JPH04149563A - Electrophotographic copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To know the lift of a process unit without using a mechanical counter and to reduce the number of parts by constituting a device so that alarm display may be performed when the number obtained by counting passing recording media attains a fixed number. CONSTITUTION:When a PCU(photosensitive cleaning unit) 30 is set, whether or not a detecting sensor 34 is turned on is judged. When the sensor 34 is on, a main motor 32 is driven for a specified time. Whether or not the sensor 34 is kept to be on is judged, and when it is turned off, an EEPROM is cleared and an operation is finished. On the other hand, when the sensor 34 is kept to be on, error display is performed. In the case that the sensor 34 is not turned on, the operation is finished as it is. Then, the recording media are counted, and the EEPROM is allowed to count up every time one medium passes. Whether the life of the PCU 30 expires is judged, and the alarm display is performed when it expires, and the operation is finished. The PCU 30 is exchanged based on the alarm display.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention applies to printers, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. that use lasers, and electrophotographic methods (recording is performed by transferring an image formed on a photoreceptor to a recording medium). The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus that performs recording on a recording medium using a method (method).

Subordinate IL! Conventionally, in this type of electrophotographic device, the number of recorded sheets is counted and displayed by a mechanical counter, and the count is a fixed count that is set in advance, taking into account the life of the photoreceptor and the amount of toner in the developing device. The photoconductor and developing device were replaced based on this when the amount reached.

However, this type of conventional electrophotographic apparatus uses a mechanical counter, which increases the number of parts, leading to an increase in cost.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce costs by reducing the number of parts.

To achieve the above object, the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 includes a medium detecting means for detecting passage of a recording medium, and a medium detecting means for detecting passage of a recording medium, and counting the detection signal and detecting a certain number of detection signals. It is characterized by comprising an electronic circuit that detects this, and a display means that displays an alarm based on the output signal of the electronic circuit.

The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2 further includes a motor that drives the process unit, an electronic circuit that measures the operating time of the motor and detects that the operating time has reached a certain time, and an alarm display based on the output signal of the motor. It is characterized by comprising a display means for.

Further, the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a set detection means for detecting a set of process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting a set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting the set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting the set of the process units, and a set detection means for detecting the set of the process units. It is characterized by comprising a clearing means for clearing the count number or the measurement time that has reached a certain time.

Furthermore, an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4.

In the invention according to claim 3, a rotating member rotatable between a first position and a second position, a biasing member biasing the rotary member toward the first position, and a biasing member configured to rotate the rotary member when the process unit is set. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the set detection means is provided with a sensor that is activated by the rotating member that is pushed by and rotated to the second position against the urging member. In the photographic apparatus according to the invention according to claim 4, when the process unit is set,
When the process unit is driven after being set, the driving force is transmitted to move the rotating member to the first position.
moving the actuating member from the actuated position to the non-actuated position;

The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 6 is provided in the process unit, in the invention according to claim 5, when the actuating member is in the actuating position, the actuating member is brought into contact with a stopper to restrict its movement. death.

Allowing movement of the operating member from the operating position to the non-operating position by driving the process unit,
The process unit is characterized in that the process unit is provided with an elastic member that hits a stopper to restrict the movement of the actuating member when it is in a non-actuating position.

According to the electrophotographic apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the passage of the recording medium is detected and the counted number reaches a certain number, an alarm is displayed on the display panel, for example.

Further, according to the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2.

When the operating time of the motor is measured and the measured time reaches a certain time, an alarm is displayed on, for example, a display panel.

Further, according to the electrophotographic apparatus according to the third aspect, when the process unit is set, the clearing means is driven based on the detection signal of the set detection means for detecting the setting of the process unit to clear the count number or the measurement time.

Furthermore, according to the electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4,
6. When the process unit is set, the rotating member is rotated from the first position to the second position against the urging member, and a sensor is actuated to indicate the set state of the process unit. According to the electrophotographic apparatus, when the process unit is set, the actuating member hits the rotating member to move it from the first position to the second position. After setting, the operating member is moved from the operating position to the non-operating position by driving the process unit.

Accordingly, the rotating member returns from the second position to the first position.

According to the electrophotographic apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the movement of the actuating member is restricted by the elastic member and the stopper at the actuating position, and the actuating member is moved from the actuating position to the non-actuating position by driving the process unit, and the actuating member is moved from the actuating position to the non-actuating position. At the operating position, the movement is again restricted by the elastic member and the stopper.

1-Takumi Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the internal mechanism of a laser printer which is an embodiment of the present invention. Code 1 in the diagram
What is indicated by 0 is the main body of the device.

The device main body 10 includes an earth structure 10a and a lower structure 10b.
The earth structure 10a is made up of a lower structure 1. Ob
It is attached to the shaft 11 so that it can be opened and closed freely.

