JPH05210274A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily manage the lifes of both of a line head and a photosensitive body. CONSTITUTION:In an electrophotographic device 10 having a photosensitive body 20 and a line head unit 30, which can be attached/detached to/from a main body, nonvolatile memories 26 and 36 are attached to respective units 10 and 20, line head life detecting means 11 and 12, photosensitive body life detecting means 11, 12, and 42SN, writing control means 11 and 12, are provided, and a constitution that both of line head life data Dh and photosensitive body life date Dd are automatically written in respective memories 26 and 36, is adapted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus having a light source formed by a line head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a general structure of an electrophotographic apparatus (10). 6, a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and an input / output port 1 connected by a bus 15
4 and the like form a control unit, and the control unit includes a photoconductor unit 20, a line head unit 30, a paper feeding device 41,
A feed device 42, an operation panel 51 provided with various keys and indicators, a sensor circuit 53 (various sensors 54), and a heater circuit 55 (heater 56) forming a fixing device are connected. 52 is a power supply.

As for the mechanical structure, as shown in FIG. 7, a photosensitive member unit 20 including a drum-shaped photosensitive member 20d and a developing roller 22 is detachably attached to the center of a main body 1. In addition, the transfer device 23,
A cleaning device 24, a static eliminator 25, and a charger 21 are provided.

Further, a sheet cassette 41C forming a sheet feeding device 41, a pickup roller 41R, and a sheet feeding solenoid 41S are disposed on the upstream side in the sheet flow direction, and a fixing device having a heater 56 built in is disposed downstream thereof. A fixing device 56A including a roller 56H and a press roller 56P is provided.

The feed device 42 includes a feed motor 42.
MF, feed sensor 42SN, discharge roller 42ME,
Paper P including a power transmission mechanism, paper guide, etc. not shown
Is fed from the right side to the left side in FIG. Further, the feed motor 42MF includes the photoconductor 20d and the roller 5 of the fixing device 56A.
6H, 56P, etc. are also rotationally driven.

Here, the line head unit 30 is a line head 30 in which a large number of edge emitting EL elements are arranged.
h, it is formed including the driver and the lens, and is attachable to and detachable from the main body 1. The edge emitting EL element emits light from its light emitting layer when the signal level applied to the common electrode and the block electrode exceeds a set threshold level. In the main body 1, the charger 21 and the developing roller 2
It is possible to draw an electrostatic latent image on the charged photoconductor 20d, which is disposed between the photoconductor 20 and the photoconductor 20d.

Heretofore, the photoconductor unit 20 and the line head unit 30 have conventionally been constructed such that they are separately removed from the main body 1 and replaced with each other. Is 1
It was decided that it would be 10,000 copies. This is because the life of the photoconductor 20d is deteriorated and expired depending on the number of printing sheets. Further, the line head 30h is considered to have a longer life than the photoconductor 20d, and the replacement time thereof is generally set appropriately.

[0008]

By the way, due to the diversification, not only the performance of the photoconductor 20d but also the performance of the line head 30h
With various specifications, life management is becoming troublesome.

Even if the photoconductor 20d is new, the image quality may be disturbed. It is presumed that a specific edge-emitting element is frequently used for light emission, and even if the edge-emitting element does not emit light, a voltage is applied between electrodes, so that the life may be shortened.

Further, in actual operation, the photoconductor unit 20 and the line head unit 30 may be removed from the main body 1 for inspection or the like. In this case, it is wasted because it may be discarded even though its life has not yet expired. On the other hand, if it takes time and effort to re-install it in the main body 1 and start the operation, the service life will be exhausted immediately, and there will be a problem that the image quality cannot be guaranteed. This is a problem that tends to occur as the time elapsed after removal increases.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic apparatus capable of reliably and easily managing not only the life of the photoconductor but also the life of the line head.

[0012]

An electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention has a line head unit and a photoconductor unit which can be attached to and detached from a main body, and emits irradiation light from an edge emitting EL element which constitutes the line head. In an electrophotographic apparatus formed to draw an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor charged by using the line head unit and the photoconductor unit, the life data of the line head and the life of the photoconductor Attach a non-volatile memory that can store data,
A line head life detecting means for detecting life data of the line head and a photo conductor life detecting means for detecting life data of the photoconductor are provided, and the line head life data and the photo conductor updated in accordance with the operation of the line head. The writing control means for writing both the data of the photoconductor life data updated with the operation of 1 to each of the nonvolatile memories is provided.

