JP3330463B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed by an image forming means, or an image forming unit having the image bearing member, which is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. Related to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image carrier such as a belt-shaped photoreceptor or a drum-shaped photoreceptor, or an image forming unit integrally incorporating the image carrier is detachably supported in an image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus of the type described above has been well known.

[0003] In recent years, in order to solve environmental problems or to save resources, units and component elements used in various products have been actively collected, and these have been recycled to be reusable. ing. In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, the above-described image carrier, image forming unit, and the like are collected and reproduced.

Here, for example, when an image forming unit is collected, even if the image forming unit is of one type, various units are mixed in the unit. When the image forming unit includes, for example, an image carrier and a waste toner collecting container, the image forming unit in which the waste toner collecting container is full of waste toner, and the waste toner is full. In other words, there are image forming units and the like in which the image carrier is damaged or the like.

In the former image forming unit, if the waste toner is discarded and the waste toner collecting container is emptied, the image forming unit can be reused immediately as long as the life of other component elements has not expired. In the latter image forming unit, the unit can be reused by replacing only the image carrier. In the latter image forming unit, the unit may be discarded without replacing the image carrier.
The former image forming unit is temporarily referred to as a “regular life product”, and the latter image forming unit is temporarily referred to as a “replacement product due to a defect”.

Similarly, when a belt-shaped photoconductor, a drum-shaped photoconductor, and other types of image carriers are collected alone, even if only one type of image carrier is used, the image carrier is not used. Various things are mixed. For example, some image carriers have expired or have not expired, but have slight scratches on the surface and can be reused if the scratches are repaired. A damaged image carrier is sometimes discarded without being replaced. Also in this case, the former image carrier corresponds to a regular life product, and the latter image carrier corresponds to a replacement product due to a defect.

When the image carrier or the image forming unit is collected and returned to the reproduction section, the section reproduces the image depending on whether it is a regular life product or a replacement product due to a defect. (Including disposal) has also changed. In order to deal with such a point, it is necessary to determine whether the image carrier or the image forming unit is a regular life product or a replacement product due to a defect. It is difficult.

Therefore, a label or the like indicating the reason for returning to the reproduction section or the remaining life may be attached to the image carrier or the image forming unit before returning to the reproduction section. This kind of operation is very complicated, and what is fatal is forgetting to apply a label or causing a label to be incorrectly applied.

[0009] On the other hand, there are various recovered articles made up of an image forming unit or an image carrier which are returned to the regenerating section and have various usage histories. The usage history includes, for example, the cumulative number of copies after loading a new image carrier,
This refers to the accumulated operation time of the image forming unit.

Usually, when some trouble occurs, the image carrier or the image forming unit is detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus and sent to the reproducing section, the image carrier or the image forming unit is informed of the trouble. Unless is displayed, the playback department does not know why it was sent back. On the other hand, for example, if the usage history is displayed on the image carrier or the image forming unit,
"This recovered product can still be used if part of it is repaired."
Or "This collected product may be disposed of" can be determined without any hesitation. However, even if the history is displayed by the above-described label method, the arrow may be left behind, the label may be forgotten to be pasted, or the label may be mistakenly pasted. Therefore, if the use history can be displayed on the image carrier in the image forming cycle, such a problem can be solved.

As a prior art, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-1 discloses the display and identification of the life of a photoconductor and an image forming unit.
No. 93156, JP-A-63-193157, JP-A-63-193157
JP-A-4-26865, JP-A-3-54576, JP-A-3-54
JP-A-231766 and JP-A-5-100518, and as recycling-related technologies, JP-A-63-199364, JP-A-1-177760, JP-A-4-133254, JP-A-4-133254. Although the publications of each of the publications 140761 have already been proposed, it is difficult to solve the above-mentioned problems by these techniques.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to easily determine whether an image carrier or an image forming unit has a regular life or is a replacement due to a defect. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically displaying the life information for this determination on an image carrier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and which can automatically display the use history of an image carrier or an image forming unit on the image carrier. It is in.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus on which a toner image is formed on a surface by an image forming means, or an image forming unit having the image forming body. An image forming apparatus detachably mounted to the apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a life of the image carrier or a life of a component of the image forming unit, and the life is detected by the unit. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus which displays the life on an image carrier by the image forming means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image carrier having a toner image formed on a surface thereof by an image forming means, or an image forming unit having the image carrier is provided to an image forming apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus detachably mounted, the image forming apparatus further includes a detecting unit that detects a use history of the image carrier or a use history of a component of the image forming unit, and the use history is detected by the detection unit, and
An image forming apparatus is proposed in which the use history is displayed on the image carrier by the image forming means every time one image forming operation or one job image forming operation is performed.

