JPH0553267B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process kit configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

Taking a photographic device that uses electrophotography as an example, if it is used for a long time, it will generally be necessary to replace the photoreceptor, replenish or replace the developer, clean the charging wire, and make other adjustments or replacements. , Such maintenance work is performed by specialized service personnel.
However, in order to keep this photographic device operating in good condition at all times, a method has been proposed in which maintenance work is performed without relying on service personnel with the above-mentioned specialized knowledge. One example is a method of simply replacing each component included in the device, such as a discharger, a developing device, and a photosensitive drum, singly or in combination with new ones. If the configuration is such that the process kit can be replaced, multiple kits can be prepared depending on the purpose of use, and the kit suitable for the purpose can be loaded into the main body of the device. The same main body can be used for multiple functions.

However, when it is possible to load any process kit into the same main body as described above, for example, if the characteristics of the photoreceptor on the process kit side are different or the developer is different, the corona on the main body side If the discharge amount of the discharge device, the image exposure amount, the bias value, etc. are always constant, there is a risk that the completed image will differ each time a different process kit is loaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent differences in image quality of completed images due to the loaded process kit.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a process kit that includes an image carrier and an image forming means for forming an image on the image carrier, and is removably attached to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material. an image forming condition adjusting means for adjusting the image forming condition; a setting means for adjusting the image forming condition by the image forming condition adjusting means; and a setting means for adjusting the image forming condition according to the characteristics of the image carrier. A process kit characterized in that it has a regulating means provided to regulate the adjustment range of the adjusting means.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained with reference to examples and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of main parts of an electrophotographic copying apparatus to which the present invention is applicable.

The embodiments described below are process kits that can be attached to and removed from the main body of the apparatus, and the development characteristics of the image forming member depend on the characteristics of the photoreceptor in the kit, the development method, or the characteristics of the developer. The kit itself has a means for setting image forming conditions. Further, the embodiment described below is an image forming apparatus that forms an image by loading the above-mentioned kit, and forms an image within a setting range by a means for setting image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the image forming member in the kit. It controls the conditions.

The apparatus 1 shown in the figure is a copying apparatus using electrophotography, in which a photosensitive drum 2 having a photoconductive layer provided on a conductive drum base is rotatably supported in the direction of the arrow. A corona discharger 3, a short focus optical element array 4, a developing device 5, a transfer corona discharger 6, and a cleaning device 7 are arranged around the drum 2 in accordance with the rotational direction of the drum. In this apparatus 1, a photosensitive drum 2, a discharger 3, a developing device 5, and a cleaning device 7 are integrally supported by a housing 8. This casing 8 is guided and supported by guide rails 9 fixed to the main body, and is attached to and removed from the apparatus main body.

In the copying apparatus described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is uniformly charged with a predetermined polarity by the corona discharger 3, and then the document on the document table 10 that moves back and forth at the top of the apparatus main body is illuminated by the lamp 11, and the reflected light is transmitted to the element array. 4
A latent image is formed on the drum 2 by exposing the drum 2 to light.
The formed latent image is developed by a developing device 5, and the developed image is transferred to a transfer material by a transfer corona discharger 6. The transfer material is manually supplied to the transfer supply tray 12 and conveyed to the transfer section via the conveyance roller 13 and timing roller 14. The transfer material that has been transferred is separated by a separating means 15,
It is sent to a fixing device 17 via a moving path 16 and fixed therein, and then sent to an output tray 19 via an output roller 18.
sent upwards.

As mentioned above, since the process kit is removable from the main body of the apparatus, when the usable durability of the photosensitive drum or developing device 5 has been exceeded, the main body of the apparatus can operate as a copying machine again by replacing only this kit. . Therefore, even an operator without specialized knowledge can maintain the device. Furthermore, by providing a text kit that emphasizes edges, a photo kit that reproduces halftones well, or a monochromatic color kit that contains color toner, it is possible to obtain reproduced images depending on the purpose.