[0013]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the operation is started, the line head life detecting means and the photoconductor life detecting means detect the line head life data and the photoconductor life data, respectively. Then, the writing control means automatically writes both the data of the line head life data and the photoconductor life data to the respective non-volatile memories attached to the line head unit and the photoconductor unit, respectively. Therefore, the line head life data and the photoconductor life data can be read at any time by reading from any of the nonvolatile memories, and life management is easy.

Moreover, even if one of the units is detached from the main body, the life data can be known from the life data stored in the other unit that is still mounted in the main body, so that it can still be used. It is possible to eliminate waste and effort by discarding the photoconductor or line head and re-installing the expired one.

[0015]

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

The electrophotographic apparatus, as shown in FIG.
The basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional example (FIGS. 6 and 7), and the nonvolatile memory (25, 35) is attached to each of the photoconductor unit 20 and the line head unit 30, and the line head life detecting means ( 11, 12), photoconductor life detection means (42SN, 11, 12), and write control means (11, 12) are provided to manage not only the life of the photoconductor 20d but also the line head 30h and both units 20,
Even if one of the units 30 is removed from the main body 1, the history can be confirmed from that of the other unit.

Further, in this embodiment, the life management control means (11, 12) is provided so that the replacement time of each unit 20, 30 can be notified in a timely manner, and the initial value rewriting means (11, 12). 12) is provided for each unit 20, 30
At the time of replacement, the life data of the replacement side unit can be initialized, and further, transfer writing means (11, 12) is provided so that the history of the non-replacement side unit can be left in the replacement side unit. There is. Further, life check means (11, 12, 51) is provided so that the life deterioration degree can be checked at any time.

The same components as those of the conventional example (FIGS. 6 and 7) are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

In FIG. 1, the non-volatile memory 26 and the line head unit 3 attached to the photoconductor unit 20.
The non-volatile memory 36 attached to 0 has an area capable of storing both the photoreceptor life data Dd and the line head life data Dh. When the units 20 and 30 are mounted in the main body 1, the nonvolatile memories 26 and 36 are connected to the bus 15 via the connectors 27 and 37.

Next, the photosensitive member life detecting means is used for the photosensitive member 20.
It is a means for automatically detecting the photoreceptor life data Ddi that is updated with the operation of d, and is regarded as the number of printing sheets in this embodiment. Specifically, the CPU 11, R
The OM 12 and the feed sensor 42SN are formed as shown in FIG.
It is executed in ST13.

Similarly, one of the line head life detecting means is a means for automatically detecting the line head life data Dhi updated with the operation of the line head 30h, and in this embodiment, the selected end face in the line head 30h is used. It is regarded as the number of times of light emission of the light emitting EL element. Specifically, it is formed of the CPU 11 and the ROM 12, and is executed in ST10 of FIG. The life of the line head can be detected by detecting the number of print sheets. Life data Dd detected by each means
i and Dhi are temporarily stored in the RAM 13.

The writing control means includes the line head life data Dhi automatically detected by the line head life detection means (11, 12) and the photoconductor life detection means (11, 12, 42S).
N) is a means for writing both data of the photoreceptor life data Ddi automatically detected in each of the non-volatile memories 36, 26, and is formed from the CPU 11 and the ROM 12.
This is executed in ST11, 12 and ST14, 15 of FIG.

Next, the life management control means determines the life data Ddi stored in each of the nonvolatile memories 26 and 36.
When Dhi exceeds the limit values LDd and LDh, a message relating to the replacement of the photoconductor 20d and the line head 30h is displayed on the display in the operation panel 51.
It is formed of the PU 11 and the ROM 12.

The limit values LDd and LDh may be stored in the ROM 12 if they are fixed values, but in this embodiment, they are stored in the RAM 13 with a backup battery, and the values are stored in the operation panel 51. The setting can be changed by key operation.

Thus, the life management control means (11, 1
In step 2), the line head limit value LDh and the photoconductor limit value LDd are read from the RAM 13 as shown in ST16 of FIG. If Dhi ≧ LDh, a replacement request message for the line head 30h (line head unit 30) is displayed and output (ST17, 18 in FIG. 3). on the other hand,
If Ddi ≧ LDd, a replacement request message for the photoconductor 20d (photoconductor unit 20) is displayed and output (ST1).
9, 20).

