JP4483336B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that is used by mounting a process unit having an image forming function, and that can automatically issue an expiration warning for the process unit at an appropriate time.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electrophotographic apparatuses such as electrophotographic printers and copiers generally have a process unit that is a detachable unit centered on an image carrier.

  In such an electrophotographic apparatus, it is desirable to automatically give a warning to the effect that the process unit is about to expire.

  In recent years, therefore, there has been proposed an electrophotographic apparatus that gives a warning to the effect that a process unit is about to expire (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In Patent Document 1, the image carrier damage index D is calculated by switching the calculation method according to the process speed, and the obtained image carrier damage index D is integrated to obtain the image carrier damage integrated value S. An image forming apparatus is described that compares the image carrier damage integrated value S and the life information R to detect the life of the image carrier.

Patent Document 2 describes a cartridge life detection method for detecting the life of a cartridge by using at least two of the number of printers, the number of rotations of an image carrier, and a pixel of image information as reference information for cartridge life. Has been.
JP 2002-214983 A JP-A-7-281564

  However, in actual product development, in addition to the image carrier, the development unit that develops the latent image formed on the image carrier and the image developed by the development unit are transferred to the process unit. Transfer unit such as a transfer belt to be transferred to a medium or a recording medium, unused toner collection unit for removing and storing toner attached to the surface of the image carrier, and collected toner for removing and holding toner attached to the surface of the transfer belt In many cases, peripheral elements such as a holding unit are combined into one unit.

  In an electrophotographic apparatus having these process units, when an image having a high image density is printed, the transfer belt cleaner may become full before the image carrier is worn out and its life is expired. This is because the life of the image carrier mainly depends on the number of prints, whereas the life of the unused toner collection unit and the collected toner holding unit greatly depends on the amount of toner used, that is, the image area.

  Therefore, as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 and the cartridge life detection method described in Patent Document 2, the end of life is determined based only on the degree of damage of the image carrier, the number of prints, and the number of pixels. In such a case, a replacement warning is suddenly displayed when other components other than the image carrier have expired first. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that some users do not have a spare process unit when the replacement warning is displayed, and the electrophotographic apparatus cannot be used until a replacement process unit is available.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem. In an image forming apparatus that uses a process unit in which an image carrier and its peripheral elements are combined into one unit, the image forming apparatus uses the image carrier rather than the image carrier. Even if one of the peripheral elements has expired first, the replacement warning is not suddenly displayed. Therefore, the user has enough time to prepare a replacement process unit in advance. An object is to provide a formability apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage tag in which a plurality of constituent elements having different functions are combined into one unit, and a warning value serving as a reference for determining the lifetime of each of the constituent elements is stored. An image forming apparatus that is mounted and used with a process unit, comprising: tag information reading means for reading a warning value from the information storage tag; and a use state for reading a counter value indicating a use state for each component in the process unit At least one of the detection element , the life determination means for comparing the warning value read by the tag information reading means and the counter value read by the use state detection means to obtain the remaining life , and at least one of the components, when the counter value is said to that equal to or higher than the warning value lifetime determination means determines , Comprising a display means for displaying the process unit warning message to the effect that exchange, and a tag information writing means for writing the read count value of the respective components in the information storage tag by the use condition detecting means, The usage state detection means reads the counter value for each component written by the tag information writing means from the information storage tag via the tag information reading means when the process unit starts to be used, and starts use the counter value when newly detected counter value added, before Symbol lifetime determination means, and the integrated value obtained by adding a counter value indicating a usage state newly detected to the counter value at the start of use, the tag information The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that makes a life determination based on a warning value read by a reading unit .

  In an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge in which peripheral elements such as an image carrier and a developing unit, a transfer medium, an unused toner collecting unit, and a collected toner holding unit are integrated is mounted, an image with high image density is formed. In some cases, the consumption of developer such as toner may increase even if the number of printed sheets is not so large. In such a case, the unused toner collecting unit and the collected toner holding unit may become full with the developer collected before the image carrier and the transfer medium are worn out.

  In the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit such as an image carrier and a transfer medium and a latent image carrier manufacturing unit such as an unused toner collecting unit and a collected toner holding unit are separately determined for remaining life, A warning message is displayed when either remaining life falls below the reference value. Therefore, in the above case, a warning message is displayed when the unused toner collecting unit and the collected toner holding unit are almost full, so the user has filled the unused toner collecting unit and the collected toner holding unit. It is prevented that the use is continued without knowing. Even when the warning message is displayed, it is not necessary to interrupt the use of the image forming apparatus because the user has sufficient time to prepare a replacement process unit.

