JP4378180B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, utilizing an electrophotographic system, a copying machine, an image forming equipment such as a printer.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is visualized as a toner image by a developing device.

  As one of such developing devices, various dry one-component developing devices have been proposed and put into practical use. For example, the pressure development method (Impression Development) is mentioned. Since this pressure development method does not require a magnetic material, the apparatus can be simplified and miniaturized and has many advantages such as the ability to form a color image by using non-magnetic toner. Yes.

  In the pressure development method, the surface of the developer (toner) carrying member is pressed or brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image for development, and therefore a developing roller having elasticity and conductivity is used as the developer (toner) carrying member. Is required.

  In order to obtain a well-known developing electrode effect and bias effect, a conductive layer is provided on the surface of the developing roller or in the vicinity of the surface, and a bias voltage can be applied as necessary.

  Furthermore, charge is imparted to the toner by frictional charging between a developer (toner) carrier (also called a developing device) and a developing blade for forming a toner layer.

  FIG. 12 shows an outline of a developing apparatus using a conventional pressure development method.

  The life management of such an electrophotographic apparatus leads to the life management of a process cartridge integrally constituted by a developer (toner) carrier, a photoconductor, a charging means, and the like. There are several factors that determine this. That is, examples include toner amount, photoreceptor deterioration, charging means deterioration, developer carrying member deterioration, and the like.

  In such process cartridge life management, the remaining toner and other consumable life levels are sequentially detected by the remaining toner and other consumable life detecting means provided in the process cartridge or the image forming apparatus main body, and the remaining toner is detected. The amount and other consumable life signals are sent to the printer device itself, which is an image forming apparatus, or to display means of a host computer connected to the printer to notify the user.

In addition, in order to accurately detect the life of the process cartridge before the occurrence of an image defect due to the deterioration of the sliding parts and to inform the user of the replacement timing of the process cartridge appropriately, a recording medium is provided in the process cartridge Are provided with connection means for connecting to the recording medium, information reading means, information writing means, control means for processing information, and display means for displaying information processed by the control means. The gazette discloses that the environmental temperature of a part vs. the life of the part is input, the life of the process cartridge is accurately transmitted to the user before an image failure due to deterioration of the sliding part, and an appropriate time for replacing the process cartridge is urged. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-190142

  However, there is an environmental difference in the degree of deterioration of consumables in the above-described electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and the life of the process cartridge is managed by sequentially detecting the remaining amount of toner and the life level of other consumables. However, depending on the environment, there is a difference in the deterioration of consumables, and even if the remaining amount of toner is sufficient for image formation, an image defect may occur, or a good image formation is possible, but the lifetime has been reached. You may be notified that you did.

  Therefore, the usage amount of these consumable parts is displayed by weighting the environment in which they are used, reducing the number of returns when user complaints occur, and the contents of complaints are grasped by users and manufacturers via the communication network. This saves you from having to travel to the user.

  Also, when there was a problem at the user site, there was a case where it was not well understood when trying to analyze the cause of the failure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, by storing the environment information image formation is performed in the storage means, it is possible to accurately determine the life of the cartridges, furthermore, in the user info An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately analyzing the defect contents even when there is an abnormality.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the image forming apparatus is configured as described in the following (1) to (3).
(1) An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and a storage unit that stores a usage threshold that is a life value of the developing roller is detachable. ,
Environmental detection means for detecting temperature and humidity;
A clock means for measuring time;
A main body control unit that calculates an average value of the temperature and humidity detected by the environment detection unit in a predetermined time interval measured by the clock unit, and writes the average value to the storage unit;
Have
The main body control unit stores an integrated value of the number of rotations of the developing roller in the storage unit, selects a coefficient from the average value stored in the storage unit, and stores the development stored in the storage unit A value obtained by multiplying the integrated value of the number of rotations of the roller by the coefficient is used as a developing roller usage, and the integrated value of the developing roller usage is compared with the usage threshold stored in the storage unit. determining the rate, image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto sent to the display unit information of the usage.
(2) the display unit, wherein (1), characterized that you have provided in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus the image forming apparatus according.
(3) The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the display unit is provided in a computer connected to the image forming apparatus.