At this time, in each of the above-described configurations, it is advantageous to display a plurality of life or usage histories.

In each of the above configurations, it is advantageous to display the life or usage history in a plurality of display units and to shift the position of each display unit.

Further, in each of the above configurations, it is advantageous to display the life or usage history outside the image forming area on the image carrier.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endless belt-shaped photosensitive member provided in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Before explaining the life information etc. displayed on this photoconductor,
The outline of the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the image forming process performed by the image forming apparatus will be clarified below.

In FIG. 6, an image forming unit 1 is loaded and set in an image forming apparatus main body 10 of an image forming apparatus 100 at a position shown in FIG. The image forming unit 1 has a photoreceptor 2 composed of an endless belt, a charging device composed of a charging charger 3, and a cleaning device 4 integrated into a unit main body 1A. The photoconductor 2 is an example of a configuration of an image carrier, and the photoconductor 2 is stretched around a driving roller 5, driven rollers 6, 7 and a tension roller 8,
By the rotation of the driving roller 5, the driving roller 5 is driven to rotate in the direction a in the figure.

The cleaning device 4 mainly includes a cleaning blade 11, which is an example of a cleaning member, a waste toner collecting member 12, and a waste toner collecting container 13. The waste toner collecting container 13 is integrated with the unit main body 1A constituting the case of the image forming unit 1, or is detachable therefrom. The image forming unit 1 is configured such that a photoconductor 2 is attached to an image forming apparatus main body 10.
In at least one of a width direction, a vertical direction, and a horizontal direction.

When the photosensitive member 1 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a, its surface is first uniformly charged by the charging charger 3. Next, in the exposure unit 14, optical writing with the laser beam 15 is performed in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the photoconductor 2), so that a predetermined electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 2. The laser light 15 is emitted from a laser light source (not shown), and is periodically deflected by the rotation of the polygon mirror 24 and enters the photosensitive member 2 through the mirror 25. FIG. 6 shows such a scanning optical system using a laser beam with reference numeral 27.

After the formation of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 2, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the toner carried and conveyed on the developing roller 17 of the developing unit 16. On the other hand, a transfer paper 19 as a transfer material is sent from the paper supply unit 18 to the transfer unit 21, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor 2 is transferred to the transfer paper by the action of the transfer charger 22. You. After the transfer, the transfer paper is sent to the fixing device 23, and while passing through the device, the transferred toner image is fixed by heat and pressure by the fixing device. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 2 is scraped and removed by the cleaning blade 11 of the cleaning device 4.
2, the waste toner collecting container 13 as waste toner
Is stored in the same container.

The charging charger 3, the laser beam scanning optical system 27, the developing unit 16 and the like shown in FIG. 6 constitute an image forming means. As described above, a toner image is formed on the surface of the image carrier configured as described above. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is configured such that the image forming unit 1 having such an image carrier is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 10. The present invention can be applied to such an image forming apparatus. In addition, as described later with reference to FIG. 10, an image carrier having a surface on which a toner image is formed by an image forming unit is provided alone in the image forming apparatus main body. On the other hand, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus which is detachably mounted.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6 includes detecting means for detecting the life of the components of the image forming unit 1, and a specific example will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming unit 1
A waste toner overflow detector 39 composed of a photo-interrupter or the like is fixedly provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. As described above, the waste toner is stored in the waste toner collecting container 13 shown in FIG. 6, but when a certain amount of the waste toner T in the container 13 is collected as shown in FIG. Filler 4 provided in container 13
1 is pushed up by the toner T, and rotates in a direction to rise around the fulcrum 42. When the filler 41 rotates, the standing piece 41 a extending above the filler 41 enters the waste toner overflow detector 39. When the detector 39 is a photo interrupter, the detection light incident on the light receiving element from the light emitting element (not shown) is blocked by the upright piece 41a. In this manner, the waste toner overflow detector 39 can detect that the waste toner collection container 13 is full of waste toner.

When the waste toner in the waste toner collecting container 13 is full, the use of the image forming unit 1 cannot be continued. A display to replace the image forming unit 1 is displayed on a display unit (not shown). In accordance with this, the unit 1 is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body 10 and sent to the reproduction department as described at the beginning. If the waste toner in the waste toner collecting container 13 is discarded in the recycling section and the container is emptied, the image forming unit 1 can be reused.

