JPH05341594A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To determine exchange period of each equipment material for image formation after judging the image quality of the formed image. CONSTITUTION:Each photosensors PS detecting the frequency of use of a photosensitive belt 1 and each developing device contained in a processing cartridge 30 and on the other hand detecting toner quantity in each toner hopper and a waste toner cartridge 100 are provided and the device is constituted so that when a specified quantity is reached by the quantity of use of each equipment material above, each outputted exchange detection signal is made to correspond with the result of the image detection signal in a patch image formed on the photosensitive belt 1 and a warning is made by outputting an exchange signal for each processing cartridge 30 at the point when the influence is made to be apparent in the image quality.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the image forming means is housed in a process cartridge and can be easily attached to and detached from the apparatus body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since various components such as a photoconductor and a developing means which constitute an image forming portion of an image forming apparatus have a high operating rate and a large degree of wear, they are integrated into a process cartridge for convenient inspection and replacement. A method of accommodating and attaching to and detaching from the apparatus main body is adopted.

Further, the usage state of each of the above-mentioned equipments is detected individually, and when any one of the equipments reaches a predetermined use frequency, a warning is issued to replace the other process equipment with a predetermined one together with the other process cartridges. The system is taken.

[0004]

However, depending on the variation in life and the type of image to be copied, there is a case where each device has a margin to form a normal and high-quality image even after a predetermined frequency of use. In this case, uniformly discarding the process cartridge together is not preferable from the viewpoint of resource saving.

As a result of solving and improving this point, the present invention provides
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be continuously used without displaying a warning of process cartridge replacement while the image forming state is good even when the equipment reaches a predetermined use frequency.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object is to provide an image forming apparatus having a replaceable image forming means, the image forming means of the image forming means depending on a replacement detection signal of the image forming means and an image quality detection signal of an image to be formed. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus characterized by performing exchange display.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.
7 to 7.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, in which 1 is a flexible photosensitive belt which is a belt-shaped image forming body, and the photosensitive belt 1 is horizontally arranged between rotating rollers 2 and 3. It is installed in the direction and is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow by driving the rotating roller 2.

Reference numeral 4 is a charging device which also serves as transfer means, 5 is a laser writing system unit, 6 to 9 are respective developing devices for accommodating a developer of a specific color, and 10 is a cleaning device.
11 is a fixing device. The developing devices 6, 7, 8 and 9 are arranged in parallel on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor belt 1 and accommodate, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and black developers, respectively, and have a predetermined gap from the photoconductor belt 1. The developing sleeves 6A, 7A, 8A, and 9A for maintaining the above are provided, and have a function of visualizing the latent image on the photosensitive belt 1 by a non-contact reversal developing method. Unlike the contact development, the non-contact development has an advantage that the movement of the photosensitive belt 1 is not hindered.

Further, the blade 10 of the cleaning device 10
A is kept at a position apart from the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 during image formation and is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive belt 1 only as shown in the figure during cleaning after image transfer.

The color image forming process by the color image forming apparatus is performed as follows.

First, the formation of a multicolor image according to this embodiment is performed according to the following image forming system. That is, the image data processing unit arithmetically processes the data obtained by the color image data input unit that scans the original image by the image pickup device to create image data, which is temporarily stored in the image memory. Next, the image data is taken out at the time of recording and is input to the color image forming apparatus shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 which is a recording unit.

That is, when a color signal output from an image reading apparatus separate from the image forming apparatus is input to the laser writing system unit 5, the laser writing system unit 5 uses a semiconductor laser (not shown). The generated laser beam is a polygon mirror 5 rotated by a drive motor 5A.
It is rotationally scanned by B, passes through the fθ lens 5C, and then the mirror 5
The optical path is bent by D, and a bright line is formed by being projected onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 to which electric charges have been previously applied by the charger 4.