As described above, a coefficient is selected from the average values of temperature and humidity at a predetermined time interval, and the value obtained by multiplying the integrated value of the developing roller rotation number by the coefficient is used as the developing roller usage amount. Even the history of changes in temperature and humidity other than is weighted by a coefficient. Accordingly, performed more accurately life management of the developing roller, it is possible to ing used up without developing roller being affected by the environment to life.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  The examples described below illustrate the present invention by way of example, and the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described below are not particularly specified unless otherwise specified. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus A of the present embodiment is a case of a laser beam printer that forms an image on a recording medium 6 such as a recording sheet or an OHP sheet by an electrophotographic method according to image information. Further, the image forming apparatus A of the present embodiment is configured such that the process cartridge B can be attached and detached as will be described in detail later.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A is used connected to a host 14 or a terminal PC 14a. The controller 33 processes the print request signal and the image data from the host 14 and controls the scanner 3 which is an exposure unit, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum (image carrier, electrophotographic photosensitive member) 1. Form.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by charging means composed of a roller-shaped charging member pressed against and in contact with the photosensitive drum 1, that is, a DC contact charging roller (charging roller) 2. A DC voltage fixed to a predetermined value as a charging bias is applied to the charging roller 2 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 negatively. The charging roller 2 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow R4 in the drawing by the rotational driving of the photosensitive drum 1. The charging roller 2 is in contact with the entire length of the photosensitive drum 1 (the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 6).

  The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1 is exposed by a laser beam L from a scanner 3 as an exposure unit, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof. The scanner 3 includes a laser light source, a polygon mirror, a lens system, and the like, and can scan and expose the photosensitive drum 1 under the control of the controller unit 33.

  Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by supplying a developer by the developing device 4. That is, the developing device 4 includes a developing container 21 that stores a negatively chargeable nonmagnetic toner (toner) 22 as a one-component developer. In this embodiment, as the toner 22, a substantially spherical toner having a weight average particle diameter of about 7 μm is used in order to achieve a small particle diameter (fine atomization) and a low melting point and to improve transfer efficiency.

  A part of the developing container 21 facing the photosensitive drum 1 is opened over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and a developing roller which is a roller-shaped developer carrier (developing means) is formed in the opening. 23 is arranged. The developing roller 23 is pressed and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 located at the upper left of the developing device 4 in the figure so as to have a predetermined penetration amount, and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R2 in the figure. Further, the surface has moderate irregularities in order to increase the probability of rubbing with the toner 22 and to carry the toner 22 well.

  An elastic roller 24 is in contact with the developing roller 23 as a means for supplying a developer to the developing roller 23 and stripping off the undeveloped toner from the developing roller 23. The elastic roller 24 is rotatably supported by the developing container 21. The elastic roller 24 is a rubber sponge roller from the viewpoint of supplying toner to the developing roller 23 and stripping off undeveloped toner, and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R3 in the figure, which is the same direction as the developing roller 23.

  Further, the developing device 4 includes a developing blade 25 as a developer layer thickness regulating member that regulates the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 23. The developing blade 25 is made of an elastic phosphor bronze metal thin plate, and is provided so that the vicinity of the free end side is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 23 in surface contact. The toner carried on the developing roller 23 by rubbing against the elastic roller 24 is given a charge by frictional charging when passing through the contact portion with the developing blade 25 and is regulated to a thin layer.

  In the developing device 4 having such a configuration, a DC voltage fixed to a predetermined value as a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 23. Thus, in this embodiment, the exposed portion on the surface of the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 1 where the negative charge is attenuated is developed by reversal development.

  On the other hand, the recording medium 6 is separated and fed from the supply roller 12a, the registration roller (not shown), the discharge roller 12c by the supply roller 12a, etc., and temporarily stops at the registration roller (not shown). A registration roller (not shown) synchronizes the recording position of the recording medium 6 with the timing of forming the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1, and the facing portion (transfer portion) between the transfer roller 5 serving as transfer means and the photosensitive drum 1. The recording medium 6 is sent out.

