JPH01306867A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize shortage with a sufficient margin by displaying the replacement period of each consumption article as a guidepost. CONSTITUTION:A developing device 7 containing toner is provided with a toner residual detecting sensor detecting toner residual capable of detecting in, for instance, three steps. A cleaner 29 is provided with a discarded toner sensor capable of detecting the quantity of discarded toner and a web detecting means detecting the quantity of a web tape used in a web device 18. A cassette 8 is provided with a means capable of detecting the number of sheets housed. Respective detecting means detect the quantity of remaining toner, the quantity of a remaining web, the quantity of a remaining sheet in the cassette 8. As a result, a user can estimate the possible number of copies and the timing of replacing consumption articles when a power source is turned on or when he uses the machine after a long period of suspension.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application 1] The present invention relates to a copying machine, and particularly to a copying machine of a type that can make a large number of copies, continuously make a large number of copies, and rarely has to stop the machine.

[Conventional technology 1 In conventional copying machines of this type, the remaining amount of toner.

Detects the amount of hener discharged, the amount of paper remaining, the amount of base web, etc.
There are copiers that issue warnings, but none of them are detected in a step-by-step manner, and even if they are detected in a step-by-step manner, they do not display the remaining number of copies that can be made or the expected date and time for replacing toner, etc. However, at most, when consumables such as recording materials and recording media are running out, a warning is issued indicating that copying is not possible.

Therefore, in the conventional case, especially when toner or web needs to be replaced, it is difficult for the user to judge at what level the toner should be replaced. However, if there was little left, I would replace it in advance.

[Problem to be solved by the invention 1 However, in the conventional management method, it is left dependent on the management of service personnel, and in cases where the visit of service personnel is not expected, the system is not in a sufficiently usable state. It is not economical to replace it at the user's discretion regardless of the condition. In addition, sometimes replacement consumables may run out in the middle of mass copying, and if a service person is then called, downtime becomes longer and work efficiency is significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine that can constantly recognize the remaining consumables without depending on a service person, in order to solve the problems of the prior art as described above.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention forms an image by electrostatically attracting toner supplied from a developing device onto a photoreceptor, and at the same time, a recording sheet is removed from a feeding section. a remaining sheet amount detection means for detecting the number of recording sheets of different sizes present in the tray by the amount of toner remaining on the photoreceptor after the image on the photoreceptor is transferred onto the recording sheet by continuous feeding; , a remaining toner detection means for detecting the amount of toner remaining in the developing device, a discharged toner detection means for detecting the amount of toner removed by the cleaner, and a remaining amount of the web tape provided in connection with the fixing device. Calculates the number of recording sheets that can be copied based on information regarding each remaining amount obtained from the base web detection means to be detected, the sheet remaining amount detection means, the remaining toner detection means, the discharged toner detection means, and the base web detection means. comprising a calculating means and a display means capable of displaying information regarding each remaining amount and the number of copyable recording sheets calculated by the calculating means, the information regarding each remaining amount and the number of copyable recording sheets displayed on the display means The present invention is characterized in that it is possible to determine when to replenish recording sheets, toner, and web based on the number of sheets.

[Function] Based on the information from the remaining toner detection means and the discharged toner detection means and the number of recording sheets that have been copied so far, the display means displays how many more copies can be made with the remaining toner. It also displays how many more copies can be made with the remaining web based on the information from the base web detection means and the number of recording sheets 1- that have been copied so far, along with the number of remaining recording sheets. Therefore, the user can appropriately judge when to replace these consumables.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an electrophotographic digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied. Here, 1 is a polygon scanner that has a semiconductor laser and scans laser light with a polygon mirror. The laser light from the polygon scanner 1 is reflected by a reflection mirror 2 and is exposed onto a photosensitive drum 3.

4 is a pre-exposure LED; 5 is a primary charger that primarily charges the photosensitive drum 3; 11: a replacement image is formed on the charged photosensitive drum 3 by exposure, and the potential is increased at the potential sensor 6; In a controlled manner, the toner from the developer 7 forms an image on the latent image.

8 is a cassette that holds recording sheets in an accumulated state;
9 is a feed roller, 10 is a cassette 8 by the feed roller 9.
The recording sheet is guided to the photosensitive drum 3 via the registration roller 1O according to the timing at which an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3, and the formed image is aligned before being transferred. Charger 11.
Transfer is performed onto the sheet via a transfer/separation charger 12.

After the transfer is completed, the sheet is separated from the photosensitive drum 3 by the separating claw 13, guided to the fixing device 15 by the conveyor belt 14, where it is fixed by heat and pressure, and then transferred to the discharge tray 17 by the discharge roller 16. It is expelled on top. At this time, in order to prevent the sheet from adhering to the roller 158 of the fixing device 15, a web device 18 is provided, and oil is applied onto the roller 15A by this web device.

