JPH053587B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and particularly to an image forming apparatus that can detect the temperature inside or outside the apparatus and output temperature data as necessary. The present invention relates to a forming device.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have been configured to detect the temperature of the surroundings in which they are installed and the temperature inside the apparatus, especially the temperature around the image carrier, and based on this detected data, Various controls were carried out. However, this data was to be immediately deleted.

Therefore, when a problem occurs with the device during use, it is not possible to clearly identify the cause of the problem if the problem is thought to be caused by the temperature inside the device.

Even if it was possible to infer that the temperature inside the device was the cause of the trouble, it was not possible to extract temperature data as needed. If there is a decrease in sensitivity when using the device, or troubles related to electrical components or IC components, in other words, troubles that are thought to be caused by the temperature inside the device, it is difficult to obtain the temperature data necessary to solve the problem. Therefore, it has the disadvantage that the cause of the above-mentioned trouble cannot be solved definitively.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional devices as described above, and detects and stores the ambient temperature in which an image forming device such as a copying device is installed, as well as the temperature inside the device, and outputs temperature data when necessary. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can analyze the causes of troubles that are thought to be caused by temperature.

[Structure of the invention]

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, which includes a temperature detector provided at an appropriate position inside the image apparatus and a corresponding appropriate position outside the image apparatus to detect the temperature in the vicinity thereof; A/D converts the signal output from the device into an appropriate signal
a converter, a central processing unit to which signals output from the A/D converter are input, a memory section for storing signals input to the central processing unit, a backup power supply for backing up the memory section, and the memory section. a display output device for displaying a signal stored in the memory unit, wherein the signal corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor stored in the memory unit is sequentially compared with a signal corresponding to a previously stored temperature. hand,
Signals corresponding to temperatures up to a predetermined number in order from the highest temperature and signals corresponding to temperatures up to a predetermined number in order from the lowest temperature are stored, and these stored signals are processed as necessary through the central processing unit. It has a configuration that is displayed on the display output device according to the display output device.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a copying apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. A document placing table 2 is provided, and a platen cover 3 whose upper surface can be opened and covered is provided on the document placing table 2.

An exposure lamp 4 for irradiating light onto the lower surface of the document table 2 is provided at the top of the interior of the main body, and a drum-shaped photoreceptor drum 5 serving as an image carrier is rotatably provided at the center. , a charging device 6 facing the photoconductor drum is provided near the top of the photoconductor drum, and in front of the charging device 6 in the rotational direction of the photoconductor drum 5 are an exposing section 7, a developing device 8, a transfer device 9, and a separating device. A device 10, a static eliminator 11, and a cleaning device 12 are each arranged close to and facing the photoreceptor drum 5.

A cassette case 13 is removably installed in the lower right part of the main body 1, and when the cassette case 13 is inserted, the uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets stacked in the cassette case 13 is placed in contact with the uppermost sheet. A paper feed roller 14 is provided in contact with the paper feed roller 14, and the space between the paper feed roller 14 and the transfer device 9 forms part of a paper feed path for conveying the paper in the cassette case 13 to the transfer device 9. A paper feed guide member 15 is provided, and this paper feed guide member 15 has a notch in the middle of the paper feed direction, and a pair of upper and lower restart rollers 16 are disposed therein. Paper is fed out synchronously.

A fixing device 19 is provided on the other side of the lower part of the interior of the main body 1.
A conveyance member 20, which forms part of the conveyance path for the transferred paper, is provided between the fixing device 19 and the separating device 10 provided near the photosensitive drum 5. 19 of the conveying members 2
A paper ejection section 21 is provided on the opposite side from 0, and a paper ejection tray 18 is provided outside of the paper ejection section 21.