  The visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the recording medium 6 by the action of the transfer roller 5. The recording medium 6 to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 9. Here, the unfixed toner image on the recording medium 6 is permanently fixed to the recording medium 6 by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the recording medium 6 is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 12c and the like.

  Further, untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is cleaned by a cleaning means (cleaner) 11. That is, the cleaner 11 scrapes off the transfer residual toner from the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning blade 7 as a cleaning member and stores it in the waste toner container 8. The cleaned photosensitive drum 1 is used for image formation.

  In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum (image carrier) 1 that carries an electrostatic latent image, and any one or more of two or more process means such as a charging means 2, a developing means 4, and a cleaning means 11. The image forming apparatus main body A is configured so as to be integrated and selectively detachably disposed.

  That is, in the image forming apparatus A, a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 1 provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the photosensitive drum 1 are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. The process cartridge system is detachable. Here, the process means includes a charging means 2 for charging the photosensitive drum 1, a developing means 4 for supplying a developer (toner) 22 to the photosensitive drum 1, and a cleaning means 11 for cleaning the photosensitive drum 1. That is, in the process cartridge B, the charging unit 2, the developing unit 4, the cleaning unit 11, and the photosensitive drum 1 are integrally formed as a cartridge, and the process cartridge B can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body A. Alternatively, at least one of the charging unit 2, the developing unit 4, and the cleaning unit 11 and the photosensitive drum 1 are integrated into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body A, or At least the developing means 4 and the photosensitive drum 1 are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body A. Further, the developing unit 4 and the storage unit 26 which are developer carriers may be integrally configured to form a developing cartridge, which may be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body A.

  In addition, a storage unit may be attached as a memory medium to each of the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, and the developing cartridge, and each environment history may be stored.

  Further, the recording medium 6 is conveyed to the process cartridge B by the recording medium supply roller 12a, the registration roller (not shown), the discharge roller 12c, etc., and the recording medium 6 after image formation is discharged from the apparatus main body A. For this purpose, a recording medium conveying means is configured.

  In this embodiment, the environment sensor 27 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body A to enable environment detection, and the storage means 26 is provided in the process cartridge B. As the memory medium or the storage means 26, any form can be used as a storage medium such as a contact nonvolatile memory, a contactless nonvolatile memory, a volatile memory having a power source, and the like. In the present embodiment, for example, a non-contact non-volatile memory is mounted on the process cartridge B as the storage unit 26. The non-contact non-volatile memory has an antenna serving as information transmission means on the memory side, and can read and write information by wirelessly communicating with the main body control unit 32 provided in the image forming apparatus main body A. In the present embodiment, the main body control unit 32 has functions of information transmission means on the apparatus main body side and information reading / writing means of the storage means 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage means 26 includes storage areas 26a to 26f for storing the maximum value, minimum value, overall average value, and short-term average value of the temperature and humidity by the environmental sensor 27. Each information is updated and stored. The image forming apparatus main body A includes a clock unit 40 having a timer function for detecting a use date and time, and the clock unit 40 sends a signal to the main body control unit 32 every hour, for example. As a result, the main body control unit 32 can recognize the passage of time every hour. In the present embodiment, the environment sensor 27 is made to detect information on the temperature P and humidity Q every hour, and the storage means 26 has a maximum temperature value XP (t), a minimum temperature value YP (t), and an overall temperature average value ZP ( t), temperature short-term average value AP (t), humidity maximum value XQ (t), humidity minimum value YQ (t), overall humidity average value ZQ (t), humidity short-term average value AQ (t), and detection The number of times t is updated and stored. In this embodiment, this operation is continuously performed even when the power is turned off.