If both ST17 and ST19 are NO, the process returns to ST10 in FIG. That is, the life is always managed.

When one of the line head units 30 (photoconductor unit 20) is replaced with a new one, the initial value rewriting means is provided with the other photoconductor unit which remains attached to the main body 1 on the condition. 20 (line head unit 30) in the non-volatile memory 26 (36) of the line head unit 30 (photoconductor unit 2)
0) is a means for rewriting the life data Dhi (Ddi) related to (0) to an initial value (for example, “0”), and the CPU 11, RO
It is formed from M12 and is executed in ST44 and ST47 of FIG. Initialization in self is ST43 (ST46)
Done in.

That is, the life data Dhi (Dd) of the replaced line head unit 30 (photoconductor unit 20)
Since i) is new, it is set to “0”, and therefore the life data Dhi (Dd) of the device (the other party) still attached to the main body 1
i) is matched with this.

Similarly, the history of the photoconductor unit 20 (line head unit 30) still attached to the main body 1, that is, the life data Ddi (Dh) updated up to that point.
The means for transferring and writing i) to the data column of the replaced line head unit 30 (photoconductor unit 20) is transfer writing means. This means is the CPU 11, R
It consists of OM12, ST42, 43 and ST4 of FIG.
It is executed at 5,46.

The life confirmation means is the CPU 11, RO
It consists of M12 and operation panel 51, and ST30 to ST3 of FIG.
It is executed in 4. That is, the life confirmation request is made by the key operation on the operation panel 51 (YES in ST30).
And the CPU 11 uses one of the nonvolatile memories 26 and 36.
The line head life data Dhi and the photoconductor life data Ddi are read from and the life message is displayed on the display (ST31, 32). Therefore, it is possible to know the life data up to that time at any time, and it is possible to prevent an unexpected exchange message or device stoppage. This life message is automatically deleted after a certain time (Ts) has passed (ST
34).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. now,
It is assumed that the photoconductor unit 20 and the line head unit 30 start operation from a new state. Then, the line head life detecting means (11, 12) and the photoconductor life detecting means (11, 12, 42SN) automatically detect the line head life data Dhi and the photoconductor life data Ddi which are respectively updated with the operation. Then, it is temporarily stored in the RAM 13 (ST10, 13 in FIG. 2).

Then, the write control means (11, 12)
The life data Dhi and Ddi are written and written in the nonvolatile memories 36 and 26 of the units 30 and 20 (ST11, 12, ST14, 15). Therefore, if a confirmation request is made using the life confirmation means (11, 12), the data Dhi, D relating to the life spent up to that time is always available.
It is possible to know di (ST30 to 34 in FIG. 4).

Further, life management control means (11, 12)
Reads the preset limit values LDh and LDd, and reads the line head life data Dhi and the photoconductor life data Ddi from either of the nonvolatile memories 36 and 26 (ST16). Then, the two are compared, and Dhi ≧
If it is LDh, a replacement request message for the line head unit 30 is displayed and output (ST17, 18). Similarly,
If Ddi ≧ LDd, a replacement request message for the photoconductor unit 20 is displayed and output (ST19, 20).

Here, the photoconductor unit 20 has the limit value L.
It is assumed that Dd, that is, the number of printing sheets becomes 10,000, and the sheet is replaced with a new one according to the replacement request. That is, the CPU 11 confirms that the unit has been replaced and that it is the photoconductor unit 20 (ST40 of FIG. 5,
(NO in ST41).

Then, the initial value rewriting means (11, 12)
Sets the lifetime data Dd of the non-volatile memory 26 on the photoconductor unit 20 side to the initial value (“0”) (ST46), and also sets the lifetime data Dd of the non-volatile memory 36 on the line head unit 30 side (“”). 0 ") (ST47). Thus, both non-volatile memories 26, 36
The photoconductor life data Dd is matched with "0".

Simultaneously with the transfer writing means (11, 12)
Is a nonvolatile memory 36 on the line head unit 30 side.
Then, the life data Dhi is read (ST45), and at the same time, the read life data Dhi is transferred and written in the storage column of the line head life data Dh of the non-volatile memory 26 on the photoconductor unit 20 side (ST46). Therefore,
The history of the line head 30h can be stored in the opponent unit (20).