Inside the main body 10 of the apparatus, there is a belt-shaped photoreceptor 1 at the center.
2 will be provided. Around the photoreceptor 12, a charging device 13, a developing device 14, and a transfer device 15 are arranged in order in the rotational direction shown by the arrow.
, the cleaning device 16 is arranged. An optical writer 1 is provided below the charger 13 and the cleaning device 16.
8 is disposed, and a paper feed cassette 19 is disposed diagonally above the developing device 14.

The recording medium fed from the paper feed cassette 19 by the paper feed roller 20 is conveyed to the upper side of the photoreceptor 12 at a timing determined by the pair of registration rollers 21 . The photoreceptor 12 is driven to rotate counterclockwise as shown by the arrow, and at this time, the surface is uniformly charged by the charger 13 and laser light from the optical writer 18 is irradiated onto the photoreceptor 12. Forms an electrostatic latent image. This latent image is transferred to the developing device 14.
When it passes through the toner, it becomes a visible image. and.

This visible image is transferred by the transfer device 15 to the lower surface of the recording medium that has been conveyed above the photoreceptor 12 6 The transferred recording medium is guided by the conveyance guide 23 and is connected to the fixing roller 17 a of the fixing device 17 . It is conveyed between the pressure roller 1'7b and the visible image is fixed. Then, the recording medium that has left the fixing device 17 is further conveyed to a paper ejection section 25 by a paper ejection roller 24.
The paper is guided by the paper discharge guide 26 and stacked on the paper discharge tray 27.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
A sensor 34 for detecting the oLD is provided inside and connected to an engine controller board (an electrical board that controls the controller and drive for each operation of the printer) 31. The engine controller board 31 is connected to a main motor 32 via a motor drive circuit 33.

On the other hand, in the laser printer described above, the belt-shaped photoreceptor 12, the transfer device 1.5, and the cleaning device 16
and rollers 21a and 21a constituting the registration roller pair 21.
One of the two 21b is integrally configured to form a photoconductor cleaning unit (hereinafter referred to as PCU) 30, which is replaceably installed in the apparatus main body 10. , the P
As shown in FIG. 1, the CU 30 supports a driving roller 38 and driven rollers 39, 40 with a case 37, and the belt-shaped photoreceptor 12 is stretched between these rollers 38, 39, 40. One driven roller 40 is.

A gear (not shown) is provided at one end, and an idler gear 41 is provided at one end.
interlock. The idler gear 41 is.

It is rotatably provided on a shaft 42 provided in the case 37.

An operating member 43 is attached to the case 37 adjacent to the idler gear 40. The actuating member 43 has a cam shape and is provided with a gear portion 43a on a part of its outer periphery. The support shaft 44 is supported by the case 37 and is rotatably provided from an operating position to a non-operating position, and the gear portion 43a and the idler gear 41 are provided so as to be able to mesh with each other. In addition, the reference numeral 45 in the figure is a stopper, which holds the operating member 43 in a non-operating position. Further, at the mounting position of the PCTJ 30, a set detection means 47 is arranged as shown in FIG. The set detection means 47 includes a rotating member 48, a biasing member 49, and the detection sensor 34.

The rotating member 48 includes a pressing portion 48a against which the operating member 43 is pressed, and a detected portion 48b of the detection sensor 34.
and a stopper 48c.

The rotation shaft 51 is supported by a support portion 52 and is rotatably provided between a first position and a second position. The support portion 52 protrudes above the case cover 53 of the optical writer 18 . The biasing member 49 has one end hooked onto the rotating member 48 and the other end hooked onto an appropriate position within the apparatus main body 10 to bias the rotating member 48 to the first position. The detection sensor 34 detects the detected portion 4. of the rotating member 48 that has rotated to the second position.
8. Provided at the operating position to detect b.

When replacing the PCU 30, when a new PCU 30 is set in the direction of the arrow toward the set detection means 47 as shown in FIG. Abutting, its rotating member 48
is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing member 49.

When the rotating member 48 is completely set as shown in FIG. This detection sensor 34 is turned off by blocking the optical axis.
Set it to N. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the engine controller board 31 controls the motor drive times N! 33 to drive the main motor 32. Then, the fifth
As shown in the figure, when the drive roller 38 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow, the belt-shaped photoreceptor 12 is accordingly run in the direction of the arrow, and the driven rollers 39 and 40 are rotated in the direction of the arrow. When the one driven roller 40 is rotated, the operating member 43 that engages with it rotates clockwise, moves from the operating position to the non-operating position, and abuts against the stopper 45. As the actuating member 43 moves from the actuating position to the non-actuating position, the biasing member 49 works and the rotating member 4
8 clockwise and returns from the second position to the first position. Therefore, the detected part 48b separates from the detection sensor 34, connects its optical axis, turns the detection sensor 34 into the "open" position, and turns the OF
Becomes F state. Then.

