JPH05193775A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image forming device which performs an efficient and effective cleaning work by providing a means for automatically setting a cleaning mode based on detection of a cleaning cartridge and a means for releasing a cleaning mode when the cleaning cartridge is removed. CONSTITUTION:When a cleaning cartridge 23 in which cleaning sheets are contained is inserted in a feed paper sheet cassette 25, after it is discriminated that a sensor 24 is turned ON, a cleaning mode is automatically set based on a signal from the sensor 24 by a cleaning mode set means 40a in a control part 40. When a print switch is turned ON, a cleaning sheet is fed from a cleaning cartridge 23. When a cleaning sheet in an intermediate tray 21c is removed and it is discriminated that an intermediate tray sensor 33 is turned OFF, a cleaning mode is released by a cleaning mode means 40b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to cleaning control of a conveying means in a sheet conveying path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a sheet conveying path is complicated by adopting a multi-stage paper feeding structure or a front loading structure.

If the sheet conveying path becomes complicated, the number of conveying means (conveying rollers) for conveying the sheet has also increased.

Further, as various functions have been improved, toner, oil, paper dust and the like have increased in the machine, and the carrying rollers may be contaminated by these and the carrying function may be deteriorated.

In such a case, it is necessary to clean the conveying roller to remove stains due to the toner, oil, paper dust, etc. adhering to the roller.

Conventionally, a serviceman has carried out cleaning of the conveying roller at the time of maintenance.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 55-180637 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-188674 disclose a structure in which a cleaning member is provided in the vicinity of the roller and the roller and the cleaning member are brought into contact with each other to clean the roller. ing.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-230441 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-247240, a dedicated cleaning paper formed in a predetermined size is fed into a paper feeding path and fed by a feeding roller. However, a configuration for cleaning the roller is shown.

[0009]

However, in the case of cleaning by the service person, the maintenance of the service person must be waited, and until then, the copying is carried out while the conveying means is dirty, and therefore the conveying means is placed on the copy sheet. There was a problem such as marks on the surface, and it took time and effort to clean.

Further, in the case where the cleaning members are provided in the vicinity of the rollers, the cleaning members must be provided by the number of the rollers, which has a drawback that the cost is increased and the cleaning members cannot be easily replaced.

Further, in the case of cleaning using a dedicated cleaning sheet, only one cleaning sheet is fed instead of the copy sheet, so that dirt such as paper dust adhered to the roller can be surely removed. I couldn't.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed cassettes, the paper feed path of the paper feed cassettes is used. A cleaning cartridge containing a cleaning sheet for cleaning the conveyance means in the sheet conveyance path accommodated in the paper feed cassette in the most upstream part; and a detection means for detecting whether or not the cleaning cartridge is accommodated in the paper feed cassette. A cleaning mode setting means for automatically setting the cleaning mode based on the detection result of the detection means, and a cleaning mode releasing means for releasing the cleaning mode when the cleaning cartridge is removed. .

[0013]

According to the above-described image forming apparatus, the user can easily set the cleaning mode by storing the cleaning cartridge containing the cleaning sheet in the sheet feeding cassette, and the plurality of cleaning modes can be set during the cleaning operation. Since the cleaning sheet of 1 is continuously fed, the cleaning work can be efficiently and effectively performed. Also,
Since the cleaning mode is not released unless the cleaning cartridge is removed, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the cleaning cartridge.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is a view showing the schematic arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a cleaning cartridge containing the cleaning sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the cleaning cartridge is housed in the paper feed cassette.

FIG. 4 is a cleaning control flowchart according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine of this embodiment is
A desk section 38 is provided below the main body 1 of the copying machine as a paper receiving device.

On the desk 38, the double-sided composite unit 21, the first rotary cassette unit 26, the second rotary cassette unit 27 and the third fixed cassette 2 are arranged in this order from the top.
5 are provided. The first and second rotary cassette units 26, 27 have a rotatable cassette 32 in an outer box 31.