In addition, for the warning value that is the standard for determining the life, the value stored in the information storage tag attached to the process unit is called and used on the image forming apparatus body side, so the product is introduced to the market for some reason. Even if it is necessary to change the warning timing for displaying the warning message after the change, it is only necessary to change the setting value written to the information storage tag, and it is not necessary to change the specification on the image forming apparatus main body side.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the component is a latent image carrier, and a developer is attached to the latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier. Developing means for developing, a transfer medium to which an image developed on the line image carrier by the developing means is transferred, a latent image carrier cleaning means for cleaning the latent image carrier after transferring the image to the transfer medium, The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus which is at least two of transfer medium cleaning means for cleaning the transfer medium after the image transferred to the transfer medium is transferred to a recording medium.

  In the image forming apparatus, the life of each component is determined for a process unit including at least two of a latent image carrier, a developing unit, a transfer medium, a latent image carrier cleaning unit, and a transfer medium cleaning unit. Then, a warning message is displayed when the lifetime of at least one component is below the reference value. Therefore, for example, in a process unit having a latent image carrier such as a photosensitive drum and a latent image carrier cleaning means such as a drum cleaner, when the latent image carrier cleaning means is near the end of its life, Since the warning message is output even if the life of the latent image carrier is sufficient, it is possible to prevent the latent image carrier cleaning unit from being filled with the developer collected and soiling the printed image.

  In an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge that has been used to some extent may be mounted and used. Even in such a case, the life determination is performed based on the use state information in which the use state information related to the previous use is folded. Therefore, the lifetime can be determined with high reliability.

The invention according to claim 3 relates to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tag information writing means also writes the integrated value into the information storage tag.

  In the image forming apparatus, the integrated value obtained by adding the newly detected use state information to the use state information at the start of use is not only used for performing the life determination in the life determination unit, but also the information storage tag Also written and saved.

  Therefore, when the use of the process unit is interrupted and transferred to another image forming apparatus to continue the use, the other image forming apparatus reads the integrated value from the information storage tag and reads the integrated value The newly detected usage state information is added to the value to obtain a new integrated value, and the life can be determined based on the new integrated value.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image forming apparatus includes an unused determination unit that determines whether or not a mounted process unit is unused. When the unused unit determines that the process unit is unused, the usage state detector cancels the counter value at the start of use and newly detects the counter value as the usage state information. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  When a new process unit is installed, if the life of a process cartridge is determined based on the status information, simply adding information about the newly detected usage status to the previous usage status information, a warning message is displayed. There is a problem that it is displayed too early.

  In the image forming apparatus, as described above, when a new process unit is mounted, the used state information is canceled and the used state information is newly detected and used state information. The information always corresponds to the actual damage degree. Since the life of the process cartridge is determined based on the use state information, a warning message is displayed at an appropriate timing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a usage history creation unit that creates a usage history for the process unit, and the unused determination. When the means determines that the process unit is unused, the tag information writing means writes the use start date and time of the process unit to the information storage tag, and the use history creating means reads the tag information A use history is created based on the use start date and time read through the means and the counter value of each component read out by the use state detection means, and when a warning message is displayed on the display means, the use history is displayed. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is displayed together with the warning message.

  In the image forming apparatus, since the life of the process unit is determined and a use history is created and displayed together with a warning message, the user can determine the number of days from use of the process unit to replacement and the usage frequency. Information can be known easily. Therefore, when the process unit is replaced with a new one, it is not necessary to record in a notebook or the like, so that the process unit can be easily managed.

  In addition, by referring to the use history, it is possible to predict the approximate life when the process unit is replaced with a new one, and therefore a new process unit can be arranged in advance.

  In addition, since the past use record can be recorded even during use, it is easy to manage consumables and grasp the use record.

The invention according to claim 6, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifetime determination means, wherein at least greater than one of the remaining life of the reference value for each component However, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that displays a replacement promotion message that prompts replacement of a process unit on the display unit when it is determined that it is equal to or smaller than a second reference value that is larger than the reference value.

The invention of claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the tag information reading means rewriting life criterion information read life determination criterion information rewriting means The life determination means relates to the image forming apparatus based on the life determination reference information after rewriting when the life determination reference information is rewritten by the life determination reference information rewriting means. .

  Some users have a request to use a single process unit for a long period of time by sending a warning message display timing.

  In the image forming apparatus, in such a case, the life determination criterion information read by the tag information reading unit can be rewritten to different life determination criterion information by the life determination criterion information rewriting unit. The desired warning message display timing can be set freely.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the process unit includes at least a latent image carrier, a latent image carrier cleaning means, and a transfer as constituent elements. A medium cleaning unit, and the use state detection unit sets the use state as the number of rotations of the latent image carrier or the energization time to the drive motor for rotating the latent image carrier, and the latent image carrier cleaning unit. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that detects a developer recovery amount in the above and a developer recovery amount in the transfer medium cleaning unit.

  In the image forming apparatus, a warning message is displayed on the display means when the latent image carrier cleaning means and the transfer medium cleaning means expire before the latent image carrier such as a rotating drum. The user does not accidentally continue to use the process unit in which the image carrier cleaning means and the transfer medium cleaning means have expired before the latent image carrier.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the number of rotations of the latent image carrier, the developer recovery amount in the latent image carrier cleaning unit, and the transfer medium cleaning unit are measured in the process unit as the use state detecting unit. You may use what measures directly and determines life based on the said measured value .

  In the image forming apparatus, since the life is determined based on the measurement value obtained by direct measurement in the process unit, the latent image carrier is based on the energization time to the drive motor that rotates the latent image carrier. Unlike the case of estimating the number of rotations of the toner and the amount of developer collected in the latent image carrier cleaning means and the transfer medium cleaning means based on the amount of developer supplied to the process unit, This is preferable in that there is no room for errors due to errors.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that uses a process unit in which an image carrier and its peripheral elements are combined into a single unit, the peripheral elements are arranged before the image carrier. Since no replacement warning is displayed suddenly when one of them expires, a warning message is displayed at a predetermined timing before the actual expiration of the service life. An image forming apparatus with sufficient time to prepare the image is provided.

1. Embodiment 1
(1) Configuration FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a laser printer 100 as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 100 includes a photosensitive drum 2 on which a latent image is formed by imagewise exposure, and a development that forms a toner image by developing the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the developing device 4, the intermediate transfer belt 6 (IBT) to which the toner image is transferred, the charging drum 8 for charging the photosensitive drum 2, and the photosensitive drum 2 are irradiated. And a laser exposure apparatus 10 for imagewise exposure.

  A drum cleaner 12 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 is disposed around the photosensitive drum 2.

  Inside the intermediate transfer belt 6, a primary transfer drum 14 that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 to the intermediate transfer belt 6, and the intermediate transfer belt 6 at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 2. A driving roller 16 that rotates in the direction of arrow b and a support roller 18 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 6 are provided. A secondary transfer roller 20 for transferring the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 onto a recording sheet is provided outside the driving roller 16 with the intermediate transfer belt 6 interposed therebetween. An IBT cleaner 22 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 after the toner image is transferred to the recording paper is further provided outside the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  Each of the drum cleaner 12 and the IBT cleaner 22 includes a drum recovery toner storage box 12A that stores toner recovered from the photosensitive drum 2, and an IBT recovery toner storage box 22A that stores toner recovered from the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  The photosensitive drum 2, the intermediate transfer belt 6, the drum cleaner 12, the primary transfer drum 14, the drive roller 16, the support roller 18, and the IBT cleaner 22 are integrated into a detachable CRU 50. The CRU 50 corresponds to a process unit included in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the photosensitive drum 2 corresponds to a latent image carrier, and the intermediate transfer belt 6 corresponds to a transfer medium. The drum cleaner 12 corresponds to a latent image carrier manufacturing unit included in the image forming apparatus, and the IBT cleaner 22 corresponds to a transfer medium cleaning unit. A CRU crumb 52 corresponding to an information storage tag in the image forming apparatus is further provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 6 in the CRU 50. The CRU crumb 52 is a wireless crumb that exchanges information wirelessly with the main body of the laser printer 100 in the first embodiment, but may be a wired crumb that exchanges information by wire.

  In the vicinity of the CRU 50, there is provided a fixing device 24 for fixing the transferred image transferred onto the recording paper that has passed through the path P between the secondary transfer roller 20 and the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 4 has a horizontal drum shape as a whole, and is formed to be rotatable around an axis as indicated by an arrow c. Then, a Y color developing unit 4Y for attaching yellow (hereinafter referred to as “Y color”) toner around the axis and an M color developing unit for attaching magenta (hereinafter referred to as “M color”) toner. 4M and a C color developing unit for attaching cyan (hereinafter referred to as “C color”) toner and a black developing unit 4K for attaching black toner. The Y color developing unit 4Y, the M color developing unit 4M, the C color developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4K are arranged on the circumference along the rotation direction c of the developing device 4.

  The Y color developing unit 4Y, the M color developing unit 4M, the C color developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4K are each a toner cartridge 40 and a toner attaching unit 42 for attaching the toner in the toner cartridge 40 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2. With. Each toner adhering unit 42 is provided with a developing drum 44 for adhering toner to the photosensitive drum 2. In each of the toner adhering units 42, the developing drum 44 ensures that the developing drum 44 is effectively transferred to the photosensitive drum 2 when each developing unit comes to a position facing the photosensitive drum 2. Slightly protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the developing device 4. Each toner cartridge 40 is provided with a toner cartridge crumb 41 for exchanging various information such as a toner supply amount with the laser printer 100.

  The laser printer 100 is provided with a central control unit 102. The central control unit 102 includes an apparatus control unit (MCU) 104 that controls the entire laser printer 100, and a wireless communication unit 106 that exchanges information with the CRU crumb 52 wirelessly. And are provided. In the laser printer 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the CRU crumb 52 and the wireless communication unit 106 constitute one wireless communication system 110.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the wireless communication system 110 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, in the wireless communication system 110, the wireless communication device 106 is provided with a main body antenna 108, the CRU crumb 52 is provided with a tag antenna 54, and the wireless communication device 106, the CRU crumb 52, and the like. Transmits and receives information between the main body antenna 108 and the tag antenna 54.

  The CRU crumb 52 has a configuration in which a tag-side antenna 54 and an IC chip 56 to which the tag-side antenna 54 is connected are housed in a housing 58.

  The IC chip 56 is a single element in which a CPU 60, a transmission / reception circuit 62, a power supply circuit 64, a ROM 66 and an EEPROM 68 are integrated.

  The CPU 60 controls the entire CRU crumb 52 according to the control program stored in the ROM 66.

  In addition to the control program, the ROM 66 stores a multi ID, a password, and a system ID as unique information corresponding to the type of the CRU 50. Here, the multi-ID is basically data determined in advance corresponding to the type of the CRU 50, and the password and the system ID are respectively the CRU crumbs 52 that are permitted to exchange information with the wireless communication device 106. It is data for confirming that there is.

  On the other hand, the EEPROM 68 is a non-volatile information storage element that does not require power for maintaining the stored information, and is a storage element in which arbitrary information is written by the CPU 60 and the written information can be read. In the EEPROM 68, for example, by the CPU 60, a drum rotation number warning value W1 regarding the rotation number of the photosensitive drum 2, a drum recovery toner amount warning value W2 regarding the toner amount in the drum recovery toner storage box 12A, an IBT recovery toner storage box. An IBT collected toner amount warning value W3 relating to the toner amount in 22A is written in advance. Here, the drum rotation number warning value W1, the drum recovery toner amount warning value W2, and the IBT recovery toner amount warning value W3 correspond to the life criterion information in the present invention, and are the photosensitive drum 2, the drum cleaner 12, and the IBT cleaner 22. Used for determining the life of In addition, in addition to the drum 68, the drum rotation speed C1, the drum collected toner amount counter value C2, the IBT collected toner amount counter value C3, and the like are sequentially written. Here, the drum rotation number C1, the drum collected toner amount counter value C2, and the IBT collected toner amount counter value C3 are all values measured on the main body side of the laser printer 100. In the EEPROM 68, the use start date and time of the CRU 52 may be further written.

  When transmitting / receiving information, the transmission / reception circuit 62 converts the parallel information signal sent from the CPU 60 into a serial information signal, and then outputs the electrical signal modulated by the information signal to the tag-side antenna 54. As a result, a radio wave signal corresponding to the information signal from the CPU 60 is output from the tag side antenna 54. Further, when receiving information, the transmission / reception circuit 62 demodulates the electrical signal obtained from the radio wave signal received by the tag side antenna 54 into a serial information signal, converts the information signal into a parallel information signal, and outputs the parallel information signal to the CPU 60. To do.

  The power supply circuit 64 separates an alternating current of a predetermined frequency generated by electromagnetic induction in the tag-side antenna 54 during transmission / reception with the wireless communication device 106 from the information signal, converts this alternating current into a direct current, and then transmits and receives to / from the CPU 60. This is supplied to the circuit 62. As a result, the CPU 60 and the transmission / reception circuit 62 are supplied with power necessary for transmission / reception with the wireless communication device 106, so the CRU crumb 52 does not require a driving power source such as a battery or a battery.

  On the other hand, the wireless communication device 106 includes a CPU 112, a transmission / reception circuit 114, a power supply circuit 116, a ROM 118, a RAM 120, and an interface circuit 122. Here, the main body side antenna 108 is connected to the transmission / reception circuit 114, and the main body side antenna 108 is connected to the other input / output terminal 146B.

  The CPU 112 controls the entire wireless communication device 106 according to a control program stored in the ROM 118. In addition to the control program, the ROM 118 stores the multi ID, password, and system ID of the CRU 52. The CPU 112 compares the multi-ID and password input from the CRU crumb 52 with the multi-ID and password stored in the ROM 118, thereby identifying the type of the CRU 50 to which the CRU crumb 52 in radio wave communication is attached, and wirelessly. It is confirmed that the CRU crumb 52 is permitted to exchange information with the communication device 106.

  The CPU 112 stores process information such as the drum rotation number C1, drum recovery toner amount counter value C2, and IBT recovery toner amount counter value C3 of the CRU 50 sent from the central control unit 102 of the laser printer 100 through the interface circuit 122 to the RAM 120. After being temporarily stored, the information to be transmitted at a predetermined timing is read from the RAM 120 and transmitted to the CRU crumb 52.