Since the operating member 43 that has been moved to the non-operating position does not return to the operating position, even if the PCU 30, which still has a service life, is attached or detached for some reason, the sensor 50 will not be turned on by the rotating member 48, unlike in the conventional case. This eliminates the problem of inadvertently returning the count to zero by turning on the detection sensor every time the PCU 30 is attached or detached. That is, the PCU3
0 is completely set as shown in FIG. 4, it is determined in step S1 whether the detection sensor 34 is ON or not, as shown in FIG. 6, and if it is ON, the main motor 32 is driven for a predetermined time in step S2. . Then, step S3
It is determined whether or not the detection sensor 34 remains ON, and O
When it becomes FF, the EEPROM is cleared in step S4 and the process ends. On the other hand, if it remains ON, an error is displayed in step S5. Further, if the detection sensor 34 is not turned on in step S1, the process ends immediately. When displaying the lifespan of the PCU 30 by counting the appropriate number of recording media, as shown in FIG. The EEPROM is counted up in S7. Then, it is determined in step S8 whether the life of the PCU 30 has been reached, and when the life has been reached, an alarm is displayed in step S9 and the process ends. Based on the alarm display, the PCU 30 is replaced as described above.

On the other hand, when displaying the life of the PCU 30 based on the operating time of the main motor 32, as shown in FIG. If there is, the count is increased in step S12, and it is determined in step S13 whether or not it has reached a predetermined number of times.

Then, when the predetermined number of times is reached, in step S14
The EPROM is counted up, and in step 515, P
It is determined whether or not the life time of the CU 30 has been reached, and when the life time has been reached, an alarm is displayed in step S16 and the process ends. The PCU 30 is replaced based on the alarm display.

Note that in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

When the actuating member 43 is in the actuating position or in the non-actuating position, one side abuts against the stopper 45 to restrict the movement of the actuating member 43.

However, in the present invention, when the operating member 43 is in the operating position as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stopper 4
5 to restrict its movement, permit movement of the actuating member 43 from the actuated position to the non-actuated position by driving the PCU 30, and apply it to the stopper 45 when the actuating member 43 is in the non-actuated position. The PCU 30 may be provided with an elastic member 57 that restricts its movement.

The movement of the first actuating member 43 is regulated from both collars by the stopper 45 and the elastic member 57, and is held stably.

From the above, according to the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, when the number of times the recording medium has been passed reaches a certain number, or the measurement time of the motor operation time reaches a certain time, Since the configuration is such that an alarm is displayed when the time limit is reached, it is possible to know the lifespan of the process unit without using a mechanical counter, and the number of parts can be reduced to reduce costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a PCU portion in a laser printer that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a set detection means for detecting the set of the PCU, and FIGS. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for setting the PCU and clearing the counter; Fig. 7 is a flowchart for counting the number of sheets passed in the laser printer and displaying an alarm; Fig. 8 The figures are flowcharts for measuring the operating time of the main motor and displaying an alarm, Figures 9 and 1.
Fig. 0 shows another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 shows a state in which the PCU is set, Fig. 10 shows a state in which the PCU is driven after setting, and Fig. 11 shows the inside of a laser printer of one embodiment. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the detection sensor provided in the laser printer and the main motor. 10......Device body, 30......
・・PCU (photoconductor cleaning unit), 31・
・・・・・・・・・Engine controller board, 32・
・・・・・・・・・Main motor. 34......Detection sensor, 43...
...Operating parts. 45... Stopper, 47...
...Set detection means. 48... Rotating member, 57...
・Elastic member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A medium detection means for detecting passage of a recording medium, an electronic circuit for counting the detection signal and detecting when it reaches a certain number, and displaying an alarm based on the output signal. An electrophotographic device comprising a display means. 2. An electronic photograph comprising a motor that drives a process unit, an electronic circuit that measures the operating time of the motor and detects when it has reached a certain time, and a display means that displays an alarm based on the output signal. Device. 3. A claim comprising set detection means for detecting the set of process units, and clearing means for clearing the count number of the electronic circuit that has reached a certain number or the measurement time that has reached a certain time based on the detection signal. Item 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to item 1 or 2. 4. A rotating member that is rotatable between a first position and a second position, a biasing member that biases the rotating member toward the first position, and a biasing member that is pushed by the rotating member when the process unit is set to bias the biasing member. 4. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the set detection means includes a sensor that is activated by the rotating member rotated to the second position against the member. 5. When the process unit is set, it hits the rotating member and moves it to the second position, while when the process unit is driven after being set, the driving force is transmitted to the 5. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the process unit includes an actuating member that moves from an actuating position to a non-actuating position in which the rotating member returns to the first position. 6. When the actuating member is in the actuating position, the actuating member is brought into contact with a stopper to restrict its movement, allowing the actuating member to move from the actuating position to the non-actuating position by driving the process unit; 6. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the process unit is provided with an elastic member that comes into contact with a stopper to restrict movement when the process unit is in the non-operating position.