  The temperature average value calculation in this example is performed by the overall temperature average value ZP (t) = {ZP (t−1) + P} / t, and the temperature short period average value is the temperature short period average value AP (t) = { AP (t−9) + AP (t−8) +... + AP (t−2) + AP (t−1) + P} / 10 is used as the average value over the last 10 hours. The same applies to the calculation of the humidity average value.

  A plate antenna method was used as the toner residual residual method in this embodiment.

  In this plate antenna system, an AC voltage is applied to the sheet metal plate antennas 34 and 35 and the developing roller 23 through which a current flows, and an AC voltage is applied between the plate sheet metal and between the developing roller 23 and the plate antennas 34 and 35 according to the capacitance. This is a method of measuring the current and knowing the toner amount.

  In the present embodiment, the residual amount of residual toner, the sequential usage rate of the developing roller 23 weighted by the environment, and these two parameters are output individually, and the residual amount of residual toner is 100%. Is subtracted from 0% and displayed on the host computer 14 or terminal computer 14a connected via a printer display panel or network. The sequential usage rate of the developing roller 23 starts from 0% and is added and displayed according to the usage amount. Is.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the image forming display system. After calculating the remaining amount of toner by the main body control unit 32, the main body control unit 32 sends a remaining amount information signal to the main body display unit 32a, the host computer 14 or the terminal computer 14a, etc. Accordingly, the remaining amount information is displayed on each display unit.

Next, a display method of the toner sequential residual detection according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Sequence start.
S101: The main body control unit 32 calculates the remaining amount of toner.
S102: The main body control unit 32 determines the remaining amount of toner from the correction table.
S103: The toner remaining amount information confirmation signal is turned ON by the user in the display unit 32a and each display unit.
S104: The main body control unit 32 sends a toner remaining amount information signal “Toner remaining amount X%” to each display unit.
S105: “Toner remaining amount X%” is displayed on the display unit 32a and each display unit.
End of sequence.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the remaining amount of toner is displayed on the display unit 32a and each display unit, the “toner remaining amount 80%” (108) is displayed and the remaining amount of toner remains. The user is informed that it is 80%, “toner remaining amount 5%” (111) is displayed, and the user is notified that the remaining toner amount is 5%. As described above, the remaining amount of toner is displayed by being subtracted according to the amount of toner, and process cartridge life information is simply and clearly provided to the user.

  Further, when the remaining amount of toner becomes 0% (113), the user is informed that the life of the cartridge has been reached.

  Next, sequential detection of the usage amount of the developing roller in this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the low temperature and low humidity are L / L environment, the high temperature and high humidity are H / H environment, and the interval is N / N environment.

  In the image forming apparatus A according to the present embodiment, when the deterioration of the image quality due to the increase in the number of images formed is examined, there is an environmental difference in the deterioration of the image quality, and evil <L / L <H / H <N / N <good. On the basis of the developing roller rotational speed, 1.2 × L / L (developing roller rotational speed) = 1.1 × H / H (developing roller rotational speed) = N / N (developing roller rotational speed) is multiplied by a coefficient. The image quality degradation in each environment is equal. Here, the environmental coefficients are L / L = 1.2, H / H = 1.1, and N / N = 1.

  In the developing roller in this embodiment, the deterioration of the developing roller is accelerated in comparison with the N / N environment due to an increase in frictional force due to a decrease in developer fluidity in the L / L environment and an increase in temperature in the H / H environment.

  In this embodiment, the environmental weight k is selected by selecting the environmental coefficient k from the short temperature average value AP (t) and the short humidity average value AQ (t), and multiplying the accumulated developing roller rotational speed by the environmental coefficient k. The amount of attached developing roller used. Thus, by weighting the environment from the average values of temperature and humidity, the history of temperature changes other than during use due to ON / OFF of air conditioning is also weighted. The developing roller usage threshold is a value determined in advance by experience, and is a developing roller life value guaranteed by the manufacturer. This is assumed to be stored in memory. The developing roller rotation speed data is stored in the memory as needed, and the calculation of the developing roller usage amount data is performed as needed when driving of the photosensitive drum is stopped.