However, the problem here is that depending on the process kit, even if the condition settings on the main body side are the same, the same image quality may not be obtained, and only reproduced images of different image quality can be obtained. That's true.
A possible reason for this is that the characteristics of the photosensitive drum differ depending on the size. Such changes in the characteristics of the photosensitive drum occur due to changes in physical and chemical conditions when forming the photosensitive layer and the mixing ratio of materials. Therefore, photoconductors from the same lot will have the same characteristics, but photoconductors from different lots may have different characteristics.

By the way, as a method for correcting reproduced images using a kit as described above, as shown in FIG.
This pin 21 is used to set the control mode on the main body side. That is, the position of the signal pin is changed depending on whether the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum is high or low, and when this pin kit is loaded into the main body, the switch 22 on the main body side
Selectively turn on. As a result, when the concentration adjustment lever 23 on the main body side is moved, the switch 2
A bias voltage within the voltage range set in step 2 is applied to the developing device 5 via the connector 24 on the main body side and the process kit 20 side. Note that this bias voltage is applied to the developing bias power supply circuit 25 on the main body side.
The output type of is set by the output of switch 22 via pin 21. By the way, in the above-mentioned apparatus, it is possible to set the conditions for image formation in accordance with the characteristics of the process kit. However, the switch
Since it is based on digital ON/OFF signals, it may not be possible to set delicate conditions. Also, analog control is possible depending on the length and thickness of the pin on the kit side, but since it is a combination of two different parts,
It is also possible that the pin information is not accurately transmitted to the main body side. The present invention solves this problem, and one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the attachment/detachment relationship between the apparatus main body and the process kit 20. In the process kit containing the photosensitive drum, the front door 1a of the main body is opened, and the operator manually operates the housing 8. This is done by pulling out. The arrows in the figure indicate the direction of movement of the housing as the process kit is attached and detached.

The apparatus of the above embodiment has a configuration that solves the problem when the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum differs depending on the process kit.Differences in the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum depending on the kit cause a change in image quality in the finished copy. I can't do it.

In the figure, 26 is a variable resistor for setting the developing bias according to the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum 2, and this variable resistor 26 is movable between the terminal 27 and the slit 28 relative to the main body of the apparatus, and within the range of this slit 28. The photoreceptor includes a variable potentiometer knob 29, and a regulating plate 30 that determines the movement range of the knob 29 in accordance with the characteristics of the photoreceptor.

FIG. 4 shows the variable resistor 26 when the regulating plate 30 is attached. If the knob 29 in the figure is slid across the entire width of the slit 28, the bias voltage to the developing device 5 will change depending on the position of the knob 29. and change. The slit 28 of this variable resistor 26
The range of use is determined by the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum.

5 and 6 show that the variable resistor 26 is provided with a regulating plate 30 according to the characteristics of the photosensitive drum, and the hole 31 of this regulating plate allows the slit 28 to be
The range of movement of the knob 29 relative to that is set.

That is, when the sensitivity of the photoreceptor drum in the process kit is low, the knob 29 allows movement in a region that increases the bias voltage to the developing roller, and conversely, when the sensitivity is high, the knob 29 allows movement in a region that increases the bias voltage to the same roller. Allows movement in the area where the bias voltage is lowered. The regulation plate 30 differs depending on the characteristics of the photosensitive drum, so in reality, a regulation plate with multiple types of holes is prepared and used for different or grouped photosensitive drums depending on the characteristics. The same regulation plate is fixed to the variable resistor of the process kit using an adhesive or a fitting method.

Incidentally, the front door 1a (FIG. 3) has an opening 32 as shown in FIG.
Marks and indicators that serve as a guide for the reproduced image written in accordance with the position of 1 can be read through this opening 32. With the above configuration, the bias applied to the developing device 5 matches the characteristics of the photosensitive drum of each process kit. Therefore, by simply loading the process kit into the correct position in the main body of the apparatus, an appropriate developing bias can be automatically applied to the developing device 5 of the kit via the terminal 27.

As a modification of the above embodiment, this knob 28
The voltage applied to the exposure lamp that exposes the original 10 and the voltage applied to the corona discharger 3 may be changed accordingly.