A plurality of reflecting mirrors and lenses are provided below the platen glass so that the light reflected from the document is reflected on the photosensitive drum 2.
An optical system is provided for performing the basic operation for leading to, and performing variable-magnification copying such as enlargement and reduction in addition to equal-magnification copying.

Around the photosensitive drum 2, a cleaner, a charge eliminating charger, a charging charger, a developing device having a toner for color copying, and a developing device having a black toner are arranged, and below the photosensitive drum 2. A transfer charger 3 and a peeling charger 4 are provided. A conveyor belt 5 and a fixing device 6 are provided in the rear paper conveying direction of the photosensitive drum 2.

The paper that has passed through the fixing device 6 is basically discharged onto the paper discharge tray 7, but in the case of double-sided copying or composite copying, it is guided from the paper return path 20 to the double-sided composite unit 21.

In the case of double-sided copying, the sheet is fed to the sheet feeding / transporting path 22 via the first transporting path 21a, the intermediate tray 21c, and the delivery roller 21d in the double-sided synthesis unit 21,
In the case of composite copying, the paper is fed to the paper feed transport path 22 through the second transport path 21b, the first transport path 21a, the intermediate tray 21c, and the delivery roller 21d in the double-sided synthesis unit 21. The end of the paper feed / transport path 22 reaches the paper top roller 8 near the photosensitive drum 2.

Further, a plurality of sheet feeding means are connected to the sheet feeding / transporting path 22 so that sheets are appropriately fed from these sheet feeding means. Specifically, in order to convey the paper to the paper top roller 8 of the copying machine main body 1, the manual feed unit 30, the first fixed cassette 29 capable of accommodating 500 sheets, and the accommodating 250 sheets in the order of the shortest sheet conveying path. Possible second fixed cassette 28, double-sided synthesis unit 21, first rotary cassette unit 26, second rotary cassette unit 2
7 and a third fixed cassette 2 capable of storing 250 sheets
5 are provided.

The fixed cassettes 29, 28 and 25 and the rotary cassette units 26 and 27 are detachably attached to the copying machine.

The copying machine main body 1 also includes an operation panel (not shown). This operation panel is provided with a copy button for instructing the start of the copying operation, a ten-key for setting the number of copies, a copy number display section, a cassette operation section, a magnification display section, a magnification setting key and the like.

The third fixed cassette 25 located on the upstream side of the paper feeding / transporting path 22 is configured to accommodate a cleaning cartridge 23 containing a plurality of cleaning sheets.

A specific configuration of the cleaning cartridge 23 and the paper feed cassette 25 that houses the cleaning cartridge 23 will be described.

The cleaning cartridge 23 has a paper feed side and an upper part opened, and a bottom surface thereof is provided with a cleaning cartridge bottom plate 23a for pushing up the cleaning sheet toward the paper feed roller.

Further, the cleaning cartridge 23
A tongue-shaped projection 23b is provided at the rear end portion.

On the other hand, the cleaning cartridge 23
In the third fixed cassette 25 in which is stored, a spring 25a is provided at a position corresponding to the cleaning cartridge bottom plate 23a so as to push up the bottom plate 23a.

Further, the cleaning cartridge 23
Of the tongue-like projection 23b at a position corresponding to that of the tongue-like projection 23b.
A sensor 24 (24a, 24b) for detecting is provided.

As for the structure of the sensor 24, for example, when one end of the sensor 25b biased by a spring is pushed by the tongue-like projection 23b, the actuator portion 24a of the sensor 24 rotates about a fulcrum, and the other The end portion crosses the detection portion of the photo sensor 24b (transmissive type) and the signal is sent to the control portion to automatically set the cleaning mode.

At this time, since the spring 25a pushes up the bottom plate 23a of the cleaning cartridge 23, the cleaning sheet is set at the sheet feeding position.

Further, the intermediate tray 21c is provided with a sensor 31 for detecting the presence / absence of a cleaning sheet on the intermediate tray 21c.

Next, the cleaning operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart.