In a certain type of image forming apparatus, the background potential (Vsg) and the pattern potential (Vsp) on the photoreceptor are detected by a light reflection type sensor (P sensor). When the developer deteriorates, the background portion is stained when the developer is deteriorated, so that the background potential (Vsg) is reduced. When the developing unit is incorporated into the image forming unit 1 and the developing unit is used as a component of the image forming unit, the life of the developing unit may be depleted due to deterioration of the developer. The life of the image forming unit itself may be determined to have expired by detecting the agent deterioration.

The filler 41 attached to the waste toner collecting container 13, the waste toner overflow detector 39, or the means for detecting the deterioration of the developer is a detecting means for detecting the life of the components of the image forming unit 1. Constitute one example. As another example of such a life detecting means, there is a method of accumulating the photoconductor rotation time such that the life of the photoconductor expires, and a method of determining the life of the photoconductor based on the accumulated time, or a software which determines the life of the photoconductor by the total number of copies. For example, a method of judging the life, such as, for example, can be adopted. Such an appropriate life detecting means can be used.

In an image forming apparatus in which an image carrier composed of a photoreceptor is independently detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus main body, a detecting means for detecting the life of the image carrier as described above is provided. When the life of the photoconductor is detected, a display to replace the photoconductor is displayed on the display unit, the photoconductor is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, and a new photoconductor is loaded.

Here, when the life of the components of the image forming unit 1 is detected by the above-mentioned life detecting means, the life information is displayed on the photosensitive member 2 by the above-mentioned image forming means as shown in FIG. Is displayed. For example, when the life of the photoconductor 2 is detected, a display “30000” indicating the number of copies that reaches the life is displayed. More specifically, the photosensitive member 3 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 3 shown in FIG.
5 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 2, visualize this electrostatic latent image as a toner image by the developing unit 16, and display “30000” on the photoreceptor 2. . Instead of such lifespan information, if the information indicates the lifespan of an image forming component, for example, a process element such as a photoreceptor 2, a cleaning device, its cleaning blade 11, or a charging charger 3, a character is used. , Symbols, patterns, etc., may be displayed.

When the photosensitive member is not incorporated in the image forming unit 1 but is incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body 10 alone, the photosensitive member on which the life information is displayed is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. To the playback department.
If the photosensitive member is to be incorporated in the image forming unit 1, the image forming unit 1 having the photosensitive member on which the life information is displayed is detached from the image forming apparatus main body and sent to the reproducing section.

When the photosensitive member is used alone, "3"
0000 "is displayed,
As a regular life product in the recycling department, for example, dispose of it,
Alternatively, a reproduction process is performed. If the life information is not displayed, it is determined that the collected product is a replacement product due to a defect. Since this has not yet expired, it is repaired, for example, to make it reusable. In some cases, this may be disposed of. In any case, whether or not the recovered photoconductor can be reproduced can be properly determined based on whether or not the life information is displayed on the photoconductor. It is possible to immediately determine whether the photoconductor has been sent to the reproduction department due to its life or whether it has been sent due to a defect such as a scratch on the photoconductor, and perform appropriate processing.

In the case where the collected product is the image forming unit 1, if the life information is displayed on the photosensitive member 2 in this unit 1, for example, the expired photosensitive member is replaced as a regular life product. For example, the waste toner T shown in FIG. 8 is discarded and removed, and the waste toner collecting container 13 is emptied to make the image forming unit 1 reusable. Alternatively, the unit may be disposed of.

If the life information is not displayed on the photosensitive member 2 in the image forming unit 1, the collected product is determined to be a replacement product due to a defect. In this case, the defective element among the constituent elements of the image forming unit 1 is repaired or replaced to make it reusable, or when the defective element is expensive, Then, the image forming unit 1 is discarded.

As described above, also in this case, the image forming unit 1 reaches the end of its life depending on whether or not the life information is displayed on the photoreceptor 2, and is sent to the reproduction department as a normal life product. It is possible to accurately determine whether the product has been replaced or has been circulated as a replacement product due to a defect, and to process the product appropriately.