The charging device 4 has a built-in charging electrode which also functions as a transfer electrode. When an image formation start signal is input to the control section by operating the copy button as shown in FIG. The power is turned on and a charging voltage is applied to the photosensitive belt 1. At that time, the transfer power source is switched off.

On the other hand, when the scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, the modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam scans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the conveyance of the photosensitive belt 1. This latent image is yellow (Y) in the developing means.
The toner image is formed on the belt surface by reversal development in a non-contact state by the developing device 6 loaded with the toner (visual medium). The toner image thus obtained, while being held on the belt surface, passes under the cleaning device 10, which is a cleaning means separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the photoconductor belt 1 has the charger 4
Then, the second color signal output from the signal processing unit is input to the writing system unit 5, and writing is performed on the belt surface in the same manner as in the case of the first color signal described above. The image is formed. The latent image is reversely developed in a non-contact state by the developing device 7 loaded with magenta (M) toner as the second color.

The magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow (Y) toner image.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a developing device having cyan (C) toner, which forms a cyan (C) toner image on the surface of the belt based on a control signal generated by a signal processing section.

Further, 9 is a developing device having a black toner, which forms a black toner image on the surface of the belt by superimposing it by the same process. A direct current or an alternating current bias is applied to each sleeve of each of these developing devices 6, 7, 8 and 9 to perform jumping development with a one-component or two-component developer which is a developing means, and the base is grounded. The reversal development is performed on the photoconductor belt 1 in a non-contact manner.

Thus, the color toner image formed on the peripheral surface by the four revolutions of the photosensitive belt 1 is transferred onto the transfer paper from the paper feed cassette 12 in the charger 4 and is fed by the drive of the timing roller 13. Transcribed.

That is, the timing roller from the control unit
Around the drive signal of 13, the transfer power is turned on by the operation of the changeover switch, a transfer voltage is applied to the transfer paper, and the toner image on the photosensitive belt 1 is transferred. At that time, the charging power source is switched off.

The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 and the toner image is welded on the fixing device 11. After the fixing, the transfer paper is fixed on the discharge tray 15.
Discharged on top.

On the other hand, the photosensitive belt 1 from which the transfer paper is separated
Is the blade 10A of the cleaning device 10 on the fifth lap
The residual toner is removed / cleaned by receiving the pressure contact of 1), and after one round, the charging device 4 receives the charge again to start the next image forming process.

The photoconductor belt 1, the developing devices 6 to 9 and the cleaning device 10 together with the toner hoppers 16, 17, 18 and 19 which are toner supplying portions connected to the developing devices and the waste toner box 100 are process cartridges. 30
It is put into a unit and integrated, and then attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus.

The process cartridge 30 has the side cover 40 provided on the front side of the apparatus main body in the drawing, opened,
It is slid in the horizontal direction via a pair of guide rails R installed between the front and rear side surfaces and the apparatus main body, and is attached and detached.

At the position shown in FIG. 2 on the front surface of the process cartridge 30, each display of a power meter for integrating the rotation speed of the photosensitive belt 1 and a power meter for integrating the rotation speed of the developing sleeve of each developing device. Windows 50 and 60, and viewing windows 70 and 80 for detecting the amount of toner in each toner hopper and waste toner box 100 are provided, respectively.

On the other hand, the front surface of the main body of the apparatus is covered with a side cover 40 which is open to the front side of the figure, and as shown in FIG.
Each photosensor PS that detects the presence or absence of reflected light by emitting and receiving infrared light is disposed on the inner surface of the corresponding cover 80.

In each of the above-mentioned frequency meters C, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a disk P whose peripheral portion is divided into a white background W, a gray background G and a black background B is seen through the display window. The frequency of use is displayed by rotating from a white background W through a gray background G to a black background B in accordance with the degree of integration of P. Therefore, when the black background B is displayed, the number of times of use is large, and it is a warning that the replacement time is approaching.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the disk P is detected by the photosensor PS through each display window to detect the presence of reflected light, and the black background B indicates that the reflected light cannot be detected. In some cases, a replacement detection signal for instructing replacement of each process cartridge 30 is output (O
N).

