JPH0462075B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a process kit can be attached to the apparatus main body.

For example, in an electrophotographic apparatus, conventionally, each time a unit such as a photoreceptor is replaced, it is necessary to readjust the amount of exposure and the amount of charge, and furthermore, it is necessary to readjust the developing bias value. That is, in order to obtain a proper image, these adjustments are necessary, and such adjustments are extremely complicated. Furthermore, if the characteristics of the unit change depending on the amount of use, i.e., the durability and the environment in which it is used, adjustments must be made each time, and these adjustments require skilled service and also suffer from poor reliability. It was inconvenient.

An object of the present invention is to be able to automatically control image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit in accordance with the usage status of the process kit when installed in the main body of the process kit apparatus, thereby producing stable images at all times. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can form images.

The present invention achieves the above object in an image forming apparatus in which a process kit can be attached to an apparatus main body.
a mounting part into which a process kit can be mounted, the mounting part having a first storage means for storing image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit; and a second storage means for storing a usage amount of the process kit; control means for receiving signals from both of the storage means of the installed process kit and controlling the image forming conditions according to the usage status of the process kit;
An image forming apparatus is characterized in that it has:

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The embodiment described below is a process kit in the form of a unit that can be attached to and removed from the main unit, and includes an electrical memory for setting image forming conditions on the main unit depending on the characteristics of the image forming member in the kit. This is a process kit with elements. Further, the embodiment described below is an image forming apparatus that is loaded with a removable process kit and forms an image, and includes a connector means for receiving electrical signals from an electrical storage element in the kit;
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming means that is driven based on an electric signal received through the connector means.

Now, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine. In the figure, 1 is an image carrier, that is, a photoreceptor, 2 is a charger, 3 is an exposure lamp, 4 is an original, 5 is a short focus lens array that forms an image of the original on the photoreceptor, 6 is a developer, and 7 8 is a transfer charger, 8 is a cleaning device for cleaning the photoreceptor,
Reference numeral 9 indicates a lamp for neutralizing electricity. The photoreceptor 1 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow and uniformly charged by the charger 2. The original 4 is illuminated by an exposure lamp 3,
An original image is formed on the photoreceptor 1 via the short focus lens array 5. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor is visualized by a developing device 6, and this visualized toner image is transferred to a transfer paper by a transfer charger 7, and the transfer paper is transferred to a fixing section. (not shown), is fixed, and is carried out of the machine. Although this embodiment has been described for the Carlson method, it goes without saying that it is also applicable to the NP method using a three-layer photoreceptor.

According to an embodiment using the present invention, at least one of the above-mentioned charging device, developing device, transfer device, and cleaning device or a part thereof and the photoreceptor are integrated into a single replaceable unit. A storage device is combined with the unit for automatically adjusting each part of the unit to appropriate image forming conditions according to its various characteristics.

In the illustrated embodiment, the photoreceptor 1, charger 2, developing electrode of the developer 6, and cleaning device 8 are integrated and replaced as a unit when the photoreceptor 1 reaches the end of its durable life.

This unit incorporates a storage element 10 such as a ROM (or P-ROM), which is connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 12 provided in the main body by a connector 22. The CPU 12 includes a lamp lighting circuit 13 and a high voltage transformer 1 provided in the main body.
4, 15, a developing bias circuit 16, and a static elimination lamp circuit 17. The above memory element 10 includes
In order for each part of this unit to operate under appropriate image forming conditions according to its various characteristics, information to determine the amount of exposure, amount of charge, developing bias value, and amount of charge removal exposure is stored, and based on this information, the CPU 12 Lamp lighting circuit 13, high voltage transformer 14, 1
5. Drive the developing bias circuit 16 and the static elimination lamp circuit 17. The exposure device, the charger, the developer, the static elimination lamp, and the memory element are electrically connected to the main body side by a connector 22. Although it is assumed that the memory element 10 may be a P-ROM, the unit tends to vary due to the characteristics of various materials such as photoreceptors and developing materials, and due to assembly tolerances of the charging system and developing system. It goes without saying that P-R0M, which allows programming and input of information to suit each characteristic, is superior to controlling with ROM.

The above integrated unit is indicated by the broken line 18.
Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a kit.

According to an embodiment using the present invention, the amount of use, that is, the durability, and the environment of use of the kit can be detected, and the amount of adjustment can be changed in accordance with the information from the detection means.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a means for detecting the usage amount is provided and the adjustment amount is changed based on the information. In this embodiment, a usage storage device, such as a RAM 19, is incorporated into the kit 18. This means that you can measure usage, for example by counting operating hours or by counting the number of copies.
The information is input to the RAM 19 and used as a means to detect the degree of deterioration of the material or the amount remaining.
This is input to the CPU 12, and the adjustment amount is thereby changed. As an input signal to the RAM, for example, during a relatively short time when the image forming apparatus is powered on, by obtaining the apparatus's rest time and operating time as a signal, for example, the potential fluctuation of the photoreceptor (rise, rise, It is possible to correct fluctuations in residual potential (mainly due to rest time and operating time) during downstream development. It is also possible to correct variations in the development characteristics of the developer (rise and fall phenomena, primarily variations in tribo due to rest/operation time of one material).