Here, for example, when copying is performed 30,000 times in total, it is assumed that the life of the photosensitive member 2 is almost over, and at this time, the waste toner collecting container 13 which becomes almost full of waste toner If the capacity of the photoreceptor is determined, the life of the photoconductor is reached when the container is full.
Further, the charger 3 and the cleaning blade 11 shown in FIG. 6 are an example of component elements provided in the image forming unit 1 and should be referred to as process elements. If the life of the cleaning blade 11 and the charging charger 3 is almost exhausted when the life of the cleaning blade 11 or the charging charger 3 is exhausted, the other components are also detected. When the image forming elements are processed in the reproduction department, all the elements that have reached the end of life can be repaired or replaced at the same time. Alternatively, the unit 1 can be discarded.

Incidentally, the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
0 is also called a digital image forming apparatus. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 10 is also called an analog image forming apparatus. A document (not shown) is placed on a contact glass 33 of the image forming apparatus 101, and a document pressing member 34 composed of a pressure plate or an automatic document feeder is closed as shown in the figure. The drum-shaped photoconductor 32, which is an example of the configuration of the image carrier, is configured to be driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. At the time of this rotation, first, the surface of the photoconductor 32 is a charging device having the charging charger 31. It is charged uniformly by the action.

In synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 32, the scanning optical system including the exposure lamp 50 and the first mirror 51 and the scanning optical system including the second mirror 52 and the third mirror 53
The vehicle is driven to travel rightward in the figure at a speed ratio of 2: 1. At this time, slit illumination scanning of the document is performed,
The scanning light image at this time is reflected by the mirrors 51, 52, 53,
Lens 49, fourth mirror 54, fifth mirror 55, and sixth
The light impinges on the charged photoconductor 32 through the mirror 56. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 32.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 32 is formed into a toner image by the toner carried on the developing roller 36 of the developing unit 35 (in the case of a two-component developer, the toner in the developer). Is done. This toner image is printed on the transfer paper 19.
The image is transferred by the operation of the transfer charger 37. After this transfer, the transfer paper 19 is sent by the conveyor belt 38 to the fixing device 40, where the transferred image is fixed. On the other hand, after the transfer, the toner that has not contributed to the transfer remains on the surface of the photoconductor 32, and is removed by the cleaning blade 44 of the cleaning unit 43.

As described above, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10 also has the image carrier, that is, the photoconductor 32 on which the toner image is formed by the image forming means, and this photoconductor is used as the image forming apparatus. It is detachably attached to the main body 101A. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the photoconductor 32 is not incorporated in the image forming unit, but is loaded alone into the image forming apparatus main body 101A. This image forming apparatus 10
A detection means for detecting the life of the photoconductor 32 is provided at 0, and when the life of the photoconductor 32 is detected by this means, the photoconductor 32 is replaced with a display unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 101A. The power should be displayed, and the life of the photoconductor 32 is displayed on the photoconductor 32 by the image forming means. Therefore, when the photoconductor 32 is sent to the reproduction department, it is possible to accurately determine whether the photoconductor 32 has a regular life or is a replacement due to a defect, just as described above. The processing corresponding to each of them is performed.
As the means for detecting the life of the photoconductor 32, an appropriate configuration known per se is employed as exemplified above, but the life of the photoconductor 32 is displayed as follows.

In the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 10, an eraser 45 is provided above the photosensitive member 32 so as to face the photosensitive member 32. In FIG.
Is an image forming area on the photoconductor 32 at the time of normal image formation. The eraser 45 irradiates the photoconductor 32 with light, and the end area L outside the image forming area A.
₁ and neutralizes an outer tip region L ₂ of the image forming area A, and a rear end region, not shown.

The eraser 45 has, as shown in FIG.
A large number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 46 are arranged in the axial direction of the photoconductor 32. For example, the arrangement pitch P
Is set to 2.5 mm, and 120 light emitting diodes are provided. By using such an eraser to control the circumferential and axial erase timing of the photoconductor,
Images such as numbers and letters can be formed.

Here, when the life of the photoconductor 32 is detected on the photoconductor 32, predetermined life information, for example, "30"
I would like to display the number "000". In this case, if the normal image forming process is executed, such a life cannot be displayed. This is because such a display cannot be made unless a manuscript written “30000” is used and copied.