  The CPU 60 of the CRU crumb 52 writes the process information received from the wireless communication device 106 into the EEPROM 68.

  When transmitting / receiving information, the transmission / reception circuit 114 in the main body converts a parallel information signal sent from the CPU 112 into a serial information signal, and then converts the electric signal modulated by the information signal to the two main body antennas 108. Output to either. As a result, a radio signal corresponding to the information signal from the CPU 112 is output (radiated) from the main body antenna 108. Therefore, the RAM 120, the CPU 112, the transmission / reception circuit 114, and the main body antenna 108 correspond to tag information writing means in the present invention.

  At the time of information reception, the transmission / reception circuit 114 demodulates an electrical signal obtained from the radio wave received by the main body antenna 108 into a serial information signal, converts the information signal into a parallel information signal, and inputs the parallel information signal to the CPU 112. To do. The CPU 112 inputs the input information signal to the central control unit 102 via the interface circuit 152. Therefore, the RAM 120, the CPU 112, the transmission / reception circuit 114, and the main body antenna 108 correspond to tag information reading means in the present invention. The central control unit 102 determines the life of the CRU 50 when these pieces of information are input, and outputs a warning message when the remaining life of the CRU 50 is equal to or less than a preset reference value.

  The CPU 112 of the main body transmits a count-up signal to the CRU crumb 52 when it is determined that the life of the CRU 50 has expired. When the CRU crumb 52 receives the count-up signal, the CPU 60 adds “1” to the number of recycles for the CRU 50 written in the EEPROM 68.

(2) Operation The procedure for exchanging information between the wireless communication device 106 and the CRU crumb 52 and determining the life of the CRU 50 based on the information read from the CRU crumb 52 will be described in detail below.

(2-1) From CRU Installation to Printing Start As shown in FIG. 3, when the CRU 50 is installed in the laser printer 100, the wireless communication device 106 receives the drum rotation number counter value C1 from the CRU crumb 52 in step S2. The drum collected toner amount counter value C2 and the IBT collected toner amount counter value C3 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “counter values C1 to C3”) are read out and stored in the first area of the RAM 120. Here, the drum rotation number counter value C1 is a value obtained by integrating measurement values obtained by measuring the rotation number of the photosensitive drum 2 in the laser printer 100. The drum collection toner amount counter value C2 and the IBT collection toner amount counter value C3 are: The total amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 40 to the toner adhering unit 42 in the Y color developing unit 4Y, the M color developing unit 4M, the C color developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4K is obtained.

  Next, in step S4, the drum rotation number warning value W1, drum recovery toner amount warning value W2, IBT recovery toner amount warning value W3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “warning values W1 to W3”) from the CRU crumb 52. Is stored in the second area of the RAM 120 and displayed on a display (not shown). Here, the counter values C <b> 1 to C <b> 3 are values actually measured by the laser printer 100 when the CRU 50 was used last time, and values written to the CRU crumb 52 from the wireless communication device 106 immediately before the use is stopped. The warning values W1 to W3 are values set in advance and are values originally written in the CRU crumb 52. The display is configured to display warning values W1 to W3 and allow a user to input a request to increase or decrease the warning values W1 to W3.

  When the warning values W1 to W3 are read from the CRU crumb 52 and displayed on the display, it is determined in step S6 whether or not a request to increase or decrease the warning values W1 to W3 is input from the user. When the request is input, the warning values W1 to W3 are increased or decreased according to the user's request in step S8, and printing is started. On the other hand, if there is no request from the user, the process proceeds to the printing process.

  FIG. 4 shows another example of the procedure from when the CRU 50 is attached to the laser printer 100 until printing is started. When the CRU 50 is attached to the laser printer 100, the wireless communication device 106 reads the drum rotation number counter value C1 from the CRU crumb 52 and inputs it to the MCU 104 in step S12.

  In the MCU 104, it is determined in step S14 whether or not the drum rotation speed C1 is zero. If the photosensitive drum 2 is not rotating, the CRU 50 is unused, and if the photosensitive drum 2 is rotating, the CRU 50 is considered to be used. Therefore, the MCU 104 determines that the CRU 50 is not used when the drum rotational speed C1 is zero. In step S16, the counter values C1 to C3 stored in the RAM 120 are set to 0, respectively. In step S18, the warning values W1 to W3 are read from the CRU crumb 52, stored in the second area of the RAM 120, and displayed on a display (not shown). On the other hand, when the drum rotation speed C1 is not 0, the MCU 104 determines that the CRU 50 is being used, and immediately proceeds to step S18.

  When the warning values W1 to W3 are read out and displayed on the display in step S18, it is determined in step S20 whether or not a request for increasing or decreasing the warning values W1 to W3 is input from the user. When the request is input, the warning values W1 to W3 are increased or decreased according to the user's request in step S22, and printing is started. On the other hand, if there is no request from the user, the process proceeds to the printing process.