Incidentally, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is applied to correction of variations due to the characteristics of photosensitive drums, but other application examples of the present invention include corrections when the purpose of use of the kit itself is different. There is automatic condition setting. For example, a process kit for black copying (hereinafter referred to as a black kit) is created by filling a developing device of a process kit with the same shape with black toner.
On the other hand, it is conceivable to use a red toner encapsulated as a red copying process kit (hereinafter referred to as a red kit). In this case, since the substances that make up the toner are different in both process kits,
If images are always formed under the same conditions, it may not be possible to obtain a good copy image depending on the loaded kit.

To solve this problem, in order to form a latent image that matches the development characteristics of each process kit, the image exposure amount and charge amount are changed, or the development bias voltage is changed. This makes it possible to always form a stable image by setting the image forming conditions within the range regulated by the slit of the process kit. That is, the black kit marks 5 on the slit scale.
If a good copy is obtained by placing the knob at position , if you move the knob for the red kit and place it at position 5 on the slit scale, good image formation will be achieved with the red kit as well as with the black kit. It becomes possible.
Specifically, when comparing black toner and red toner, if red toner has characteristics that make it more difficult to develop,
Using the kit knob 28, when a red kit is used, a latent image is formed at a higher potential than when a black kit is used, and the development promotion bias is increased.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the case of a slit and a knob that move in the horizontal direction was illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
Means for determining the setting area can be used, such as a slit in the vertical direction or in an arc, or a dial that limits the amount of rotation. Furthermore, although the process kit is generally a combination of a photosensitive drum and an image forming means around it, as an extreme example, a photosensitive drum or a developing device carrier may also be considered. Further, although a photosensitive drum is exemplified as an image bearing member, a magnetic drum that forms a magnetic latent image may also be used, and the image bearing member is not limited to a photosensitive member. When a variable resistor is used, it may be a member that simply changes the electrical resistance value, or may be a member that changes the output voltage.

As described above, according to this embodiment, there is no change in the final image depending on the characteristics of the process kit, and stable image formation is always possible regardless of the signal pin of the loaded kit. Since this is done automatically by means of determining the setting range of image forming conditions on the process kit side, no special adjustment is required on the device itself, making it possible to reduce manufacturing costs. .

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since the operator can manually operate the setting means as necessary, the image forming conditions can be adjusted to the optimum state. According to the invention:
Since the adjustment range of the adjusting means can be regulated in accordance with the characteristics of the image carrier, it is possible to quickly adjust the image carrier to an optimal state within a range that corresponds to the characteristics of the image carrier. This can significantly improve the operability when actually using the process kit, and has a significant effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying machine to which the present invention can be applied;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an image forming process not according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the variable resistor section of FIG. 3, 5 and 6 are front views of the setting area regulating means of the embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front door of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, 2 is a photosensitive drum, 3 is a corona discharger, 5 is a developer, 7 is a cleaning device, 26 is a variable resistor, 27 is a terminal, 28 is a slit, 29 is a knob, 30 is a regulation plate, and 31 is a hole. , is.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A process kit that includes an image bearing member and an image forming means for forming an image on the image bearing member and is removable from an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material, comprising: an image forming condition adjusting means for adjusting the conditions; a setting means for adjusting the image forming conditions by the image forming condition adjusting means; and an image forming condition adjusting means for adjusting the image forming conditions according to the characteristics of the image carrier. A process kit comprising: a regulating means provided to regulate the adjustment range of; 2. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the setting means is a knob that can be slid by an operator. 3. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the setting means is a dial that can be rotated by an operator. 4. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition is a developing bias voltage. 5. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition is a voltage applied to an exposure lamp that exposes the original. 6. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition is a voltage applied to a corona discharger. 7. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the regulating means is a regulating plate having a hole regulating the movement range of the knob. 8. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is a photosensitive drum. 9. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming means is a corona discharger. 10. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming means is a developing device. 11. The process kit according to claim 1, wherein the image forming means is a cleaning device.