JPH02275982A - Laser printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the useless consumption of a memory by providing a signal output means which designates the exchange of a photosensitive unit when the number of times that a paper feeding start signal is stored in a non- volatile memory arrives at the prescribed number of times and an initializing means for the non-volatile memory. CONSTITUTION:The signal output means 1 which designates the exchange of the photosensitive unit when the number of times that the paper feeding start signal is stored in the non-volatile memory 2 where the paper feeding start signal is stored arrives at the prescribed number of times and the memory initializing means 1 which clears and initializes the non-volatile memory 2 are provided. Thus, since the non-volatile memory is repeatedly used, the useless consumption of the memory is eliminated. Besides, since the paper feeding start signal which occurs every time a transfer paper is fed one by one is counted, the life of the photosensitive unit is easily controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a laser printer using a photoreceptor unit.

[Prior Art] In this type of laser printer, after printing, for example, on about 10,000 sheets of transfer paper, the photoreceptor unit reaches the end of its life and must be replaced.

For this reason, conventionally, as seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-75468, the number of printed sheets is sequentially stored in a memory, and when the contents of the memory reach a specified number of sheets, an instruction is given to replace the photoconductor unit. It is known to replace the body unit, discard the memory, set a new memory, and store a new number of sheets in the memory.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the memory content reaches a specified number of sheets, the memory is discarded at the same time as the photoconductor unit is replaced, there is a problem that the memory is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a laser printer that eliminates wasteful memory consumption and allows easy life management of photoreceptor units.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention charges a photoconductor of a photoconductor unit, and forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the charged photoconductor with a laser beam based on externally input data. ,.

In a laser printer that develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image and then transfers it to transfer paper for printing, it stores the number of times a paper feed start signal is generated each time the transfer paper is fed one by one. a non-volatile memory; a determining means for determining whether the number of times stored in the memory has reached a predetermined number of times; Signal output means for externally outputting a replacement instruction signal instructing unit replacement, and when a memory clear signal is input from the outside after outputting the replacement instruction signal by this means, the nonvolatile memory is cleared and initialized. A memory initialization means is provided.

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, the number of occurrences of a paper feed start signal generated when transfer paper is fed one by one is stored in a nonvolatile memory. Then, when the contents of the nonvolatile memory reach a predetermined number of times, a signal instructing replacement of the photoreceptor unit is outputted to the outside. This allows the outside to know that it is time to replace the photoreceptor unit.

After that, a memory clear signal is input from the outside, and the nonvolatile memory is cleared and initialized. The non-volatile memory thus waits for the life count to be completed for a new photoreceptor unit to be replaced.

[Example] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a microprocessor, and an EEPROM 2, which is a non-volatile memory, is connected to the microprocessor 1 via an EEPROM port ]a.

Further, the mechanism section 3 of the printer is connected to the microprocessor via the boat b. Further, the microprocessor] includes an interface logic circuit 4.
or connected.

The interface logic circuit 4 is a printer interface 5 of a host computer 5 which is an external device.
connected to a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mechanism section 3 includes a motor for driving a photoconductor drum, which is a photoconductor unit, rollers, etc. provided in a transfer paper conveying section, which will be described later, and a motor drive for rotationally driving this motor 1. Circuit] 2. A laser beam that scans and irradiates the photoreceptor of the photoreceptor drum with a laser beam based on the data received from the host computer 5.
[Scanner unit] 3, high voltage power supply 16 that applies high voltage to the charging charger 14 and transfer charger 15, paper feed solenoid 17, constant dilution heater 8, 1 operation section, installed in the toner empty sensor and transfer paper transport section Various sensors 20 such as a plurality of paper sensors and a sensor circuit 21- for controlling the various sensors 20 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the mechanism section 3, where 31 is a housing, and 32 is a photosensitive drum provided in the center of the housing 31.

The charger is provided around the photoreceptor drum 32.]
4, a laser scanner unit 13, a developer 33 for supplying toner, the transfer charger] 5, a cleaning device 34 that removes toner from the photoreceptor drum 32, and a charge removal lamp 35 that removes charge from the photoreceptor drum 32. There is.

The laser scanner unit 13 is provided with a laser oscillator, a polygon mirror for scanning the laser beam, a polygon motor for rotationally driving this mirror, and the like. The laser scanner unit] 3 scans the surface of the photoreceptor charged by the charger 14 with a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developing device 33 supplies toner to the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed to visualize it.

The transfer charger 15 is stacked and stored in the paper feed section 36,
The image visualized on the photoreceptor is transferred onto a sheet-like transfer paper 38 that is supplied from the paper feed section 36 to a conveyance section 37. The transfer paper 38 is fed out from the paper feed section 36 by a pickup roller 39 driven by the paper feed solenoid 17.

The transfer paper 38 on which the image has been transferred by the transfer charger 15 is transferred to the fixing roller 4 which is heated by the fixing heater 18.
After being thermally fixed by 0, it is discharged to a discharge section 41.

When the microprocessor 1 receives a start request from the host computer 5, it performs the control shown in FIG.

That is, when the start is accepted, first the host computer 5 is notified that the printer is busy. Then, the motor 11 is started.

Next, the polygon of laser scanner unit 13
Start the motor. Then, it is checked whether the polygon motors are in steady rotation and synchronized within a specified time, and if they are synchronized, a cut sheet feeder operation signal (CF signal) is output to operate the paper feed solenoid 17. As a result, the photo clear knob roller 39 operates, and the transfer paper 38 is sent out from the paper feed section 36 to the conveyance path 37.