(2-2) After printing is started The procedure for determining the life of the CRU 50 after printing is described below. As shown in FIG. 5, the MCU 104 reads out the drum rotation number C1 from the RAM 120 of the wireless communication apparatus 106 in step S102.

  In step S104, the newly measured rotational speed c1 of the photosensitive drum 2 is added to the drum rotational speed C1 read from the RAM 120 to obtain a new drum rotational speed C1. The rotational speed c1 of the photosensitive drum may be obtained from the energization time of the motor driving the photosensitive drum 2, or may be obtained by monitoring the actual rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 2.

  Next, in step S106, the MCU 104 reads the drum collected toner amount counter value C2 and the IBT collected toner amount counter C3 from the RAM 120 of the wireless communication apparatus 106. In step S108, the amounts cY, cM, cC, and cK of the Y color toner, M color toner, C color toner, and black toner newly supplied from the toner cartridge 40 to the toner adhesion unit 42 are measured. Here, the newly supplied toner amounts cY, cM, cC, and cK may be obtained based on the rotation speed of a toner supply member such as an auger that supplies toner from the toner cartridge 40 to the toner adhesion unit 42. You may obtain | require from the rotation time of an auger.

In step S110, new drum recovery toner amount counter value C2 and IBT recovery toner amount based on cC, cM, cC, and cK with respect to drum recovery toner counter value C2 and IBT recovery toner amount counter value C3 read from RAM 120. A counter value C3 is obtained. Here, the ratio of the toner adhered to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the toner adhesion unit 42 that does not adhere to the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the toner adhered to the intermediate transfer belt 6 that is not transferred to the recording paper and intermediate. It is considered that the ratio of what remains on the transfer belt 6 is constant. The amount of toner recovered in the drum recovery toner storage box 12A is equal to the amount of toner not attached to the intermediate transfer belt 6 among the toners attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the toner attachment unit 42, and the IBT recovery toner storage. The amount of toner collected in the box 22A is equal to the amount of toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 6 that remains on the intermediate transfer belt 6 without being transferred to the recording paper. The drum recovery toner amount counter value C2 corresponds to the toner amount recovered in the drum recovery toner storage box 12A, and the IBT recovery toner amount counter value C3 corresponds to the toner amount recovered in the IBT recovery toner storage box 22A. To do. Therefore, in step S110,
C2 = C2 + α (cY + cM + cC + cK)
C3 = C3 + β (cY + cM + cC + cK)
Accordingly, the drum collected toner amount counter value C2 and the IBT collected toner amount counter value C3 are obtained. Α and β are constants obtained experimentally in advance.

  When the counter values C1 to C3 are obtained in this way, in step 112, the warning values W1 to W3 are compared with the counter values C1 to C3. In step S114, it is determined whether at least one of the counter values C1, C2, and C3 is a corresponding warning value W1, W2, and W3. If the determination is Yes, as shown in step S116, the MCU 104 displays a process unit replacement warning with a phrase such as “drum cartridge replacement time”, for example. On the other hand, when the determination is No, the MCU 104 writes new counter values C1 to C3 in the EEPROM 68 of the CRU crumb 52, and returns to step S102.

  In the laser printer 100 according to the first embodiment, in addition to the case where the photosensitive drum 2 is worn, the drum recovery toner storage box 12A is filled with toner recovered from the surface of the photosensitive drum 2, or the IBT recovery toner storage box. A warning message is also issued when 22A is full of toner collected from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6. Therefore, the user continues using the drum recovery toner storage box 12A and the IBT recovery toner storage box 22A without knowing that they are full, and the collected toner is reattached to the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the recording paper for printing. It is possible to prevent the image quality from deteriorating. Even when the warning message is displayed, the user has sufficient time to prepare the replacement CRU 50. Therefore, the replacement CRU 50 can be prepared while continuing to use the laser printer 100.

  In addition, since the user can increase or decrease the warning values W1 to W3 read by the MCU 104 via the wireless communication device 106 through the display, the warning timing for displaying the warning message needs to be changed for some reason. However, it is only necessary to change the warning value, and it is not necessary to change the specifications of the laser printer 100. In addition, some users have a request to use a single CRU 50 for a long period of time by delaying the timing at which a warning message is displayed. In such a case, the warning values W1 to W3 are increased or decreased. Thus, the warning message display timing desired by the user can be freely set.

  Further, when the new counter values C1 to C3 are all smaller than the warning values W1 to W3, the new counter values C1 to C3 are written in the CRU crumb 52. 52 is stored.

  Therefore, even when the CRU 52 in use is mounted, the life can be determined with high reliability.

  Further, if the use start date and time is also written in the CRU crumb 52, the use history of the CRU 50 can be created, so that the approximate lifetime can be predicted when a new CRU crumb 52 is mounted.