Regarding the operation of such a copying machine, first place a document on the top surface of the document table 2, cover it with the platen cover 3, and set the number of copies using the numeric keypad 31 of the operation display section 30. When the number of copies is displayed on the copy number display 32 and the copy start switch 33 is pressed, the copying operation starts, the photosensitive drum 5 starts rotating, and
The charging device 6 is also activated to charge the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 5. Subsequently, the exposure lamp 4 turns on and illuminates the lower surface of the document table 2, and the document table starts to move forward, and the reflected light from the exposure lamp 4 passes through the optical system (the part surrounded by the broken line). The exposure unit 7 is irradiated with the light, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 5.

On the other hand, as the copy start switch 33 is pressed, the paper feed roller 14 also rotates, and the uppermost sheet of paper in the cassette case 13 is conveyed through the paper feed path, and this paper is transferred to the restart roller. When it reaches 16, it is detected by a detection member (not shown) such as a micro switch, and it temporarily stops at that position.

Thereafter, the paper is restarted by the restart roller 16 at a timing when it overlaps with the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 5.
When the paper is fed by the paper feed member (admission guide member 17), it reaches the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 5, and then reaches the transfer area. When the paper reaches the transfer area facing the transfer device 9, the toner image corresponding to the original image developed by the development device 8 is transferred to the transfer device 9.
Since it reaches the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum 5 facing the
After the toner image is transferred to the paper by the transfer device 9, it is separated by the separation device 10, and is conveyed by a conveying member to the fixing device 19, where it is fixed and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 18. be.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 5 is cleaned by the static eliminator 11 and the cleaning device 12 to complete one process, and such a process is performed for the set number of copies displayed on the copy number display 32 of the operation display section 30. It is something.

In the copying apparatus configured as described above, a temperature display key 34 is provided on the operation display section 30, and a printer 35, which is a display output device, is provided on the right side of the main body 1.

A temperature detector 36 for detecting the temperature near the photosensitive drum 5 is disposed near the photosensitive drum 5 between the charging device 6 and the developing device 8.

A block diagram including the temperature sensor 36 is shown in FIG. 3, and an analog output corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 36 is input to an A/D converter 37, The output converted into a digital signal by the D converter 37 is input to a central processing unit (CPU) 38.

On the other hand, since the central processing unit 38 is connected to a memory unit 39 provided with a backup power supply 40, the digital signal corresponding to the detected temperature is stored in the memory unit 39, and from then on, the central processing unit (CPU) ) 38 are sequentially compared with the temperatures stored in the memory section 39, and the temperatures from highest to fifth are stored in the memory section 39 in order.

In addition, the memory section 39 stores not only the maximum values of the temperature curve, but also the temperatures of the central processing unit (CPU 3), in order from the highest temperature to the fifth temperature.
8 and stored in the memory section 39, that is, the minimum value of the temperature curve, is also compared in the central processing unit (CPU) 38, and the fifth lowest temperature is stored in the memory section 39. It is becoming more and more common.

Therefore, the memory section 39 stores not only the fifth highest temperature but also the fifth lowest temperature.

Then, when you turn on the temperature display key 34 at any time, that is, when you want to know the stored temperature,
The temperatures stored in the memory section 39, that is, the temperatures from highest to highest and the lowest to fifth temperatures are sent to the printer 35, which is a display output device, through the central processing unit (CPU) 38. Since it is designed to be printed and output, if the printed version is saved, it can be used to find out the cause of the trouble when it occurs.

Furthermore, by turning on a memory set key (not shown) for resetting the memory section 39, the temperatures from the highest temperature to number 5 and the temperatures from the lowest temperature to number 5 are cleared from the memory section 39. Then, the above storage operation is performed again.