Therefore, the aforementioned eraser 45 is used.
When the life of the photoreceptor 32 is detected by the above-described life detecting means, the order of a normal image forming process is used.
First, the surface of the photoconductor 32 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 31 shown in FIG. 10, and the scanning optical system 57 is driven to travel. In this case, the exposure lamp 50 is turned off, and the photosensitive member 32 is subjected to dark area exposure. After this, FIG.
The light emitting diode shown in FIG.
On / off control is performed at the timing shown in FIG. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to “8” is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 32. That is, the charges in the unnecessary parts are erased by the eraser. The electrostatic latent image thus obtained is visualized as a toner image by the toner on the developing roller 36, so that the numeral “8” is displayed on the photosensitive member as shown in the right part of FIG. Formed and displayed. In a similar manner, as shown in FIG.
Lifespan information such as "30000" can be displayed on the photoconductor 32, and other lifespan information such as other characters, symbols, and patterns can be displayed.

In the digital image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the life is displayed by controlling the output of a semiconductor laser (not shown). In this example, the analog image forming apparatus has an exposure lamp 50 and an eraser. The service life is displayed by ON / OFF control with the control unit 45. Also in this example, FIG.
The life information such as numerals, characters, symbols, and marks is displayed on the photoreceptor by the image forming means including the charging charger 31, the eraser 45, the developing unit 35, and the like shown in FIG.

In the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10, as described above, the photosensitive member 32 is independently detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 101A. If the above-mentioned life information is displayed on the photoreceptor collected in the reproduction section, the recovered product can be determined to be a normal life product. If the life information is not displayed, the collected product can be determined as a replacement product due to a defect.
Similarly, when the photoconductor 32 is used alone or as a unit with another process element, by looking at the photoconductor in this unit, the unit can be used as a regular product or a replacement product due to a defect. Can be determined.

As described above, before returning the photoreceptor or the image forming unit having the photoreceptor to the reproduction section, for example, a label or the like indicating that "life has expired" is attached to the photoreceptor. However, the recycling section can determine whether the recovered product is a regular-life product or a replacement product due to a defect. However, if the user forgets to attach the label, the determination becomes impossible, and the attachment becomes troublesome.

On the other hand, according to each of the above-described configurations, it is possible to easily determine whether the collected product is a regular product or a replacement product due to a defect, and the life of the photosensitive member or the image forming unit can be easily determined. , Can be automatically and accurately displayed without bothering people. The display can always be guaranteed. If the life information is displayed by a dedicated image forming unit on the photoreceptor, an image forming unit different from the image forming unit is required, so that the configuration of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated.
The cost also tends to increase. The same applies to the case where the life information is not displayed on the photoconductor, but mechanical life display means linked to the rotation of the photoconductor is used. According to each of the above-described configurations, various life information can be displayed on the photoreceptor by the image forming unit. Therefore, a dedicated image forming unit or a mechanical display unit is not required, and the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified. , Can reduce its cost.

If the life information displayed on the photoreceptor can be determined by an automatic recognition device or the like, the determination can be automated.

When displaying the life information on the photoreceptor, FIG.
In the image forming apparatus 100 shown in (1), the image is displayed in an area from the developing position to the cleaning position via the portion of the transfer charger 22. The photosensitive member 2 is stopped so that the life display portion comes to this area. The developing position is a position where the photosensitive member 2 and the developing roller 17 are in contact with each other or opposed to each other. The cleaning position is a mutual contact position between the photoconductor 2 and the cleaning blade 11.

For example, when the photosensitive member 2 is stopped after the life information has been applied to the cleaning blade 11 or the developing roller 17 or after the cleaning blade 11 has passed, the life information formed by the cleaning blade 11 is rubbed. Will be erased. Such defects can be prevented by forming the life information at the above-described timing. When the photoconductor 2 is incorporated in the image forming unit 1, if the life information is displayed below the photoconductor 2, the display section can be visually recognized from the outside, so that a check in the reproduction section can be easily performed.

Similarly, in the analog image forming apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 10, when the life information comes between the developing position and the cleaning position, if the photosensitive member 32 is stopped, the image forming life information is formed. Can be disturbed.

The photosensitive member 2 (FIG. 6) or the photosensitive member 32 (FIG. 1)
In an image forming apparatus in which 0) is rotationally driven by a main motor via an appropriate rotation transmitting element, such a motor may be stopped at the above-described timing. When the photoconductor 2 or 32 is driven to rotate by another dedicated motor instead of the main motor, or when the image forming unit having the photoconductor is driven to rotate by another dedicated motor instead of the main motor, these separate motors are used. The dedicated motor may be stopped at the above timing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, "3000"
If only one piece of life information such as “0” is displayed on the photoconductors 2 and 32, when the photoconductor or the image forming unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body or sent to the reproduction department,
The life information may be lost. Therefore, FIG.
When the number of pieces of the life information displayed on the photoconductor 32 is plural as shown in FIG. 2, even if one of the plurality of pieces of life information or part of one piece of the life information disappears at the time of collection, the remaining life information remains. By observing the information, it is possible to determine whether the collected product is a regular-life product or a replacement product due to a defect. The same applies to the case of the photoconductor 2 shown in FIG.

