JPH02266386A - Lifetime detecting device for filter for fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate rise in running cost caused by urging the replacement of a filter in spite of remaining enough its lifetime by providing a function which outputs an instruction signal for replacing the filter in response to an integration signal outputted from a toner motor rotation counting means on a main control part. CONSTITUTION:A device is provided with a flash lamp 33A fixing toner 13 developed on a sheet 50, and an air discharging fan 33D discharging powdery smoke, which is generated by the operation of the flash lamp 33A, through the filter 33C. The toner motor rotation signal counting means 2 is provided on a toner motor driving part 3 and the instruction signal for replacing the filter 33C is outputted from the main control part 1 in response to the integration signal outputted from the toner motor rotation signal counting means 2. At this time, by integrating the quantity of toner supplied to a developing device 32, rise in the running cost can be suppressed, and the unpleasant feeling of an user due to odor can be restrained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a device for detecting the life of a filter for a fuser, and in particular, in an electrophotographic printing device having a two-component development method, when a filter for a fuser is clogged. The present invention relates to a fuser filter life detection device for effectively detecting malfunction.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional example is shown in FIG. 2. The conventional example shown in FIG.
and a laser drive unit 31 that outputs a printing dot signal.
A developing section 32 that develops toner on the paper 50 based on the dot signal output from the laser driving section 31, a toner motor 37 that conveys the toner to the developing section 32, and a toner motor that drives the toner motor 37. Drive section 37
It is equipped with A. Furthermore, a density detection sensor 36 detects the density of the toner 13 on the paper 50, a fixing device 33 fixes the toner 13 developed on the paper 50 by light emission from a flash lamp 33A, and a main unit that controls the operations of these parts. It is equipped with a control section 35 and an operation input section 35A. Further, the above-mentioned motor drive unit 30A includes a counting circuit 34.
is attached.

The main control unit 35 has a process control mechanism that changes the drive time of the toner motor 37 based on the output of the sensor 36, and rotates the toner motor 37 so that the concentration of the toner 13 is constant. A counting circuit 34 attached to the motor drive section 30A receives the output signal from the motor drive section 30A, integrates the amount of paper travel, and sends the integration result to the main control section 35.

On the other hand, the above-described fixing device 33 includes a flash lamp 33A.
and a duct 33B that surrounds the area, a filter 33C for removing chemical substances generated during fixation by the flash lamp 33A, and an exhaust fan 33D that exhausts air around the flash lamp 33A to the outside through the filter 33C. It is equipped with

Furthermore, when the integrated signal indicating the paper running period outputted by the counting circuit 34 reaches a certain value, the main control section 35 sends an instruction for filter replacement to an operation input section 35A installed in the main control section 35 in advance. It has a function to send command signals.

Operation input section 3 into which the command signal for filter replacement is input
5A, this is immediately displayed on the display section provided in the operation input section 35A to instruct the operator to replace the filter.

After the operator completes filter replacement,
The aforementioned counting circuit 34 is reset by the operator inputting predetermined information from the operation input section 35A.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above conventional example, the filter 33G
A method is adopted to detect clogging by integrating the running period of the paper, and the clogging of the filter 33C is checked regardless of changes in the amount of powder smoke due to the size of the print amount. The following inconvenience has occurred.

That is, when a job with a small amount of printing is performed, the filter 33C has a drawback that it is required to be replaced even though it has a long life, resulting in an increase in running costs. On the other hand, if you are doing a job with a large amount of printing, use filter 33C.
The disadvantage is that even though the device has reached the end of its lifespan and has lost its original function, replacement is not encouraged, and the odor of the chemical substance is scattered around the device, causing discomfort to the user.

[Purpose of the invention]

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fixing method using a new method that can effectively improve the disadvantages of the conventional example, taking into account that the clogging of the filter is proportional to the amount of dust particles generated in the fixing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting the life of a handy filter.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a developing section that develops a predetermined amount of toner on paper based on a dot signal output from a laser driving section, a toner motor that supplies toner to this developing section, and a toner motor that drives this toner motor. A drive unit, a flash lamp that fixes the toner developed on the paper onto the paper, and an exhaust fan that exhausts powder smoke generated by the operation of the flash lamp to the outside through a filter.
It includes a main control section and an operation section that set the timing of the operation of each of these components.