Furthermore, even if the main unit is turned off during long-term use as described above, by obtaining a signal that electrically changes the electrical or mechanical signal provided in the main unit or kit, or from a counter, etc. The amount of photoconductor usage can be input to RAM. Examples of signal sources that can be used include an integration type counter, a chemical reaction type counter, a light change type counter, an electric quantity rotation number integration type counter, etc., which are electrically converted into input signals for the RAM. These are collectively shown as 23, 23' in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a means for detecting the environment in which the kit is installed is provided, and the amount of adjustment is changed based on that information. In this embodiment, an environmental sensing device 20 for sensing temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc., for example, is incorporated into the kit 18. The information of this device is similar to the information of the memory element 10 and RAM 19.
It is input to the CPU 12 and adjusts the image forming conditions to the optimum image forming conditions. Incidentally, the environment sensing device 20 may be incorporated outside the kit, that is, on the main body side, and this case is indicated by 20' in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which an arithmetic processing unit 21 is incorporated into the kit 18 as an auxiliary means when it is necessary to rewrite the main body sequence due to a change in material, for example. This includes, for example, changing the forward rotation, backward rotation time, charging, exposure ON/OFF timing, and the like. Furthermore, for example, in color image formation,
By incorporating color ROM, RAM, and CPU, images can be formed under optimal color conditions simply by setting the color kit.

Similarly, when using kits for different purposes, such as photo kits, copy kits, line copy kits, etc.
ROM, RAM, and CPU can be incorporated.

As mentioned above, there are many types of kits for different purposes, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for setting the kit for one of the purposes. In addition,
It is not necessary to satisfy all of the conditions in the chart, but only one of them may be satisfied.

Here, an embodiment will be described in which non-uniformity of the latent image due to the characteristics of the photoreceptor is corrected using preset ROM information. When measuring the characteristics of a single photoconductor (shipment check), the charging current is constant (for example -
500 μA), the dark potential (V _D ) of the photoreceptor is -
If it is 500V, the main unit will output -500μA without correcting the current value, resulting in the appropriate potential of -500V. However, the output on the main body side is -500μA and V _D is -
400V, or when the main body output is -500μA and V _D is -600V, the output current value of each main body is set to -600μA, -600V by the process kit side ROM.
Make V _D constant (-500V) by correcting it to 400μA.

Also, if the white ground potential (V _L ) is the correction value −100V, the lighting voltage of the exposure lamp is not corrected, and the
Lights up with 65V. However, when the lighting voltage is 65V, V _L
= -150V, or when V _L = -50V at 65V, the lighting voltage is set to 70V,
Correct to 60V and make V _L constant -150V. Furthermore, if the halftone potential V _H with a reflection density of about 0.3 is -250V, the developing bias voltage (B _DC ) of -150V is not corrected, but if the potential is -300V or -200V, these are corrected. , development bias voltage
Based on the memory in the ROM, the voltage is changed to -200V and -100V to obtain an image with a constant density. These charging current, lighting voltage, and developing bias may be corrected individually or in combination. Therefore, when checking the characteristics of a single photoconductor, it is possible to correct the charging current, lighting voltage, and developing bias while keeping them constant. It is possible to measure those potentials and input numerical values into the P-ROM based on the measured values.

In this way, according to the embodiments using the present invention described above, even if the unit is replaced, each part of the unit is automatically adjusted to the appropriate image forming conditions, and it is not only possible to always form a good image. It can be stably linked with the main body. Furthermore, the image forming conditions can be easily adjusted when replacing the black image forming unit with another color image forming unit or when using the unit for other purposes, such as photographic images or line images. . Furthermore, it is possible to form images that are stable against changes in the durability and environmental characteristics of the photoreceptor, developer, and the like. In this way, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, simply by loading image forming parts such as photoreceptors or devices into the main body of the image forming apparatus, the various conditions on the main body side are adjusted to the image forming conditions according to the replaced parts. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is automatically adjusted so as to always form a stable image even if the characteristics of parts change depending on durability, environment, etc.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the process kit is installed in the apparatus main body, the image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the process kit can be automatically controlled according to the usage status of the process kit. , it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can always form stable images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are block diagrams showing modifications thereof, and FIG. 5 is an example of kit settings. This is a flowchart showing the following. In the figure, 1...photoreceptor, 2...charger, 3
...Exposure lamp, 4...Original, 5...Short focus lens array, 6...Developer, 7...Transfer charger, 8
... Cleaner, 9 ... Static elimination lamp, 10 ... Memory element, 12 ... CPU, 13 ... Lamp lighting circuit, 14, 15 ... High voltage transformer, 16 ... Development bias circuit, 17 ... Static charge removal lamp circuit , 18...
... kit, 19 ... RAM, 20 ... environment detection circuit, 21 ... arithmetic processing unit, 22 ... connector,
23, 23'...Counter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a process kit can be attached to an apparatus main body, comprising a first storage means for storing image forming conditions according to characteristics of the process kit, and a second storage means for storing usage amount of the process kit. a mounting part into which a process kit can be attached, having a memory means; and receiving signals from both the memory means of the process kit mounted on the mounting part, and adjusting the image forming conditions to the usage status of the process kit. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling the image forming apparatus accordingly; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a CPU. 3. The process kit is one in which at least one of a charging means, a developing means, a transfer means, and a cleaning means and an electrophotographic photoreceptor are integrated into a unit and can be attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to scope 1. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include an exposure amount for exposing an electrophotographic photoreceptor included in a process kit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include an amount of charge for charging an electrophotographic photoreceptor included in the process kit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming conditions include a developing bias for developing a latent image on an electrophotographic photoreceptor of a process kit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means includes a ROM. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second storage means includes a RAM. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means further receives a signal from an environment detection means to control the image forming conditions. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detection means is provided in the process kit. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environment detection means is provided in the image forming apparatus main body.