In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS.
Usually, when a jam occurs on the transfer paper 19, the machine is immediately stopped. When a jam occurs, an image may remain on the photoconductor 2 or 32. When the remaining image is the same as or similar to the life information, if the photoconductor or the image forming unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body after the jam and is recovered by the reproduction section, the jam may occur. The remaining image may be erroneously recognized as the life information.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral A denotes an image forming area on the photoreceptor 32. Life information is displayed in a non-image forming area on the axial end side of the photoreceptor except for this area as shown in FIG. . As a result, even if an image at the time of a jam remains in the range of the image forming area A, the life information is always displayed outside the image forming area, so that the life information can be clearly distinguished from the image remaining at the time of the jam. Similarly, in the photoconductor 2 illustrated in FIG. 6, when the life information is displayed outside the image forming area on the photoconductor 2, the life information can be distinguished from the image remaining after the jam.

Even if the life information such as numbers, characters, symbols, and marks is displayed in the range of the image forming area A, the life information is shifted by shifting the position of the display unit such as the numbers as shown in FIG. Can be distinguished from the image remaining at the time of jam.

The life information 60 is displayed on the belt photosensitive member 2 shown in FIG. This life information includes a plurality of numbers. If one number is one “display unit”, the life information 60 is displayed in a plurality of display units. Here, the length in the vertical direction of the number “3” as one display unit is set to B. By shifting the position of the numeral “0”, which is another display unit, in the circumferential direction of the photoconductor 2 by, for example, 1/3 or 3/4 of the vertical length B, the life information 60 is shown in FIG. This can be clearly different from the life information such as “30000” shown. The format of the life information is intentionally disturbed.

Even if a part of the image remaining at the time of the jam is "30000" as shown in FIG. 1, the life information is displayed as shown in FIG. It will be good if you look at. Even if the life information is other characters, symbols, marks, etc., the format may be similarly disturbed.

In a normal copy original, a number or the like which causes misidentification such as "30000" is often written on the same line. By forming the life information in a distorted format as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to identify such misleading numbers and the life information. In other words, it is possible to determine whether the life information is correctly displayed or whether the display is based on the document or the print content. Recently, as devices such as word processors have become widespread, so-called half line breaks and 1/4
Line breaks are often performed. If the lifespan information is displayed in a format in which the line breaks are other than those described above, the lifespan information can be clearly identified as a number written in a half-line break or the like.

In the image forming unit 1 shown in FIG. 9, the exposure range of the belt photoreceptor 2 to the outside of the unit is a range between E and F. If the life information is displayed in these ranges, the life information may be erased at the time of collection. For example, by taking the following measures, it is possible to prevent the life information from disappearing at the time of collection.

The life information is previously set in the exposure range E or F. When taking out the image forming unit 1 from the image forming apparatus main body and sending it out to the reproduction section, the cover member 58 prepared in advance is attached to the lower portion of the image forming unit 1. Adhesive members 61 and 62 are attached to, for example, two places on the inner wall surface of the cover member 58. These adhesive members 61 and 62 have a property that a toner image can be transferred.

When the cover member 58 is attached to the lower part of the image forming unit 1, each of the adhesive members 61 and 62 is
On the exposed parts E and F of the. Then, the life information displayed on both or any of the exposed portions E and F is transferred to both or any of the adhesive members 61 and 62.

At the time of collection, the exposed portion of the photosensitive member 2 is
8, the life information can be prevented from being rubbed or lost. The image forming unit 1 includes:
When the photoconductor is large or the number of process elements other than the photoconductor increases, the size tends to increase, and the weight tends to increase. Turning the image forming unit upside down and looking at the life information displayed on the photoconductor 2 is a very difficult task.

In the reproduction section, after removing the cover member 58 from the image forming unit 1, the adhesive members 61 and 62 are removed.
By looking at the life information transferred to the server, it is easy to determine whether the collected product is a regular product with a normal life or a replacement product due to a defect. Even without having a large, heavy image forming unit, it is only necessary to remove the cover member 58, which is relatively small as compared with the image forming unit and is lightweight, from the image forming unit. Thus, the collected product can be determined.