Note that if the polygon motor is not synchronized with steady rotation within the specified time, a polygon motor error is determined.

When the cut sheet feeder operation signal is output, history value updating processing is performed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the microprocessor 1 first initializes the contents of the EEFROM 2, that is, the count value, to "0" at the time of shipment from the factory.

In this state, the contents of EEPROM 2 are constantly checked to see if the count value has reached 10,000 times. That is, 10,000 times is the prescribed number of times for detecting the lifespan of the photosensitive drum 32.

(Determination means) If the number of times has not reached 10,000, it waits for the output of a cut sheet feeder operation signal (CF signal). Then, when a cut sheet feeder operation signal is output to operate the paper feed solenoid 17, the contents of EEFROM 2 are increased by +1.
do.

When the contents of the EEPROM 2 reach 10,000 times, a signal is sent to the host computer 5 instructing the replacement of the photosensitive drum 32.
That is, the exchange request status is sent. (Signal Output Means) In this state, it waits to receive a memory clear signal from the host computer 5, that is, a counter clear request, and when there is a counter clear request, the contents of the EEPROM 2 are cleared to "0". In this case host computer 5
The microprocessor does not start printing until a counter clear request is received from the microprocessor.

In this embodiment with such a configuration, when the host computer 5 accepts the start of printing, the motor 1
is activated first, followed by the polygon motor of the laser scanner unit 13.

Then, a cut sheet feeder operation signal is output, the paper feed solenoid 17 is operated, the pick-a-la-prote 39 is driven, and one sheet of transfer paper 38 is sent from the paper feed section 36 to the conveyance path 37. Also, at this time, the count value of the EEPROM 2 is incremented by 1.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor drum 32 is rotated by the motor 11, and the surface of the photoreceptor is charged by the charger 14 and then scanned and exposed with a laser beam from the laser scanner unit 13 to form an electrostatic latent image. Toner is attached to this electrostatic latent image by a developing device 33 and the developed image is transferred onto a transfer paper 38 charged by a transfer charger 15 at a transfer section. The transfer paper 38 on which the image has been transferred is transferred to a fixing roller 40
is thermally fixed and discharged to the discharge section 41.

In this way, printing on one sheet of transfer paper is completed.

When printing multiple sheets, a cut sheet feeder operation signal is repeatedly generated at predetermined time intervals, and the paper feed solenoid 17 and pickup roller 39 operate at predetermined time intervals to transfer transfer paper 38 or 1 from the paper feed section 36. The sheets are sequentially sent out to the conveying section 37 one by one. The count value of the EEPROM 2 is incremented by 1 every time the cut sheet feeder operation signal is output.

Printing is repeated in this manner, and when the count value in the EEPROM 2 reaches 10,000 times, the microprocessor 1 transmits a photosensitive drum replacement request status to the host computer 5.

As a result, the host computer 5 displays a photoreceptor drum replacement message on, for example, a CRT display to notify the host computer 5, and sends a counter clear request to the microprocessor 1 when the operator performs a confirmation operation. In this way, the microprocessor 1 clears and initializes the EEPROM 2 and sets its count value to "0".

When the photoreceptor drum is replaced by the operator, the EEPROM 2 resumes the lifespan counting operation for use of the new photoreceptor drum.

In this way, each time the photoreceptor drum is replaced, the EEPROM
Since I am using it after clearing 2, it will not be used in vain. EEPROM
Since 2 is a non-volatile memory, the count value can be reliably retained even if the power to the printer is stopped.

In addition, since the lifespan of the photoreceptor drum is managed by counting the number of times the cut sheet feeder operation signal that operates the paper feed solenoid 7 is generated, no special mechanism is required to count the number of times, and the lifespan can be managed. It's easy to do.

Furthermore, since confirmation of replacement of the photosensitive drum and instruction to clear the EEPROM 2 can all be performed from the host computer 5, printer management is facilitated.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, since non-volatile memory is used repeatedly, wasteful consumption of memory can be eliminated, and moreover, each time transfer paper is fed one by one, Since the generated paper feed start signal is counted, it is possible to provide a laser printer in which the life of the photoreceptor unit can be easily managed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the mechanism section in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram. , 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing main part control by the microprocessor. 1...Microprocessor, 2...EEPROM (non-volatile memory), 5...
host computer, 11... motor, 13... laser scanner unit, 14...
Charging charger, 15... Transfer charger, 17... Paper feed solenoid, 32... Photosensitive drum. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Claims] The photoconductor of the photoconductor unit is charged, and the charged photoconductor is irradiated with a laser beam based on externally input data to form an electrostatic latent image.The electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized. In a laser printer that prints by transferring the transferred paper onto transfer paper, there is a non-volatile memory that stores the number of times a paper feed start signal is generated each time the transfer paper is fed one by one, and a a determining means for determining whether the number of times has reached a predetermined number of times, and a replacement instruction signal for instructing replacement of the photoreceptor unit when the determining means determines that the number of times has reached the prescribed number of times; A signal output means for outputting to the outside, and a memory initialization means for clearing and initializing the non-volatile memory when a memory clear signal is input from the outside after the exchange instruction signal is output by this means. Features of laser printer.