A method of displaying the usage amount of the developing roller will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Sequence start.
S201: The main body control unit 32 calculates the usage amount of the developing roller.
S202: The main body control unit 32 determines the developing roller usage rate Y% by collating with the usage amount threshold value.
S203: In the display unit 32a and each display unit, a signal for confirming development roller usage information is turned on by the user.
S204: The main body control unit 32 sends a usage rate information signal “Developing roller usage rate Y%” to each display unit.
S205: “Developing roller usage rate Y%” is displayed on the display unit 32a and each display unit.
End of sequence.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the usage amount of the developing roller is displayed on the display unit 32a and each display unit, “developing roller usage rate 0%” (206) is displayed and the developing roller is used. The user is informed that the rate is 0%, and "Developing roller usage rate 100%" (210) is displayed to notify the user that the developing roller usage rate is 100%. Further, even when the developing roller usage rate 100% guaranteed by the manufacturer is exceeded, the usage rate is further calculated and displayed even when the “developing roller usage rate 130%” (213) is reached. In this way, the usage rate of the developing roller can be added and displayed according to the usage amount of the developing roller, so that the usage rate of consumables can be simply and clearly provided to the user at any time, and a guideline to know the usage status of the developing roller at the time of user complaint It becomes.

  In the conventional life management, since the harsh environment was used as a standard, the life could not be used up depending on the environment. It is possible to accurately manage the life of consumables and use up the consumables to the end of their life without any environmental difference. In this embodiment, the short-term average value is used for selecting the environmental coefficient and the environmental weighting is performed more accurately. However, even if the overall average value is used, substantially the same effect can be obtained.

  Also, when there was a problem at the user site, there was a case where it was not well understood when trying to analyze the cause of the failure.

  Therefore, by storing environment information for image formation in a memory medium (storage means) as in this embodiment, the life of the cartridge can be accurately determined, and even when there is an abnormality at the user's site. As the environmental information for image formation, the maximum value, minimum value, and average value are stored in the storage means, and the failure content analysis can be accurately performed, and the number of times of business trip to the user is reduced, which is efficient. Service can be provided.

  This time, the remaining amount of toner and the usage rate of the developing roller are displayed on the display unit using characters and graphics, but any means can be used as long as the information can be transmitted to the user. For example, information may be conveyed to the user by voice through a speaker or the like in the host computer 14 or the terminal PC 14a.

  In this embodiment, the plate antenna system is used as the toner remaining level detecting means. However, the present invention is not limited to the toner remaining level detecting means of this system. Does not matter. Further, although the amount of consumables used is used for managing the life of the developing roller, the consumables are not limited to this.

  As for the display on the display unit, the ratio to the gas gauge as shown in FIG. 8, the bar graph as shown in FIG. 9 or the full tank, that is, the remaining percentage may be displayed. Any display method may be used as long as it can be understood.

  The display method of the remaining toner consumption amount is not limited to the percentage display described so far, but may be changed to another display format in the middle.

  Next, a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus A described in the first embodiment, a method is used in which the developing roller 23 is pressed, brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 as a developing unit, is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1, and is developed. In Example 2, as shown in FIG. 10, jumping development for developing a latent image on the image carrier while keeping the developer carrier in non-contact with the image carrier is used.

  All the developing device components described in the first embodiment are similarly applied to the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment. Therefore, for the description of these configurations and operations, the above description made in the first embodiment is used, the redundant description is omitted, and the description is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus A is a case where the process cartridge B is an inline full-color LBP arranged vertically corresponding to four colors K, C, M, and Y. By performing the operations of Examples 1 and 2 in Example 3, it is possible to accurately determine the life of the cartridge, and furthermore, as environmental information in which image formation is performed even when there is an abnormality at the user, a maximum value, The minimum value and the average value are stored in the storage means, and the failure content analysis can be performed accurately, so that the number of trips to the user is reduced and an efficient service can be provided. By adopting such a method, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained independently for the four color process cartridges.

