JPH01319761A - Electrophotographic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the detection of a unit replacement period by providing a means which accumulates and displays the operation times of a photosensitive body, an electrifier, a developing device and a cleaner. CONSTITUTION:An hour meter 12 is fitted to the developing unit 5 of the title recorder and the meter 12 is energized through a circuit 14 and a connector 13 only when a main motor 15 is rotated. Thus, since the operation time of the recorder is integrated and accumulated in the meter 12, the lifetime of the unit can be informed by the reading of the meter 12, and the lifetime can also be observed from the outside of the recorder through a window 18. Besides, the replacement period can be easily detected even if the developing unit 5 is replaced with another developing unit before the lifetime of the developing unit 5 comes tr an end. Additionally, the hour meter can be fitted to another unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic recording device used in facsimiles, copying machines, printers, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in order to replace the electrophotographic unit such as the developing unit and photoreceptor of this type of electrophotographic recording device, the operator or maintenance staff had to replace the mechanical or electrical counter installed in the device body to add up the number of records. This was done by visually checking and comparing it with the specified replacement cycle specific to each unit.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional electrophotographic recording device, in order to maintain the replacement cycle of each unit and keep the device in the best condition, the number on the device's counter is checked on a regular basis, and the unit is replaced at the specified unit. It is necessary to compare it with the replacement cycle. However, in most cases, each unit has a different replacement cycle set, and it is a troublesome task to frequently compare each unit with the specified replacement cycle and keep an eye on the replacement period.

Furthermore, if for some reason the electrophotographic unit in use is replaced with an electrophotographic unit from another device,
It becomes difficult to estimate when to replace the unit based on the counter attached to the device main body.

[Means to solve the problem]

An electrophotographic recording apparatus of the present invention includes a photoreceptor of a recording medium, a charger provided adjacent to the photoreceptor and applying an electric charge to the photoreceptor;
an exposing means for exposing image information to the surface of the photoreceptor charged by the charger; a developing means for attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor; An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising a transfer charger that transfers a toner image formed thereon onto a transfer paper, and a cleaner that removes residual toner from the surface of the photoreceptor after the transfer, the photoreceptor, the charger, and a developer. It has a display means for accumulating and displaying the operating time of the container and the cleaner.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention. 1
is an electrophotographic recording device, 2 is a photosensitive drum, 3 is a charger,
4 is an exposure means, 5 is a developer, 6 is a transfer charger, 7 is a cleaner, 8 is a static elimination exposure section, 9 is a fixing device, 10 is a paper feed section, 1
1 is transfer paper, 12 is hour meter, 13 is connector, 1
4 is a circuit for supplying electricity to the hour meter, and 15 is a main motor.

The photosensitive drum 2 is moved by the main motor 15 in the direction of the arrow 16.
It is rotated by a drive system (not shown). In addition, since the parts from the charger 3 to the developer 5 are shielded from external light, the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 charged by the charger 3 retains the charge as it is, and the 17 portion of the photoreceptor drum 2 Then, the exposed portion is exposed to light by the exposure means 4, and only the exposed portion is neutralized and the charged potential is lowered.

Here, toner (not shown) is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 2 by the developing device 5 in correspondence with the electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized on the photoreceptor drum 2. This toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 11 by the transfer charger 6, and a record can be obtained on the transfer paper 11.

The toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 2 after the transfer is scraped off by the cleaner 7, and the residual potential on the photoreceptor drum 2 is removed by the static elimination exposure section 8, after which the second process begins in the same manner. In this apparatus, an hour meter 12 is attached to the developing device 5.

The hour meter 12 is connected to a circuit 14 which is connected to the hour meter mounted on the main body 1 of the apparatus by a control section (not shown), which supplies power to the hour meter only when the apparatus is in recording operation, that is, when the main motor 15 is rotating. Electricity is supplied through a connector 13 that connects the main body 1 and the developing device 5.

Further, the hour meter 12 is set so that the scale is almost full during the life of the unit (in this case, the life of the developing device 5). As a result, the operating time of the device is integrated and accumulated on the hour meter, and when the unit reaches the end of its service life, it can be known by looking at the scale of the hour meter.

Further, the scale of this hour meter can be visually confirmed from outside the apparatus through a window 18 provided in the cover of the apparatus main body 1. Furthermore, even if the developing device is replaced with another developing device that is in use during its lifespan, since the developing device is equipped with an hour meter, the usage time will be accumulated against the developing device unit, so there will be no problem. No problems occur.

Further, in this embodiment, the hour meter is attached to the developing unit, but of course the same effect can be obtained by attaching it to another unit or a unit made up of a plurality of units.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides means for displaying the operating time on each unit of the device, so that it is easy to know when to replace the unit, and even if the unit is replaced with another device, no problem occurs. This has the effect that maintenance can be easily performed without any problem in detecting replacement timing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Apparatus body, 2... Photosensitive drum, 3... Charger, 4... Exposure means, 5... Developer, 6... Transfer charger, 7... Cleaner, 8. Static elimination exposure section, 9.
...Fuser, 10...Paper feed section, 11...Transfer paper, 1
2... Hour meter, 13... Connector, 14...
- Circuit for supplying electricity to the hour meter, 15... Main motor, 16... Photosensitive drum rotation direction, 17... Exposure location, 18... Window.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a photoreceptor of a recording medium; a charger provided adjacent to the photoreceptor for applying an electric charge to the photoreceptor; an exposure means for exposing image information to the surface of the photoreceptor charged by the charger; a developing means for attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor; a transfer charger for transferring the toner image formed on the photoreceptor onto a transfer paper by the developing means; What is claimed is: 1. An electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising a cleaner for removing a body surface from a body surface, the electrophotographic recording apparatus comprising a display means for accumulating and displaying operating times of the photoreceptor, charger, developer, and cleaner.