit 61 changes the pressure contact force of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 in multiple stages during the determination brake process, compares the rotation speed of the second roller 112 at each stage, and the difference (inclination) is large. It is determined that the deterioration is progressing.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the determination by the determination unit 61 is, for example, at the beginning of every morning warm-up (at the time of startup), but the determination may be performed at another timing. For example, the determination is performed at a timing such as when a predetermined time is reached, when a predetermined number of sheets have been printed, or when an instruction for determination is received via the management server 10 or the operation unit 56. May be.

  FIG. 5 shows a process in which the image forming apparatus 40 determines the degree of progress of deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112. First, if it is not the first warm-up (during the first morning warm-up) on that day (step S101; No), this process is terminated. If it is at the time of the first warm-up on that day (step S101; Yes), it waits until it reaches a predetermined temperature by warm-up (step S102; No), and when it reaches a predetermined temperature (step S102; Yes), first The first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are brought into a pressure contact state with a predetermined pressure contact force (step S103).

  Next, in a normal state, that is, in a state where the brake unit 101 is not applying a braking force, the drive motor 102 (first roller 111) is driven at a predetermined rotational speed, and the motor of the brake unit 101 (second roller 112). An actual measurement value of the rotation speed is detected (step S104).

  Next, the braking force is applied to the brake unit 101 in various stages and the driving motor 102 (first roller 111) is driven at a predetermined rotational speed. An actual measurement value of the rotation speed of the roller 112) is detected (step S105).

  Thereafter, the degree of progress of the deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 is determined based on the rotational speed detected in step S104 and step S105 (step S106). In this case, the rate of change in the measured rotational speed of the second roller 112 with respect to the change in the braking force is calculated, and the degree of deterioration is determined based on the rate of change.

  If the numerical value (deterioration degree of deterioration) indicated by the determination result is less than the predetermined value (step S107; No), this process is terminated. If the numerical value indicated by the determination result is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (step S107; Yes), it is determined that the deterioration degree of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 has reached the end of life, and the user is notified of this (step). S108), the process is terminated. The user can set the predetermined value in step S107.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 40 transmits the determination result to the management server 10 regardless of whether or not the numerical value indicated by the determination result in step S107 has reached a predetermined value. You may make it transmit to the management server 10 only when this determination result reaches a predetermined value.

  The management server 10 stores the determination result received from each image forming apparatus 40 and estimates the unit life of the fixing member of each image forming apparatus 40 based on the determination result.

  For example, when the fixing device is replaced in each image forming apparatus 40, the management server 10 collects information on the degree of progress of deterioration of the fixing apparatus immediately before that and the usage status of the image forming apparatus 40. The usage status to be collected includes the usage frequency of the paper type, information on the paper type used mainly, the type of the user, and the like. Then, based on the collection of the above information from the plurality of image forming apparatuses 40, for example, a threshold value of the degree of progress of deterioration to be determined as the replacement time (life) of the fixing device is determined for the type of paper used mainly. Then, each image forming apparatus 40 is notified of a threshold value corresponding to the type of paper mainly used in the image forming apparatus 40, and the life of the fixing device is judged using the threshold value, or each image is classified according to the use situation. The life of the fixing device of the forming device 40 is determined by the management server.

  According to the present invention described above, the image forming apparatus 40 drives the first roller 111 with a predetermined driving force in a pressing state in which the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are pressed with a predetermined pressing force. Sometimes, the surface roughness of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 (belt 113) is determined based on the rotational speed of the second roller 112 when the brake unit 101 applies a predetermined braking force to the second roller 112. Determine deterioration. Accordingly, it is possible to determine the deterioration of the surface roughness of the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 (belt 113) using only the existing mechanism without requiring a special mechanism.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the image forming apparatus 40, which is a multifunction peripheral, is described as an example of the management target apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus 40 is not limited to the image forming apparatus 40, and may be a printing apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a printer, or a copier. Any other type of device may be used. Any method may be used as long as the image is fixed by sandwiching a recording sheet between a pair of rollers (or between a roller and a belt) by a fixing device.

  In FIG. 5 of the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 40 notifies the user that the deterioration degree has reached the end of life when the numerical value indicated by the determination result reaches a predetermined value in step S107. Regardless of whether the numerical value indicated by the determination result has reached a predetermined value, the determination result may be notified to the user each time a determination is made.

  In the embodiment, the fixing device in which the belt is wound around the second roller 112 is illustrated, but the present invention is also applied to a fixing device in which the first roller 111 and the second roller 112 are directly pressed against each other without the belt. The

2 ... maintenance management system 10 ... management server 40 ... image forming apparatus 41 ... CPU
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
44 ... Image reading unit 45 ... Printer unit 46 ... Image processing unit 47 ... Non-volatile memory 48 ... Hard disk device 49 ... Facsimile communication unit 50 ... Network communication unit 54 ... Operation panel 55 ... Display unit 56 ... Operation unit 61 ... Determination unit 62 ... Notification unit 100: Printer control unit 101 ... Brake unit 102 ... Driving motor 103 ... Switching unit 111 ... First roller 112 ... Second roller 113 ... Belt 114 ... Brake roller 115 ... Auxiliary roller

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording paper,
A first roller and a second roller that convey the recording paper while sandwiching the recording paper therebetween in the fixing step of image formation;
A pressure contact portion that presses the first roller and the second roller together with a predetermined pressure force; and
A driving motor for driving the first roller;
A brake part for applying a braking force to the second roller;
A speed detector for detecting the rotational speed of the second roller;
When the first roller is driven at a predetermined rotational speed in a state where the first roller and the second roller are pressed against each other with a predetermined pressing force, the brake unit applies a predetermined braking force to the second roller. A determination unit that determines deterioration of surface roughness of the first roller and the second roller based on the rotation speed of the second roller when added to
An image forming apparatus comprising: The second roller is composed of a plurality of rollers and a belt spanned between them.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the pressed state, one of the plurality of rollers and the first roller are pressed against each other with the belt interposed therebetween. The brake force applied by the brake unit is changed in multiple stages, and the rotational speed of the second roller in each stage is detected by the speed detection unit,
The said determination part determines deterioration of the said surface roughness based on the change condition of the rotational speed of the said 2nd roller when changing a braking force in multiple steps. The image forming apparatus described. The pressure contact force applied by the pressure contact portion is changed in multiple stages, and the rotational speed of the second roller in each stage is detected by the speed detection section,
The said determination part determines deterioration of the said surface roughness based on the change condition of the rotational speed of the said 2nd roller when changing the said press-contact force in multiple steps. The image forming apparatus described in 1. A notification unit for notifying the determination result of the determination unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The notification unit performs the notification when the degree of deterioration of the surface roughness determined by the determination unit exceeds a predetermined threshold,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the threshold is changeable by a user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed at a predetermined timing set in advance. A unit life estimation system including a server and a plurality of image forming apparatuses according to claim 1,
The server
Collecting information indicating the usage status of each image forming apparatus and the result of the determination when the fixing unit is replaced from the plurality of image forming apparatuses,
From the usage status collected from the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the result of the determination, for each usage status, obtain a threshold value of the deterioration degree of the surface roughness to be determined as the life of the fixing unit,
A service life determination system characterized in that a service life of a fixing unit of each image forming apparatus is determined based on the threshold value corresponding to the use status of the image forming apparatus.

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