  11, reference numeral 301 denotes a photosensitive drum, 302 denotes a charging roller, 303 denotes a scanner, 304 denotes developing means, 309 denotes a transfer roller, 310 denotes a cleaning blade, 311 denotes a cleaner, 313 denotes a recording medium, and each number is attached. The letters K, C, M, and Y indicate that they correspond to the respective colors.

  In the third embodiment, the inline full color LBP is used, but the same effect can be obtained even in the full color LBP using the rotary method.

  In Examples 1 and 2, experiments were performed using inline full-color LBP.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an environment detecting unit, a storage unit that stores environment history, and a clock unit that detects the use date and time. By inputting the environment information detected by the environment detection unit and updating and storing the environment history stored in the storage unit, even if there is an abnormality at the user destination, the failure content analysis is performed accurately. An image forming apparatus that can be used and a cartridge that is detachable from the image forming apparatus can be provided.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1. Explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the image formation display system in Example 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a toner remaining amount display procedure according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a toner remaining amount display method according to the first exemplary embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the environmental division which can be detected in Example 1. The flowchart which shows one Example of the usage-amount and usage-ratio display procedure of the developing roller in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a developing roller usage rate display method according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another display example of the remaining toner amount and the developing roller usage rate according to the first exemplary embodiment (first). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another display example of the remaining amount of toner and the usage rate of the developing roller according to the first exemplary embodiment (second). Schematic diagram of jumping development in Example 2 Sectional schematic diagram of an inline full-color LBP as an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 3 Sectional drawing which shows the outline of the image development apparatus using the pressure development method of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body)
B Process cartridge 1 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member, image carrier)
2 Charging roller (charging means)
3 Scanner (exposure means)
4 Development means (developing device, developer carrier)
5 Transfer roller 6 Recording medium 7 Cleaning blade 8 Waste toner container 9 Fixing device 11 Cleaning means (cleaner)
12a Supply roller 12c Discharge roller 14 Host (host computer)
14a Terminal PC (terminal computer)
16 Recording medium container 21 Developer container 22 Toner (non-magnetic toner)
23 Developing roller 24 Elastic roller 26 Storage means (memory, memory medium)
25 Development blade 27 Environmental sensor (environment detection means)
32 Main body control unit 33 Controller 40 Clock means L Laser light 301K, (-C, -M, -Y) Black (cyan, magenta, yellow) compatible photosensitive drum 302K, (-C, -M, -Y) Black (cyan , Magenta, yellow) charging roller 303K, (~ C, ~ M, ~ Y) black (cyan, magenta, yellow) compatible scanner 304K, (~ C, ~ M, ~ Y) black (cyan, magenta, yellow) Corresponding developing means 309K, (~ C, ~ M, ~ Y) Black (cyan, magenta, yellow) compatible transfer roller 310K, (~ C, ~ M, ~ Y) Black (cyan, magenta, yellow) compatible cleaning blade 311K , (˜C, ˜M, ˜Y) Black (cyan, magenta, yellow) cleaner 313 Recording medium 101 Developing roller 102 Developing Blade 103 toner supply roller 104 Toner

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge having a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier and a storage unit that stores a usage amount threshold value that is a lifetime value of the developing roller is detachable.
Environmental detection means for detecting temperature and humidity;
A clock means for measuring time;
A main body control unit that calculates an average value of the temperature and humidity detected by the environment detection unit in a predetermined time interval measured by the clock unit, and writes the average value to the storage unit;
Have
The main body control unit stores an integrated value of the number of rotations of the developing roller in the storage unit, selects a coefficient from the average value stored in the storage unit, and stores the development stored in the storage unit A value obtained by multiplying the integrated value of the number of rotations of the roller by the coefficient is used as a developing roller usage, and the integrated value of the developing roller usage is compared with the usage threshold stored in the storage unit. determining the rate, image forming apparatus according to claim Rukoto sent to the display unit information of the usage. Wherein the display unit, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein that you have provided in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is provided in a computer connected to the image forming apparatus.

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