Note that since the copying machine is not normally powered on all the time, in this embodiment the storage in the memory section 39 is stored using a backup power supply.
Although this memory is maintained regardless of the power supply of the main body of the copying apparatus, other non-volatile memory may be provided.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the temperature sensor 36
are arranged near the photoreceptor drum 5 to detect the temperature near the photoreceptor drum 5, and detect the temperature of the photoreceptor drum 5 in order from the highest temperature.
The memory unit 39 stores the temperatures up to number 5 and the temperatures up to number 5 in order from the lowest temperature and is configured so that they can be printed out by the printer 35 at any time.
The temperature sensor 36 is installed not only in the vicinity of the photoreceptor drum 5, but also in parts of the image forming apparatus that are likely to be affected by temperature, such as the developer part of the developing device and the power supply part. It is also possible to configure the system so that the temperature sensor is placed in a part where a compensation range is required and the temperature of that part is monitored.In such a case, multiple temperature detectors should be installed instead of just one It may be installed at a specific location, and it does not have to be the fifth highest temperature and the fifth lowest temperature. Various storage modes are possible, such as storing each copy or each copy.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the printer 35 is used as the display output device has been described, but without printing using the printer 35,
For example, the number of copies display section 32 of the operation display section 30 may also be used to display the number of copies, or in this case, the display of the number of copies is interrupted each time the temperature display key 34 is pressed. Then, the temperatures stored in the memory section 39 may be displayed sequentially from the highest temperature to the lowest temperature at predetermined intervals.

Further, the same function as the temperature display key 34 can be provided by inputting a combination of the ten keys 31 without providing the temperature display key 34 alone in the device.

Furthermore, the temperature detector 36 is not only disposed inside the device, but also disposed outside the device corresponding to the position where it is disposed inside the device, so that the temperature sensor 36 can measure not only the internal temperature but also the outside air temperature corresponding to this internal temperature. By displaying the information, it is possible to know the relative relationship between the outside temperature and the internal temperature, and from this temperature information, it is possible to know the installation location of the image forming apparatus, that is, the influence of the ambient temperature on the inside of the apparatus. In addition, it is possible to obtain information that is effective in elucidating the cause of a failure when a failure occurs, and can be used as a reference for the development of new models.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention is configured as described above to be able to detect the temperature at a suitable position inside the device and the corresponding temperature at a suitable position outside the device, and to detect the temperature detected by the temperature detector. We have made it possible to memorize the highest temperature up to a predetermined temperature and the lowest temperature up to a predetermined temperature, and display these temperatures on the display output device as necessary, so that troubles may occur. You can easily determine whether the cause is an abnormal rise in temperature or an abnormal drop in temperature, and you can also know the correlation between the temperature inside and outside the equipment when a problem occurs. You can learn how the surrounding temperature affects each part of the phase. Therefore, the cause of the trouble can be easily determined,
This has excellent effects such as being able to prevent troubles from occurring and being greatly advantageous in terms of maintenance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of an image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view, FIG. 3 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Main body, 2...Document mounting table, 3...Platen cover, 4...Exposure lamp, 5...Photoconductor drum, 6...Charging device, 7...Exposure section, 8...Developing device, 9 ... Transfer device, 10 ... Separation device, 11
... Static eliminator, 12 ... Cleaning device, 13
...Cassette case, 14...Paper feed roller, 15
... Paper feed guide member, 16 ... Restart roller, 17 ... Entry guide member, 18 ... Paper discharge tray, 19 ... Fixing device, 20 ... Conveying member, 21
...Paper output section, 30...Operation display section, 31...Numeric keypad, 32...Copy number display, 33...Copy start switch, 34...Temperature display key, 3
5...Printer, 36...Temperature detector, 37...
...A/D converter, 38...Central processing unit, 39...
...Memory section, 40...Backup power supply.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a temperature sensor is provided at an appropriate position inside the image apparatus and a corresponding appropriate position outside the image apparatus to detect the temperature in the vicinity, and an output from the temperature sensor is provided. an A/D converter that converts the signal into an appropriate signal;
a central processing unit to which signals output from the A/D converter are input; a memory section for storing signals input to the central processing unit; a backup power source for backing up the memory section; and a display output device that displays the signal,
The signals corresponding to the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor stored in the memory section are sequentially compared with the signals corresponding to previously stored temperatures, and the signals corresponding to the predetermined temperatures in order from the highest temperature are generated. , and signals corresponding to temperatures up to a predetermined temperature in order from the lowest temperature are stored, and these stored signals are as follows:
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image is displayed on the display output device as necessary via the central processing unit.