First, when the cleaning cartridge 23 containing the cleaning sheet is inserted into the paper feed cassette 25, the controller 40 determines whether or not the sensor 24 is turned on (S1).

When it is determined that the sensor 24 is ON, the cleaning mode is automatically set by the cleaning mode setting means 40a based on the signal from the sensor 24 (S2).

At this time, as the cleaning path, a cleaning mode is set to clean the paper feed path 22 and the double-sided path 20, 21a. Sensor 24 is O
If it is determined that the FF is performed, the paper feed standby state is entered (S
6).

Then, it is judged whether or not the print switch is turned on (S3).

When the print switch is turned on, it is determined whether or not there is a sheet in the cleaning cartridge 23 (S4).

When it is determined that there is a sheet, the cleaning sheet is fed from the cleaning cartridge 23 (S5).

Thereafter, steps S4 and S5 are repeated until the cleaning sheet is exhausted.

If it is determined in step S4 that there is no cleaning sheet, the cleaning cartridge 2
The sheet feeding operation from 3 is stopped (S7).

Subsequently, all the cleaning sheets in the middle of the paper feeding and conveying path are discharged to the intermediate tray 21c (S8).

When all the cleaning sheets in the paper feeding / conveying path are discharged to the intermediate tray 21c, the cleaning mode is stopped (S9).

Next, a message instructing the removal of the cleaning cartridge 23 is displayed on the operation panel, for example.

Subsequently, whether or not the cleaning cartridge 23 has been removed is determined by checking the ON / OFF state of the sensor 24 (S11).

If the sensor 24 is on, the process is repeated until it is turned off, and if it is off, a message for instructing removal of the cleaning sheet in the intermediate tray 21c, for example, is also displayed on the operation panel (S12).

Subsequently, whether or not the cleaning sheet in the intermediate tray 21c has been removed is determined by the sensor 33 provided in the intermediate tray 21c (S13). As the sensor 33, for example, a transmissive photo sensor is used.

When it is judged that the intermediate tray sensor 33 is turned off, the cleaning mode is canceled by the cleaning mode canceling means 40b (S14), and the process proceeds to the main routine.

In the above embodiment, the flow is such that the user removes the cleaning sheet discharged to the intermediate tray 21c. However, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, as shown in FIG.
The cleaning sheet discharged into the inside 1c may be passed through the image forming portion again and discharged outside the apparatus.

In this case, since the cleaning cartridge 23 removal indication is displayed after all the cleaning sheets have been ejected out of the machine (S113), the cleaning mode is automatically released when the cleaning cartridge 23 is removed.

In the above embodiment, the cleaning cartridge is set and the cleaning is executed only after the print switch is pressed. However, when the cleaning cartridge is set and the cleaning mode is set, the cleaning operation is automatically performed after a predetermined time. May be configured to be executed.

[0056]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user can easily set the cleaning mode simply by storing the cleaning cartridge containing the cleaning sheet in the sheet feeding cassette, and a plurality of cleaning modes can be set during the cleaning operation. Since the cleaning sheets are continuously fed, the cleaning work can be efficiently and effectively performed.

Further, since the cleaning mode is not released unless the cleaning cartridge is removed, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the cleaning cartridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a cleaning cartridge containing a cleaning sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cleaning cartridge is housed in a paper feed cassette.

FIG. 4 is a cleaning control flowchart according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23 cleaning cartridge 23b tongue projection 24 sensor 40a cleaning mode setting means 40b cleaning mode releasing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed cassettes, wherein cleaning is performed to clean a conveyance means in a paper conveyance path housed in a paper feed cassette in the most upstream part of the paper conveyance path among the paper feed cassettes. A cleaning cartridge containing a sheet; a detection means for detecting whether or not the cleaning cartridge is stored in a paper feed cassette; a cleaning mode setting means for automatically setting a cleaning mode based on a detection result by the detection means; An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning mode releasing unit that releases a cleaning mode when a cleaning cartridge is removed.