  In addition, when a new CRU 50 is mounted, all the counter values C1 to C3 up to that point are set to 0, and new counter values C1 to C3 are obtained. This corresponds well to the actual wear state of the drum recovery toner storage box 12A and the IBT recovery toner storage box 22A. Therefore, even when a new CRU 50 is installed, the life can be determined with high reliability.

2. Embodiment 2
Another example of the laser printer included in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a laser printer 200 according to the second embodiment includes a casing 201 that forms an outer shell portion of the apparatus, and a main frame that is provided inside the casing 201 and supports various components that configure the apparatus. 202.

  A process unit 250 is disposed at the left end of the main frame 202. The process unit 250 is supplied with yellow (Y) toner, magenta (M) toner, black (K) toner, and cyan (C) toner to form a toner image. In the following description, magenta (M) toner, yellow (Y) toner, black (K) toner, and cyan (C) toner are simply referred to as M toner, Y toner, K toner, and C toner, respectively. The formed toner image is transferred and superimposed on a transfer drum inside the process unit 250 to form a full-color toner image. The formed full-color toner image is transferred to a recording sheet and then fixed by heating.

  The recording paper on which the toner image is heat-fixed is discharged on the discharge tray 204 formed on the upper surface of the casing 201 or on the side of the casing 201 so as to extend sideways. The sheets are discharged onto 203 and 205.

  The laser printer 200 is provided with a cartridge holder 210 so as to be adjacent to the main frame 202 along the width direction. The cartridge holder 210 is provided with toner cartridge mounting portions 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K, and the toner cartridge mounting portions 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K are mounted with four toner cartridges 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K. The The cartridge holder 210 is formed in an inverted L shape as a whole, and an MCU 220 is provided below. Then, the toner cartridges 212M, 212K, and 212C are mounted in this order from top to bottom, and the toner cartridge 212Y is mounted on the right side of the toner cartridge 212M. The toner cartridges 212Y, 212M, 212C, and 212K are filled with Y toner, M toner, C toner, and K toner, respectively.

  The CRU 250 corresponds to a process unit in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the CRU 250 includes a housing 252 and four toner image forming units 254 arranged in the vertical direction in FIG. 6 inside the housing 252, that is, M color toner image forming units 254 </ b> M, Y The color toner image forming unit 254Y, the K color toner image forming unit 254K, and the C color toner image forming unit 254C, and the Y color toner formed by the Y color toner image forming unit 254Y by rotating counterclockwise in FIG. The primary transfer drum 256 to which the image and the M color toner image formed by the M color toner image forming unit 254M are transferred, and the C color formed by the C color toner image forming unit 254C by rotating counterclockwise. The primary transfer drum 258, the primary transfer drum 256, and the primary transfer drum 25 to which the color toner image and the black toner image formed by the K color toner image forming unit 254K are transferred. And a secondary intermediate transfer drum 260 on which the toner image transferred to the bets are full color image is transferred is formed. In the laser printer 200, the full-color image formed on the secondary intermediate transfer drum 260 is transferred and fixed on the recording paper.

  The toner cartridge mounting portions 214Y, 214M, 214C, and 214K of the cartridge holder 210, the Y color toner image forming portion 254Y, the M color toner image forming portion 254M, the C color toner image forming portion 254C, and the K color toner image forming portion in the CRU 250. 254K is connected by a Y-color toner feed tube 216Y, an M-color toner feed tube 216M, a C-color toner feed tube 216C, and a K-color toner feed tube 216K, respectively.

  A CRU crumb 300 corresponding to an information storage tag included in the process unit of the present invention is fixed above the toner image forming unit 254 inside the housing 252.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the toner image forming unit 254 will be described by taking the M color toner image forming unit 254M as an example. As shown in FIG. 7, a photosensitive drum 262 that rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow a, a charging roller 264 that charges the photosensitive drum 262, and a photosensitive drum 262 whose surface is charged by the charging roller 264 are image-like. After the toner image is transferred to the primary exposure drum 256, the laser exposure device 266 to be exposed, the developing unit 268 to which the M color toner is attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 262 imagewise exposed by the laser exposure device 266 and developed. A drum cleaner 270 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 262; In the vicinity of the drum cleaner 270, a drum recovery toner storage box 270A for storing toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 262 is provided. The developing unit 268 includes a developing roller 268A for attaching the M color toner to the photosensitive drum 262, and a pair of screw feeders 268B for supplying the M color toner supplied from the M color toner feeding tube 216M toward the developing roller 268A. The housing 268C accommodates the developing roller 268A and the screw feeder 268B. Hereinafter, the Y color toner image forming unit 254Y, the C color toner image forming unit 254C, and the K color toner image forming unit 254K have the same configuration.

  Further, below the primary transfer drum 256 and the primary transfer drum 258, transfer drum cleaners 280 and 282 for removing toner remaining after the toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer drum 260 are provided.

  The procedures for exchanging information between the MCU 220 and the CRU crumb 52 and determining the life of the CRU 50 by the MCU 220 based on the information read from the CRU crumb 52 are as described in the first embodiment.

  The present invention is mainly applied to electrophotographic printers and copiers, and is an image forming apparatus in which a process unit in which an image forming unit and a latent image carrier manufacturing unit are integrally formed is mounted and used. The present invention is not limited to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an outline of the overall configuration of the laser printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication system included in the laser printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of information and a determination procedure between the CRU crumb and the MCU from when the CRU is mounted to when printing is started. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of information and a determination procedure between the CRU crumb and the MCU when the CRU unused determination is performed after the CRU is mounted until printing is started. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing CRU life determination by the MCU after printing is started in the laser printer. FIG. 6 is an overall view showing an outline of the overall configuration of the laser printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the internal structure of the CRU mounted on the laser printer shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Photosensitive drum 4 Developer 4C C color developing unit 4K Black color developing unit 4M M color developing unit 4Y Y color developing unit 6 Intermediate transfer belt 8 Charging drum 10 Laser exposure device 12 Drum cleaner 12A Drum recovery toner storage box 14 Primary transfer drum 16 Driving roller 18 Support roller 20 Secondary transfer roller 22 IBT cleaner 22A IBT recovery toner storage box 24 Fixing device 40 Toner cartridge 41 Toner cartridge clam 42 Toner adhesion unit 44 Developing drum 50 CRU
52 CRU crumb 100 laser printer 200 laser printer 210 cartridge holder 212C toner cartridge 212K toner cartridge 212M toner cartridge 212Y toner cartridge 214C toner cartridge mounting portion 214K toner cartridge mounting portion 214M toner cartridge mounting portion 214Y toner cartridge mounting portion 216C C toner supply Tube 216K K-color toner feed tube 216M M-color toner feed tube 216Y Y-color toner feed tube 250 Process unit 252 Housing 254 Toner image forming unit 254M M-color toner image forming unit 254Y Y-color toner image forming unit 254K Black toner Image forming unit 254C C toner image forming unit 256 Primary transfer drum 258 Primary transfer drum 260 Secondary transfer drum 262 Photosensitive drum 264 charging roller 266 laser exposure unit 268 developing section 268A developing roller 268B screw feeder 268C casing 270 a drum cleaner 270A drum waste toner storing box 280 transfer drum cleaner 300 Crumb

Claims (6)

A plurality of components having different functions are combined into one unit, and a process unit equipped with an information storage tag storing a warning value as a reference for determining the life of each of these components is mounted and used. An image forming apparatus that
Tag information reading means for reading a warning value from the information storage tag;
Usage state detection means for reading a counter value indicating the usage state for each component in the process unit;
Life determination means for determining a remaining life by comparing the warning value read by the tag information reading means and the counter value read by the use state detection means,
Display means for displaying a warning message indicating that the process unit should be replaced when the life determination means determines that the counter value is equal to or greater than the warning value for at least one of the components. When,
Tag information writing means for writing the counter value of each component read by the use state detecting means to the information storage tag;
With
The usage state detection means reads the counter value for each component written by the tag information writing means from the information storage tag via the tag information reading means when the process unit starts to be used, and starts use Add the newly detected counter value to the hour counter value,
In prior Symbol lifetime determination means, and the integrated value obtained by adding a counter value indicating a usage state newly detected to the counter value at the start of use, a warning value read by the tag information reading means, the life determination on the basis of Perform image forming apparatus. The component includes a latent image carrier, developing means for developing a latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier and developing the latent image, and an image developed on the line image carrier by the developing means. A transfer medium to which the image is transferred, a latent image carrier cleaning means for cleaning the latent image carrier after transferring the image to the transfer medium, and a transfer medium after transferring the image transferred to the transfer medium to the recording medium The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is at least two of transfer medium cleaning means for cleaning. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tag information writing unit also writes the integrated value into the information storage tag. Having an unused determination means for determining whether or not the mounted process unit is unused,
When it is determined by the unused determination means that the process unit is unused, the usage state detection means cancels the counter value at the start of use and newly detects the counter value as usage state information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . Comprising a usage history creating means for creating a usage history for the process unit;
When it is determined that the process unit is unused in the unused determination unit, the tag information writing unit writes the use start date and time of the process unit to the information storage tag,
The use history creating means creates a use history based on the use start date and time read through the tag information reading means and the counter value of each component read by the use state detecting means, and the display means When a warning message is displayed, the usage history is displayed together with the warning message.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . When the lifetime determining means determines that at least one remaining lifetime of each component is greater than the reference value but less than or equal to a second reference value that is greater than the reference value, a process is performed in the display means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a replacement promotion message that prompts unit replacement is displayed.

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