On the other hand, a white background screen plate S is provided inside each of the toner hoppers and the waste toner box 100, and the amount of the toner T accommodated depends on the strength of the reflected light depending on the contrast of the screen plate S with the white background. When the toner T is not detected at the level of the predetermined index N in each toner hopper as detected by the photo sensor PS, the toner detection signal is erased to output a replacement detection signal for the corresponding toner hopper (ON) (replacement). On the other hand, in the waste toner box, when the toner T is detected at the level of the predetermined index N, the replacement detection signal of the waste toner box 100 is output by the generation of the toner detection signal (ON) (replace). It is like this.

In addition to the detection of each exchange detection signal, the image quality of the toner image formed during image formation is also detected.

That is, a patch image of the same color is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive belt 1 outside the image area, such as once in each copy cycle each time each of the above-described monochromatic toner images is formed, or once for several copies. , The image quality is detected through the photo sensor PS provided at the position shown in FIG. 1, and when the image quality above the standard is detected, the image quality detection signal is output (ON) (the image is good). It is like this.

The replacement detection signal may be a cartridge depending on whether the image quality detection signal is output or not even in the output state.
It is not output as an exchange signal of 30 (OFF) or is output as a warning signal on the operation panel as an exchange signal (ON).

The case of the above-mentioned toner hopper will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 6, and a replacement detection signal of the toner hopper in which the amount of toner T in the specified toner hopper is insufficient is output (ON), and on the other hand, the corresponding toner T When the density of the patch image is below the regulation and the image quality detection signal is not output (OFF), the replacement signal of the cartridge 30 is output as shown in the item of the table (O).
N).

Even if the toner hopper replacement detection signal is output (ON), but the patch image density is higher than the specified value and the image quality detection signal is output (ON), the cartridge is set as described in the item. No replacement signal is output (OFF).

As described in the above item, when the toner hopper replacement detection signal is not output (OFF) but the image quality detection signal is not output (OFF), the cartridge replacement signal is not output (OFF). That is, if there is toner but only the image is bad, cartridge replacement is not instructed, but there is a separate measure to transmit a service call or a check request message to the manufacturer by a warning display on the operation panel (not shown). Taken.

In the further term, there is no shortage of toner T,
In addition, the image quality is in a state in which normal image formation exceeding the regulation is possible, and in this case, the cartridge exchange signal is not output (OFF).

It should be noted that whether or not the replacement detection signals of the photosensitive belt 1 other than the toner hopper, the developing devices, etc. are also output as cartridge replacement signals depending on whether or not the image quality detection signal is output. To be done.

[0039]

According to the present invention, especially when both the simple exchange viewpoint, the signal, and the image are bad, the cartridge is instructed to be exchanged for the first time. As a result, the amount of each material to be used can be utilized sufficiently and efficiently, and as a result, an image forming apparatus that is easy to maintain and economically superior can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display window provided on the process cartridge,
It is a layout of a viewing window.

FIG. 3 is a layout view of each photo sensor provided on a side cover.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of detecting the frequency of use by the photo sensor.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a toner amount detection method by the photosensor.

FIG. 6 is a table showing a relationship between each detection signal and a process cartridge exchange signal.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram showing switching of power sources in the charger.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoconductor belt 4 Charging device 5 Laser writing system unit 6 to 9 Developing device 10 Cleaning device 11 Fixing device 12 Paper feed cassette 13 Timing roller 30 Process cartridge 40 Side cover 50, 60 Display window 70, 80 Viewing window P Disk S Screen plate T Toner PS Photo sensor

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a replaceable image forming means, wherein an exchange display of the image forming means is performed by an exchange detection signal of the image forming means and an image quality detection signal of an image to be formed. Image forming apparatus.