When the photoconductor 32 shown in FIG. 10 is detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus alone, a cover member having a curvature matching the peripheral surface is attached to the photoconductor 32 and provided on the cover member. The life information on the photoconductor 32 may be transferred to the adhesive member.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The basic structure of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is the same as that of each of the above-described embodiments, and an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed on the surface by an image forming means, or an image bearing member thereof is used. The image forming unit is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The feature of this embodiment is that a detecting means for detecting the use history of the image carrier or the use history of the components of the image forming unit is provided, and the use history is detected by the detecting means. The point is that the use history is displayed on the image carrier by the image forming means of the image forming apparatus every time the image forming operation of one time or the image forming operation of one job is performed.

As in the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6, when the image forming unit 1 having the photoreceptor 2 is removably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 10, the components of the unit 1, for example, Detecting means for detecting the usage history of elements such as the photoconductor 2, the cleaning device 4, its cleaning blade 11, and the charging charger 3 is provided.

Further, as in the image forming apparatus 101 shown in FIG.
When the photoconductor 32 is detachably mounted on the photoconductor 32, a detection unit for detecting the usage history of the photoconductor 32 is provided.

In each of the embodiments described above, when the life of the components of the image forming unit 1 or the life of the photoconductor 32 is detected, the life indication is formed on the photoconductors 2 and 32. However, in this example, every time one image forming operation or one job image forming operation is performed, the use history of the components of the image forming unit 1 or the photoconductor 32 is
It is formed on the photoconductors 2 and 32. Only this point is different from the embodiments described above.

Here, one image forming operation is an operation for obtaining one copy or print image, and one job image forming operation means one or a series of a plurality of copy or print operations. . When one copy or print operation is performed and the operation is completed, one image forming operation is one job, and when n consecutive copy or print operations are performed, a series of n operations is performed. Is an image forming operation of one job.

When the image carrier or the image forming unit is recovered in the reproduction section, the recovered product for which the life information in the above-described embodiment is not displayed on the image carrier is replaced due to a certain problem. Although it can be distinguished from a regular life product, the time of occurrence of a failure is not known.
If this failure occurrence time is known, parts other than the defective part can be reused as new parts depending on the degree of history. Defective parts can also be repaired and reused depending on their use history. As described above, it is possible to take quick action such as reusing or discarding each component element according to its use history. This example makes this possible.

As the usage history detecting means, for example, means for integrating and detecting the cumulative number of copies after replacing the photosensitive member with a new one by a mechanical or electrical method may be employed, or a main motor or an image forming apparatus may be used. A means for detecting the number of rotations or the cumulative time of rotation of the unit driving motor may be employed by the same method, and an appropriate detection means may be employed.

In order to form a usage history on the photoreceptor, each time one image forming operation or one job image forming operation is performed, the above-mentioned image forming means is used based on the detection by the history detecting means. Thus, the history of the components of the photoconductor or the image forming unit is formed on the photoconductor. For example, after one copy or one job image forming operation is performed, the cumulative number of copies (the number of copies) is displayed on the photoconductor 2 or 32. If the use history is to be the integrated rotation time of the image forming unit drive motor (this is the operation time of the image forming unit), or if the use history is to be the integrated rotation time of the drive motor of the photoconductor 32, this time is used. Is displayed on the photoconductor every moment.

As described above, when the usage history of the photoconductor or the image forming unit is displayed for each copy or for each job, the timing of occurrence of a failure in the collected product becomes clear. When a trouble occurs, the photoconductor or the image forming unit is removed from the image forming apparatus main body and returned to the reproduction section, so that the display of the use history is not erased,
It is possible to accurately display the time of occurrence of a defect. In the reproduction section, even the defective product can be reproduced as a new part by observing the degree of history.

In any case, by displaying the history on the photoreceptor, even if the abnormality suddenly occurs and the photoreceptor does not rotate, the history before the occurrence of the abnormality is already displayed on the photoreceptor. Since the history always remains, it is possible to easily determine whether to dispose of the recovered product as a life product or to reproduce it as a new product depending on the history of the defective product.

It is to be noted that it is advantageous to apply each configuration in the embodiment described above to this embodiment. That is, the display of the use history formed on the photoreceptor can be distinguished by the automatic recognition device, and the display of the use history of the photoreceptor 2 comes to the area between the developing position and the cleaning position. It is desirable to stop the photoconductor.
Thereby, the display can be easily recognized without erasing the display.