A cleaner 19 is provided along the photosensitive drum 3, and removes excess toner from the top of the photosensitive drum 3 after transfer, and divides the remaining amount of toner into the developing device 7 containing the toner, for example, in three stages. A remaining toner amount detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as a toner detection sensor) that can detect the amount of remaining toner is provided. In addition, the cleaner 19 is provided with a discharged toner sensor capable of detecting the amount of removed toner, that is, the amount of discharged toner.
The cassette 8 has a web detecting means for detecting the amount of web tape used, and the cassette 8 further includes means capable of detecting the number of sheets stored therein.

In this way, by detecting the amount of remaining toner, amount of discharged toner, remaining amount of web, number of sheets remaining in the cassette 8, etc. by the above-mentioned detection means, when the power is turned on or when the machine has not been used for a long time, This makes it possible to predict the remaining number of copies that can be made or when to replace consumables.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a circuit configuration for a consumables monitoring operation according to the present invention. Here, 101 is a remaining toner detection sensor installed inside the above-mentioned developing device 7, and is constituted by a photointerrupter, etc. In this example, it is composed of three sensors, and the first sensor has a remaining toner amount of approximately 1/2. The second sensor indicates that the remaining amount is approximately 115, and the third sensor indicates that the remaining amount is approximately 115, similar to the sensor conventionally used to detect when there is no toner. /10 is detected.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a discharged toner sensor, which is provided in the cleaner 19 and can detect the amount of discharged toner in three stages, similar to the toner detection sensor. 103 is the remaining EV sensor,
For example, the amount of remaining web tape is detected by reading marks written on the web tape. A paper amount sensor 104 detects the remaining amount of sheets stored in the cassette 8;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a warm-up detection sensor that detects whether the drum and heater have been warmed up to a state in which copying is possible after the copying machine is powered on.

106 is an I10 interface, 107 is a central processing bag ACPU, 108 is a RAM that temporarily stores the detection contents from each sensor, 109 is a ROM that stores execution program procedures, etc., and 110 is a display for each German message. An operation unit 111 including devices and the like is, for example, a timer that supplies a clock signal to measure time after power is turned on, as will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows details of the operation section 110. Here, 201 is a reset key for returning the copy mode to the default value;
202 is a recall key for returning to copy mode;
203 is a numeric keypad for specifying the number of copies, 204 is a copy start key, and 205 is a cassette selection key. Also,
As a display means, an LED display unit 20 displays the number of copies.
6. Cassette display section 2o7 that displays the cassette in use, size display section 208 that displays the size of the selected sheet
In addition to the warning display section 209, a warning display section 209 is provided to display various messages related to the wood invention.
It is possible to use a liquid crystal display or the like to warn of the depleted state of consumables, the unusable state of the copying machine, etc., as will be described later.

Therefore, the procedure for monitoring the shortage of consumables in the copying machine configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 below.

FIG. 4 shows the operating procedure regarding toner detection. first,
After replacing the toner, when the first toner detection sensor detects that the remaining amount has become approximately 1/2 in step S1, the number of copies for each subsequent copy size is counted in step S2, and the RA Store in M108. Furthermore, in step S3, the CPU 107 having a calendar function uses the timer 111 to count the number of days, and stores it in the RAM 108. Thus, in step S4, it is determined whether or not there is a signal from the second toner detection sensor, and if the second sensor detects that the remaining amount of toner has reached approximately 115, the process proceeds to step S5, where R is first detected.
From the number of copies and the number of days stored in the A M 108, for example, the copy size is converted to A4, and the expected number of copies until the toner becomes empty is calculated, as well as the expected number of days.

Thus, from then on, in step S6, the size and number of copies to be made are newly counted, and based on the above-mentioned expected number of copies and expected number of days, the remaining estimated number of copies that can be made and the number of days until the copy becomes empty are calculated. , when the next copying machine waits, for example every morning in step S7, the warning display section 20
9 will be displayed.

Therefore, the user can request replacement toner from the service person based on the displayed information, and the copying machine will not be stopped unnecessarily. In step S8, the third
Wait for a warning from the toner sensor, and if there is a detection signal from the third toner sensor, the display unit 20 will be displayed in step S9.
Displays 1 to 9 at 9.

Note that the warning from the display unit 209 is issued during the wait time of the copying machine or when the copying machine has not been used for a certain period of time, that is, when the copy start key 204 has not been pressed for a certain period of time.
5, the temperature in the photosensitive drum 3 and the fixing device 15 is monitored to reach a predetermined temperature, and during this time, a weight display is displayed on the warning display section 209 together with 1 to ner information.

