JP2834780B2 - Photoconductor life detector for electrophotographic equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photoconductor life detecting device that detects the life of a photoconductor based on the number of rotations of the photoconductor of an electrophotographic apparatus.

(Prior Art) As is well known, the photoreceptor of an electrophotographic apparatus has its photosensitive layer deteriorated and worn by repeating the electrophotographic process. Therefore, it is necessary to replace this photoconductor with a new photoconductor at the end of a predetermined durability limit, that is, at the end of its life.

By the way, in recent years, with the spread of electrophotographic devices, it is difficult to replace photoconductors by service personnel.
It is required that the user can replace the photosensitive member by hand. For this reason, this type of electrophotographic apparatus requires a photoconductor life detecting device for detecting the life of the photoconductor and notifying the user of the exchange magnetism of the photoconductor.

Here, the life of the photoconductor is proportional to the number of rotations of the photoconductor or the number of paper feeds (or paper discharges) of the transfer paper during the execution of the electrophotographic process. The life can be detected.

In addition, detecting the number of rotations of the photoconductor or the number of paper feeding (or discharging) of the transfer paper at the time of execution of the electrophotographic process on the main body side of the electrophotographic apparatus is performed, for example, by a photoconductor driving signal in a photoconductor control circuit. Can be realized relatively easily by a method such as counting the number of times of output.

However, in this method, it is necessary to reset the count of the number of rotations of the photoconductor when the photoconductor is removed for replacement. Therefore, in the photoreceptor life detecting device configured by this method, even if a still usable photoreceptor is temporarily removed for maintenance such as removal of jammed paper, the number of rotations of the photoreceptor is counted. Is reset. For this reason, in the photoconductor life detecting device, it is possible for the apparatus main body to determine whether the reset of the rotation count of the photoconductor is due to the life of the photoconductor or due to maintenance of the photoconductor. It is difficult to accurately detect the life of the photoconductor.

Conventionally, in order to solve such a problem, a display plate provided in a process kit including a photoreceptor is slowly rotated through a ratchet that transmits the rotation of the photoreceptor at a reduced speed. A life measuring mechanism (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-163276) configured to notify the life of the photoconductor, a battery is provided inside a cartridge including the photoconductor, and the capacity of the battery is changed for each copy operation. Detect the life of the cartridge by lowering and checking the capacity of this battery.
A life detecting device (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-38642) and the like have been proposed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-described conventional life measuring mechanism and life detecting device, the life detecting means of the photoconductor is provided on a process kit or cartridge side separated from the electrophotographic apparatus main body. However, the life of the photoreceptor can be known at first. However, in these devices, since the photoreceptor itself does not have a life detecting means strictly, the photoreceptor cannot be used for the process kit or the cartridge. If only the body is attached or detached, it is difficult to determine whether the attachment or detachment of the photosensitive body is due to the life of the photosensitive body or due to maintenance of the photosensitive body, as described above. There is a problem that can not be done.

Therefore. In the above-described conventional apparatus, it is necessary to replace the photosensitive member together with the process kit or the cartridge when the photosensitive member reaches the end of its life. Therefore, the life of the photosensitive member is longer than that of the photosensitive member provided in the process kit or the cartridge. There is a problem that equipment is wasted.

The number of rotations that can be used until the end of the life of this type of photoreceptor is usually said to be several hundred thousand.

For this reason, it is practically difficult to transmit the number of rotations of the photoconductor to the display panel through only the ratchet as in the conventional life measuring mechanism.

Further, in the method of detecting the life of the cartridge by lowering the capacity of the battery for each copy operation and checking the capacity of the battery as in the above-mentioned conventional life detecting device, the life of the battery is reduced by the photoconductor. Since the battery must be longer than the service life, a relatively large-capacity battery is required. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the device is increased in size or the device is damaged due to battery leakage due to aging.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a feed claw that is periodically rocked in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor, and a feed claw that is fixed by the rocking of the feed claw. The rotating body that is rotated and the actuator that is screwed in conjunction with the fixed rotation of the rotating body are integrally and inseparably provided with the photoconductor.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the rotation of the photosensitive member is reduced by the swing of the feed claw and transmitted to the rotating member, and furthermore, the photosensitive member is screwed in conjunction with the fixed rotation of the rotating member. It is decelerated and transmitted to the actuator.

As a result, the number of rotations of the photoconductor is exchanged as the amount of movement of the actuator that is screwed down at an extremely reduced speed.

Further, according to the present invention, since the feed pawl, the rotator, and the actuator are disposed integrally with the photoreceptor and inseparable from the photoreceptor, the number of rotations of the photoreceptor is used as the amount of movement of the actuator. Is stored.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The photosensitive member life detecting device of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention includes:
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, there are provided a feed claw 1, a rotating body 2, an actuator 3, a detection electrode 4, a ground electrode 5, and the like.

The feed claw 1 is formed of a leaf spring, and is fixed to one end of the support shaft 11 at a position facing the inner boss portion 62c of the photoreceptor flange 62. The support shaft 11 is a photosensitive layer of the photoconductor 6
It is pivotally supported by a photoreceptor flange 62 that supports 61. The other end of the support shaft 11 extends outward from the photoreceptor flange 62, and a base end of the trigger 12 is fixed to the extended portion.

In FIG. 2, the rotating body 2 is screwed and supported by a photosensitive member flange 62 with a screw portion 62b, and a hollow portion of the photosensitive member 6 (the photosensitive layer 61).
Inside).

The rotating body 2 has a cylindrical portion having an inner peripheral surface 2a.
The trigger 12 is rotatable about the support shaft 11, and a stopper 13 for preventing the rotation is implanted in the photoreceptor flange 62.

In FIG. 4 (a), the end 1a of the feed claw 1 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface 2a of the rotating body 2 by the elasticity of the feed claw 1 in a state where the free end side of the trigger 12 is in contact with the stopper 13. It is.

At a position facing the stopper 13 with the trigger 12 therebetween, a stopper 14 is provided so as to be implanted in the photoreceptor flange 62. Thus, the swing range of the trigger 12 is restricted by the stopper 13 and the stopper 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the actuator 3 is screwed to the screw portion 62b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube-shaped boss portion 62a of the photoreceptor flange 62 as described above, and is integrated with the rotating body 2. It has become. The outer end of the actuator 3 is
The boss 62a extends into the end of the boss 62a.

In FIG. 1, the sensing electrode 4 is an actuator 3
Is fixed to the outer side of the support block 7 that supports the photoconductor 6 in a state of facing the end 3a on the screw path A.

The support block 7 is disposed on the electrophotographic apparatus main body 8 side as shown in FIGS.
The boss portion 62a of 62 is rotatably supported. The ground electrode 5 is fixed to the outer side of the support block 7 in a state of facing the end 3a of the actuator 3 along the direction of the screw path A.

The ground electrode 5 is in contact with the boss portion 62a of the photoreceptor flange 62 in a state where the photoreceptor 6 is supported by the support block 7, and via the photoreceptor flange 62 made of a conductive material, 61 conductive layers are grounded.

Here, the detection electrode 4 forms a pair with the ground electrode 5,
An opening / closing switch of the photoconductor life indicator 9 that is turned on when the number of rotations of the photoconductor 6 reaches the rotation number near the limit is configured. A photoconductor 6 is provided on the inner surface of the support block 7.
The protrusion 10 is provided so as to extend within the rotation locus of the free end 12a of the trigger 12 during the rotation of.

As described above, the photoreceptor life detecting device which is integrally formed on the photoreceptor 6 side operates as follows.

In FIG. 7, when an electrophotographic apparatus (a laser printer in this embodiment) is started, a charging charger is started.
81, optical writing unit 82, developing unit 83, paper feeding unit 8
4. The transfer charger 85, the fixing unit 86, the paper discharge unit 87, the cleaning unit 88, and the photoconductor 6 are operated according to a predetermined electrophotographic process.

In FIG. 7, when the photoconductor 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, the trigger 12 is rotated together. Thereby, the first
In the figure, the trigger 12 is swung by its free end 12a abutting on the projection 10. In this embodiment, the trigger 12 is set to make one rotation with one rotation of the photoconductor 6.

Here, the trigger 12 is first moved by the free end 12a riding on the projection 10 in FIGS. 1 and 4 (a).
Is turned clockwise, then the free end 12a
When it deviates from 0, it is turned counterclockwise by the elasticity of the feed claw 1.

This process corresponds to an operation in which the feed claw 1 is elastically deformed and retracted from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the broken line around the support shaft 11, as shown in FIG. 4 (b).

Further, the above operation will be described in detail. The rotating body 2 is kept stationary by the action of the check pawl 15 shown in FIG.
The check pawl 15 is attached to the boss 62a of the photoreceptor flange 62 by the shaft 16
And is pressed against the rotating body 2 so as to prevent the rotating body 2 from rotating in the direction of arrow b and allow the rotating body 2 in the direction of arrow c by the elastic force of the leaf spring 17.

Therefore, the feed claw 1 retreats while sliding on the inner peripheral surface 2a of the rotating body 2. At this time, the elasticity of the feed claw 1 which attempts to return to the original position by the retreating curve is stored in the feed claw 1 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 4 (b).

Next, when the trigger 12 gets over the protrusion 10 and is turned toward the original position, the feed claw 1 is pressed against the rotating body 2 by the stored elasticity via the support shaft 11 while the feed claw 1 is kept pressed.
The position shown by the broken line is returned to the position shown by the solid line [4th
Figure (b). As a result, the rotating body 2 is rotated by a small amount in the direction of arrow c in FIG.

Here, the amount of rotation of the rotator 2 is determined by the amount of movement Δl of the end 1a of the feed claw 1 after the return. Further, the moving amount Δl is appropriately set by changing the swing stroke of the trigger 12, that is, the mounting position of the feed claw 1 with respect to the support shaft 11 and the elasticity of the feed claw 1 (the amount of deformation at the time of retreat).

As is clear here, the feed claw 1 does not require the backlash (play) required by the conventional ratchet or gear reduction means, so that the amount of movement Δl can be set extremely small.

Therefore, the rotating body 2 is largely decelerated by the swing of the feed claw 1, which is periodically swinged in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive body 6, and is rotated by a very small amount by a fixed amount.

In this manner, the rotating body 2 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow c in FIG.
When the actuator 3 is rotated by a small amount in the
As shown in the figure, the direction of arrow d is
That is, the end 3a of the actuator 3 is screwed in a direction protruding from the end of the screw portion 62b.

As a result, the rotation of the rotating body 2 that has been greatly reduced is further reduced by the screw portion 62b, and the rotation of the actuator 3 is reduced.
Is transmitted to

As is apparent from the above description, in the photoreceptor life detecting device according to the present invention, the number of rotations of the photoreceptor 6 is converted into the moving amount of the actuator 3 which is remarkably decelerated and screwed. Further, in the photoreceptor life detecting device according to the present invention, the feed claw 1, the rotator 2 and the actuator 3 are disposed integrally and inseparably from the photoreceptor 6, and the number of rotations of the photoreceptor 6 represents It is revealed and memorized.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the photosensitive member flange
A slot 62c is provided on the boss portion 62a of the actuator 62, and the amount of movement of the actuator 3 from the original position is read through the slot 62c on a scale 62d engraved with the boss portion 62a, or as described below, The detection electrode 4 and the earth electrode 5 are operated by the movement of the photoconductor 6 to operate the photoconductor life indicator 9 and the grounding of the conductive layer of the photoconductor layer 61 of the photoconductor 6 is cut off, thereby accumulating the number of rotations of the photoconductor 6. That is, the user can easily confirm the life.

That is, in this embodiment, when the number of rotations of the photoconductor 6 reaches a number close to the limit, the actuator 3 is moved to the detection electrode 4 as shown in FIG. The detection electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 were in contact with each other due to the fact that they were at a position separated from the base. The stepped shaft-shaped projection 3a formed at the end is shown in FIG. 5 (b). As described above, the detection electrode 4 is separated from the ground electrode 5 by protruding from between the ground electrodes 5. Here, the portion where the protruding portion 3a or the protruding portion 3a of the detection electrode 4 abuts is formed of an insulator.

As a result, the connection between the detection electrode 4 and the ground electrode 5 is cut off, the detection electrode 4 is disconnected from the ground state, and the drive circuit 91 of the photoconductor life indicator 9 is operated, and the photoconductor life indicator 9 is displayed. Then, a state is displayed in which the number of rotations of the photoconductor 6 has reached the number near the limit.

Therefore, through the display of the photoconductor life indicator 9, the user can estimate that the life of the photoconductor 6 in use is near (for example, 10
It is possible to know that the photoconductor 6 reaches the end of its life after the rotation of 00.

When the connection between the detection electrode 4 and the earth electrode 5 is disconnected, as shown in FIG. 5B, the earth electrode 5 is in contact with the boss portion 62a of the photoreceptor flange 62 and the photoreceptor 6
The conductive layer of the photosensitive layer 61 is grounded.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the display of the photoconductor life indicator 9 is overlooked and the photoconductor 6 is continuously used,
Since it will function normally for a while,
It is not necessary to replace the photoconductor 6 in a hurry.

Further, here, the display of the photoreceptor life indicator 9 is intentionally ignored or overlooked unknowingly, and by continuing to use the photoreceptor 6, when the number of rotations of the photoreceptor 6 reaches the life number, With the rotation of the photoconductor 6,
The actuator 3 is further screwed and projected outward from the boss portion 62a of the photoreceptor flange 62, and the contact of the ground electrode 5 with the boss portion 62a is cut off, as shown in FIG. 5 (c).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the number of rotations of the photoconductor 6 reaches the life count, the function of the photoconductor 6 (earth function)
Is interrupted, the user is reliably notified of the time for replacing the photoconductor 6.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the number of life rotations of a photoconductor, which is said to reach several hundred thousand
The data can be reliably stored by an actuator that is integral with the photoconductor and cannot be separated.

Further, according to the present invention, the life of the photoconductor can be easily determined, and the time to replace the photoconductor can be accurately known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the above embodiment, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the above embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an electrophotographic apparatus in which the present invention is implemented. FIG. 1 ... feeding claw, 2 ... rotary body, 3 ... actuator, 3a ... protrusion, 4 ... detection electrode, 5 ... ground electrode,
6 ... Photoconductor, 7 ... Support block, 9 ... Photoconductor life indicator, 10 ... Protrusion, 11 ... Support shaft, 12 ... Trigger, 1
3,14 ... stopper, 15 ... return claw, 61 ... photosensitive layer,
62: photoconductor flange, 62a: boss, 62b: screw 6
2, 62c: Slot, 62d: Scale.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18 G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/00 350-352

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a photoconductor life indicator for displaying the life of a photoconductor based on the number of rotations of the photoconductor, wherein the photoconductor is periodically swung in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor. A feeder, a rotating body that is rotated by a fixed amount by the swing of the feeder, and an actuator that is screwed in conjunction with the fixed rotation of the rotary body are integrally and inseparably provided with the photoconductor. A photoconductor life detecting device for an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: turning on or off the detection electrode of the photoconductor life indicator which is turned on when the number of rotations of the photoconductor reaches a number close to a limit, by screwing the actuator; 2. The photosensitive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of rotations reaches the life number, the contact of the ground electrode for grounding the photosensitive body to the photosensitive body is cut off by screwing the actuator. Body life detector.