On the contrary, the line head unit 30
When ST is replaced, the same initial value rewriting and transfer writing are executed in ST41 to 44.

However, according to this embodiment, the line head unit 30 and the photoconductor unit 20 are provided with the non-volatile memories 36 and 26 capable of storing the life data Dhi and Ddi, respectively, and the line head life detecting means. (11, 12) and photoreceptor life detecting means (11, 12, 4)
2SN) and write control means (11, 12) are provided to update and store the line head life data Dhi and the photoconductor life data Ddi. Therefore, not only the photoconductor 20d but also the line head 30h Is also easy and easy to manage. Therefore, high image quality can always be maintained.

Since both life data Dhi and Ddi are stored in both memories 26 and 36, even if one unit 30 (20) is removed from the main body 1 for replacement, the history of the other unit 30 (20) is stored. It can be confirmed on the 20 (30) side. Therefore, usable unit 2
Wasted or unusable units 20, 0, 30
It is possible to eliminate the trouble and dead time caused by reattaching 30.

Further, life confirmation means (11, 12, 51)
Since the unit is provided, the unit 20,
The degree of life deterioration of each of the 30 can be known, and life management is easier.

Further, since the life management control means (11, 12) is provided and the replacement message is displayed when the limit values LDh and LDd are reached, the limit value LD
By setting h and LDd appropriately, it is possible to prevent unexpected deterioration of image quality, a request for replacement, and further stoppage of the apparatus.

Further, the initial value rewriting means (11, 12) and the transfer writing means (11, 12) are provided, and even if any of the units 20, 30 is replaced, the other unit 30, mounted on the main body 1, Since the history remains in 20 and the stored data Ddi and Dhi of both units 20 and 30 are always the same, it is possible to more reliably prevent waste due to discarding of usable units and reattachment of unusable units. it can.

In the above embodiment, the reversal development type electrophotographic apparatus is used, but the present invention can be directly applied to the simultaneous development and development type cleaning apparatus.

[0044]

According to the present invention, a non-volatile memory capable of storing both life data is attached to each of the line head unit and the photoconductor unit, and the line head life detection means, the photoconductor life detection means, and the writing control are performed. Means is provided to update and store the line head life data and the photoconductor life data. Therefore, not only the life of the photoconductor but also the life of the line head can be easily and easily managed. Therefore,
You can always maintain high quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a flowchart for explaining a lifespan detection / writing operation.

FIG. 3 is likewise a flowchart for explaining a life management operation.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a life confirmation operation of the same.

FIG. 5 is likewise a flowchart for explaining an initial rewriting / transfer writing operation.

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a mechanical configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Main Body 10 Electrophotographic Device 11 CPU (Line Head Life Detecting Means, Photoconductor Life Detecting Means, Write Control Means) 12 ROM (Line Head Life Detecting Means, Photoconductor Life Detecting Means, Write Control Means) 13 RAM 15 Bus 20 Photoconductor Unit 20d Photoconductor 21 Charging Device 22 Developing Roller 23 Transfer Device 24 Cleaning Device 25 Destaticizing Device 26 Nonvolatile Memory 27 Connector 30 Line Head Unit 30h Line Head 36 Nonvolatile Memory 37 Connector 41 Paper Feed Device 42 Feed Device 42SN Feed Sensor (photoconductor life detection means) 51 Operation panel Dh Line head life data Dd Photoconductor life data

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 29/20 8804-2C G03G 15/04 116 9122-2H

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor, which has a line head unit and a photoconductor unit that can be attached to and detached from a main body, and is charged by using irradiation light from an edge-emitting EL element that constitutes the line head. In the electrophotographic apparatus formed so as to draw, a non-volatile memory capable of storing life data of the line head and life data of the photoconductor is attached to each of the line head unit and the photoconductor unit, A line head life detecting unit for detecting life data of the head and a photo conductor life detecting unit for detecting life data of the photoconductor are provided, and the line head life data and the operation of the photo conductor updated with the operation of the line head. Therefore, a writing control means for writing both the data of the photoconductor life data and the data of the updated photoconductor life to the respective nonvolatile memories is provided. And an electrophotographic device.