The number of indications indicating the usage history formed on the photosensitive member is plural, and the image forming unit 1 or the photosensitive member 3
At the time of collection of 2, it is desirable that even if a part of the display disappears, the use history can be confirmed by the remaining display.

Further, the use history is displayed in a plurality of display units as shown in FIG. 5, and the position of each display unit may be shifted, thereby preventing erroneous recognition of an image remaining during a jam. it can. In addition, the usage history may be displayed outside the image forming area A as shown in FIG. 4, which can also prevent erroneous recognition as an image remaining after a jam. In either case, it is possible to determine whether the usage history is displayed properly or is displayed based on the document or print content.

The cover member 58 as shown in FIG.
It is mounted on the image forming unit 1 or the photoreceptor 32 removed from the image forming apparatus main body, and the display of the use history formed on the photoreceptors 2 and 32 and exposed to the outside is displayed on the adhesive members 61 and 62 of the cover member 58. The display can be prevented from disappearing.

When the usage history is displayed for each copy or for each job, the amount of toner consumption in the developing unit increases. However, recently, a toner recycling system (a waste material collected from a photoreceptor by a cleaning device) has been used. The system that returns the toner to the developing device) tends to be adopted as the mainstream. By adopting such a system,
Such a problem can be solved.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a photoconductor such as a belt-shaped photoconductor or a drum-shaped photoconductor is adopted as the image carrier, but, of course, an image carrier having another configuration such as a dielectric drum or a dielectric belt is used. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus using a body.

[0086]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the image carrier or the image forming unit is collected in the reproduction department, the collected product is a regular life product or a replacement product due to a defect. In addition to being able to easily determine whether or not there is, the life of the image carrier or the image forming unit can be accurately and automatically displayed without bothering the human. In addition, since a dedicated image forming unit for displaying the life information is not required, the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified, and further, the display cost and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
Since the usage history of the image carrier or the image forming unit is automatically displayed on the image carrier, when the image carrier or the image forming unit is collected in the reproduction section, it is possible to grasp the exact time of occurrence of the trouble of the collected product. , Reproduction, disposal, etc. can be easily determined. In addition, since a dedicated image forming unit is not required for displaying the usage history, the configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified, and the display cost and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. Further, there is no need to manually display the usage history.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect,
When the image carrier or the image forming unit is collected, any one of a plurality of pieces of life information or usage history information, or even if some of the life information or usage history information has disappeared, see the remaining information. Thus, the information can be confirmed accurately.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect,
Whether the life information or usage history information is displayed properly,
It is possible to clearly determine whether the display is based on the content of the original or the print.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect,
It is possible to accurately grasp the life information or the use history information without being confused by the original or the print content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endless belt-shaped photoconductor provided in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and displaying life information.

FIG. 2 is provided in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drum-shaped photoconductor on which life information is displayed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a drum-shaped photoconductor displaying a plurality of pieces of life information.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the drum-shaped photoconductor displaying life information outside an image forming area.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a belt-shaped photoconductor showing an example in which the positions of a plurality of display units of life information are shifted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a part of the image forming unit shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a cross-sectional view of the waste toner collecting container shown in FIG.

9 is a perspective view showing the image forming unit shown in FIG. 6 together with a cover member.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a perspective view showing the photoconductor shown in FIG. 10 together with a charger, an eraser, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a part of the eraser upside down.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a case where life information is formed as a toner image on a photoconductor by an eraser.

FIG. 14 is an LED on / off timing diagram when life information is formed as a toner image on a photoconductor by an eraser.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming unit 10 Image forming apparatus main body 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Image forming apparatus 101A Image forming apparatus main body A Image forming area

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Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An image forming apparatus in which an image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface by an image forming means, or an image forming unit having the image carrier is detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus main body. Detecting means for detecting the life of the image carrier or the life of the components of the image forming unit, and when the life is detected by the means, the life is displayed on the image carrier by the image forming means. An image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus in which an image carrier on which a toner image is formed on a surface by an image forming means, or an image forming unit having the image carrier is removably mounted to an image forming apparatus main body. A detection unit for detecting a usage history of the image carrier or a usage history of a component of the image forming unit, the usage history is detected by the detection unit, and one image forming operation or one job; An image forming apparatus, wherein the use history is displayed on an image carrier by the image forming means every time an image forming operation is performed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display number is plural. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed in a plurality of display units and the position of each display unit is shifted. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed outside the image forming area on the image carrier.