The toner motor drive section is also provided with a toner motor rotation signal counting means, and the main control section outputs a command signal for filter replacement in accordance with the integrated signal output from the toner motor rotation signal counting means. And so. This aims to achieve the above-mentioned purpose.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG.

Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent members as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 2 described above.

This embodiment shown in FIG.
A sensor 36 that detects the density of 3 and a developing section 32 that transfers the toner.
The toner motor 37 and toner motor drive unit 3 that transport the toner to
It is equipped with Further, a flash lamp 33 is provided to fix the toner developed on the paper 50 onto the paper 50.
A, an exhaust fan 33D that exhausts powder smoke generated by the operation of the flash lamp 33A to the outside via a filter 33C, and a main control section l and an operation input section LA that set the timing of the operation of each of these components. We are prepared. As in the case of the conventional example described above, the paper 50 is given a running force by the paper traveling motor 30 and the motor drive section 30A.

The toner motor drive section 3 includes a toner motor rotation counting means 2.
is attached. The main control section 1 is configured to output a command signal for filter replacement in accordance with the integrated signal output from the toner motor rotation counting means 2.

The main control unit 1 has a function of outputting a paper running signal to the motor drive unit 30A to cause the paper 50 to run. Further, the laser driving section 31 operates to input print information from the main control section 1 and perform exposure processing of the developing section 32. The toner motor drive section 3 outputs a value proportional to the rotational speed of the toner motor 37 that supplies toner to the toner motor rotation counting means 2 as a signal. The toner motor rotation counting means 2 is configured to input signals from the toner motor drive section 3, integrate them, and send them to the mechanism control section 1 described above.

Furthermore, when the output of the toner motor rotation counting means 2 reaches a certain value, the main control section 1 causes the manual operation section IA to control the filter 3.
The main control unit 1 outputs and displays a filter replacement command signal indicating that filter 33C needs to be replaced, and prompts the operator to replace filter 33C in the same way as in the conventional example described above. When the replacement of the filter 33C is completed, this is detected and a predetermined signal is immediately sent to the manual operation section IA. As a result, the operation input section IA is immediately activated to reset the toner motor rotation counting means 2 that has detected the input.

Other configurations and effects are the same as those of the conventional example described above.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the present invention is configured and functions as described above, the total amount of toner powder smoke generated during fixing is approximately proportional to the total amount of toner on the paper, and therefore By integrating the amount of toner supplied, it is possible to always detect the end of life only when the filter is clogged with toner to a certain degree. It is possible to provide an unprecedented and superior fixing device filter life detection device that can suppress discomfort to users.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the prior art. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Main control unit, IA... Operation input unit, 2... Toner motor rotation counting means, 3... Toner motor drive unit, 13... Toner, 30... Paper traveling motor, 3
0A...Motor drive unit, 31...Laser drive unit, 3
2... Developing section, 33... Fixing device, 33A... Flash lamp, 33B... Duct, 33C... Filter, 33D... Exhaust fan, 36... Sensor, 5
0...Paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A developing unit that develops a predetermined amount of toner on paper based on dot signals output from a laser driving unit, a toner motor that supplies toner to this developing unit, and a toner motor drive that drives this toner motor. a flash lamp that fixes the toner developed on the paper onto the paper; an exhaust fan that exhausts powder smoke generated by the operation of the flash lamp to the outside through a filter; and an operation of each of these components. The toner motor drive unit includes a main control unit and an operation unit for setting timing, and the toner motor drive unit is provided with a toner motor rotation counting unit, and the main control unit controls the filter according to the integrated signal output from the toner rotation counting unit. A life detection device for a fuser filter, characterized by having a function of outputting a command signal for replacement.