FIG. 5 shows the operating procedure for detecting the discharged toner. In this case as well, as mentioned earlier, the cleaner 19 has a first, second and third discharged toner sensor to detect the amount of discharged toner in, for example, three stages. Follow the steps and algorithms. Therefore, that step S
The operations in steps 1 to S9 are steps 81 to S shown in FIG.
9, so their explanation will be omitted here.

FIG. 6 shows the procedure for detecting the amount of remaining web by the remaining web sensor 103. First, when the web is replaced with a new one in step S1, the size and number of sheets copied since then and the number of days of copying are counted in step S2, and in step S3, the remaining web sensor 103 detects that the remaining amount is low. Determine whether or not. In order to detect this, a mark indicating the remaining amount may be attached to the end of the web tape in advance, and the mark may be detected.

In this way, if it is determined in step S3 that a mark has been detected, the process proceeds to step S4, where the number of remaining copies and the number of days that can be copied are calculated based on the remaining amount in the same manner as described above, and in step S5, these numbers are calculated. The number will be displayed to warn you of replacement.

Note that each of the above-mentioned displays may not be displayed for all items, but only for the property that requires replacement most quickly, or information regarding each consumable item may be displayed at predetermined intervals. You can.

In addition, in the example of actual performance mentioned above, the amount of discharged toner.

The remaining toner amount, sheet remaining amount, etc. are detected in stages, but instead of detecting each of these in stages,
A service person who performs periodic inspections visually checks each remaining copy, and then determines the number of remaining copies that can be made based on the number of copy sheets used so far and the amount of consumption of each consumable. , these numerical values can also be input to a service panel or the like connected to the CPU memory.

In this case, the copying machine should count the number of copies each day, and display the next number of copies that can be made by subtracting the number of copies from the set number of copies that can be made every day or every time the power is turned on. . In addition, the information can be modified by a service person (even if the sensor has a sensor that detects it, regardless of its accuracy).

Also, if maintenance is not performed frequently on a small copying machine, etc., set the number of copies that can be made in advance at the time of replacement, calculate the approximate number of copies that can be made using the above procedure, and display it every day. You can also do that. In this case, each of the above-mentioned detection sensors should be left empty so that they can be detected, and the user should be aware of the approximate replacement time and replenish any missing or missing items by themselves or have them serviced. All you have to do is change the man by one call. Particularly in the case of small-sized copying machines, the contents of the warning can be simplified by not displaying consumables that the user has determined does not require display.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by indicating the replacement time of each consumable as a guideline, it is possible to recognize the shortage or deafness with sufficient margin. is possible,
Not only can replacements be carried out without relying unilaterally on service personnel, but also the replacement or replenishment can be indicated during the waiting time of the device, without causing any major hindrance to copying operations. Exchanges and supplies can be made.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an operating section according to the present invention; 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedures of the remaining toner amount detection operation, the discharged toner amount detection operation, and the base web detection operation according to the present invention, respectively. 3... Photosensitive drum, 7... Developing device, 8... Cassette, 9... Feeding roller, 15... Fixing device, 15A... Fixing roller, 18... Web device, 101 ... Remaining toner detection sensor, 102 ... Discharge toner sensor, 103 ... Remaining web sensor, 104 ... Paper amount sensor, 105 ... Two ohm-up detection sensor, 107 ...
cpu. 108...RAM. 109...ROM, 110...Operation unit, 111...Timer, 209...Warning display unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Toner supplied from a developing device is electrostatically attracted onto a photoreceptor to form an image, and a recording sheet is continuously fed from a feeding section to form an image on the photoreceptor. A copying machine in which the remaining amount of toner on the photoreceptor after being transferred onto the recording sheet is removed by a cleaner, and the recording sheet after the transfer is fixed by a fixing device, the toner being present in the feeding section. Remaining sheet amount detection means for detecting the number of recording sheets by size; Remaining toner detection means for detecting the amount of toner remaining in the developing device; Discharged toner detection means for detecting the amount of toner removed by the cleaner. and a remaining web detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of web tape provided in connection with the fixing device; the remaining sheet amount detecting means, the remaining toner detecting means, the discharged toner detecting means, and the remaining web detecting means. a calculation means for calculating the number of copyable recording sheets based on information regarding each remaining amount obtained from the above; and a calculation means capable of displaying the information regarding each remaining amount and the number of copyable recording sheets calculated by the calculation means. display means, so that it is possible to determine when to replenish the recording sheet, the toner, and the web based on the information regarding the respective remaining amounts displayed on the display means and the number of the recording sheets that can be copied. A copying machine characterized by: