JPH0612480B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus of a type in which a unit in which a plurality of components for forming an image such as a photoconductor are combined is detachably attached to an apparatus main body.

[Prior art and its problems]

Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic copying machine, in order to use the apparatus for a long period of time, replacement of consumable parts such as a photosensitive drum, cleaning of a developing device, a charging device, or replenishment of a developer,
It was necessary to periodically dispose of the waste toner. Since such a work is performed by a professional maintenance person, and the work is complicated, it is actually difficult to carry out regular inspections of a small number of copying machines, especially in the market.

Therefore, in order to simplify the maintenance and inspection work, for example, the photosensitive drum, the developing device, and the cleaning device are integrally configured as a unit, and the maintenance and inspection work is performed by replacing the unit. In such a case, in order to manage the replacement time of the unit, or before the final replacement time of the unit is reached, for example, when the toner color is changed, it may be replaced with another unit. Is equipped with a counter for recording the usage time (the number of prints). And as for that counter,
For example, a mechanical counter is used that records the number of prints by mechanically counting the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum.

However, in the mechanical counter as described above, there are many failures, and although it is possible to use a semiconductor recording device as a means for recording the number of prints, a power supply for holding the recording in each unit or a The unit is expensive due to the circuitry required.

Therefore, a counter for counting the number of prints of the unit is provided on the apparatus main body side, the counter is reset every time the unit is mounted on the main body, and the unit for counting the predetermined number of copies is reached to the end of the life of the user. Some are configured to notify.

However, in such a device, the installed unit is not always used until it reaches the end of its life. May be In such a case, there is a drawback that the count value of the counter of the main body cannot be distinguished from the count value of which unit, and the life of the unit cannot be accurately managed in the end.

[Object of the Invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately counting the number of prints of individual units to be mounted and thereby accurately managing the life of the units. .

[Main points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit including elements necessary for an image forming process is replaceable with respect to an image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming unit, the image forming unit includes a recording unit that records the code provided by the providing unit, and the image forming apparatus further includes: The main body identifies the code recorded in the image forming unit according to the mounting of the image forming unit, an identifying unit for identifying an image forming operation amount corresponding to each code, and the identifying unit for identifying. A control means for operating the counter corresponding to the code is provided.

Example of Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image forming unit is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming unit.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus main body for printing using an electrophotographic process, and the image forming unit 2 can be replaced with respect to the main body 1. The image forming unit 2 has a photosensitive drum, a developing device and a cleaning device (not shown) are arranged around the photosensitive drum, and these devices are integrally configured to form a unit. Then, by simply replacing the image forming unit 2, the photosensitive drum can be replaced, the developer in the developing device can be replenished, or the waste toner stored in the cleaning device can be discarded at the same time.

On a side surface of the image forming unit 2, an operation piece 3, which will be described later,
4, 5 are arranged, and solenoids 6, 7, 8 and microswitches 9, 10, 11 are provided on the main body 1 side so as to face the above-mentioned operating pieces, respectively. Reference numeral 12 denotes a micro switch for detecting that the image forming unit 2 is attached to the main body 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the operating piece, the solenoid and the micro switch.

Each of the operating pieces 3, 4, 5 includes a unit case 2a and a connecting portion 2b
Since the thickness of the connecting portion 2b is smaller than that of the operating piece, the connecting portion 2b is cut from the unit case 2a when the connecting portion 2b is pushed. Then, the solenoids 6, 7, and 8 are provided facing the connecting portion 2b of each operating piece.
In this case, when the solenoid is excited, the plunger 6a
(Only the plunger 6a of the solenoid 6 is shown) protrudes and pushes the connecting portion 2b, whereby an arbitrary operating piece can be disconnected from the unit case 2a. In addition,
When the excitation is completed, the plunger returns to its original position by the spring.

Below the solenoids 6, 7 and 8, the operating pieces 3, 4,
Micro switches 9, 10, and 11 are provided so as to oppose to 5, and when the image forming unit 2 is mounted, the micro switches are pushed by the operating piece and turned on. In this case, since the hollow portion 2c is formed inside each operating piece, when the operating piece is cut by the solenoid as described above,
The micro switch turns off.

As described above, when a new unit is attached, since each of the operating pieces 3 to 5 is attached to the unit, all of the microswitches 9 to 11 are turned on, thereby identifying the new unit. After that, for example, the solenoid 6 is excited to cut the operation piece 5 corresponding to this solenoid, and a code is given to the unit. That is,
Since the three operating pieces are provided, seven combinations can be made depending on the presence or absence of the operating pieces, so that different codes can be given to the seven units. Also, when the reuse unit is installed, the code was previously given in the same way as above, so each micro switch turns on or off depending on the presence of the operating piece, and the code Can be identified.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the electric circuit in the above embodiment.

Reference numeral 13 in the drawing is a semi-divided circuit for identifying the code attached to the unit by the actuation piece detecting main bodies of the microswitches 9, 10, 11 and outputs its output to the data comparison control circuit 14. In the determination circuit 13, for example, if the operating piece 3 is cut and the operating pieces 4 and 5 are attached, the micro switch 9 corresponding to the operating piece 3 is turned off and the operating pieces 4 and 5 are associated. The micro switches 10 and 11 are turned on. As a result, the signal input to the determination circuit 13 is converted into a 3-bit electric signal 011 and also input as a unit code signal.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus main body 1 is provided with a random access memory 15 (hereinafter referred to as a RAM), and as shown in the RAM 15 as a memory 1, a memory 2 and a memory 7, seven types of image forming units are provided. It has an area for storing the code of 2. Then, the code of the previously mounted unit is registered in the storage area of the RAM 15. Further, a counter 16 is provided in the main body 1, a counter 1, a counter 2, and a counter 7 corresponding to the code of the unit registered in the RAM 15 are provided therein, and the counter holds the number of past prints of the unit. is doing.

A RAM 15 for storing codes of these units and a counter 16 for storing the number of prints of each unit are connected to an auxiliary power source (not shown) for backup so that data is not erased even when the power source of the apparatus main body is shut off. .

The data comparison control circuit 14 compares the code of the attached unit output from the determination circuit 13 with the code stored in the RAM 15, and as a result, sets a counter according to the unit or a new one as described later. A command signal is output so as to give a code to the unit mounted on. Reference numeral 17 is a solenoid driver for driving the solenoids 6, 7, and 8 and operates when a newly used unit is attached to the main body 1. That is, if all the operation pieces of the unit 2 are attached, all the micro switches are turned on,
Since the code signal is 111, the discrimination circuit 13 identifies that the mounted unit is a new unit,
As a result, the solenoid driver 17 controls the data comparison control circuit 14 to add the unit code as described above.
The command signal is output to. A counter selector 18 selects a counter corresponding to the unit code by the output signal of the data comparison control circuit 14.

FIG. 5 shows a unit management operation flow of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, when the power is turned on and the image forming unit 2 is mounted on the main body 1, the mounting of the unit is detected by the switch 12, and as described above, the microswitches 9 and 1 are mounted.
A code signal is output to the discrimination circuit 13 by detecting the presence or absence of the operating pieces 3, 4, and 5 of the unit 2 by 0 and 11. At this time, all the micro switches are turned on,
When the signal 111 is output, the mounted unit is a newly used unit, so the data comparison control circuit 1
4 outputs a code assignment command signal to the micro switch driver 17. Then, each solenoid is driven, and the actuating piece is cut in accordance with the code to add a new code. In this case, since the code to be added is a code not registered in the RAM 15, and 111 is a new unit, it is not used. For example, when a code of 100 is added, only the solenoids 7 and 8 are excited, and the operation pieces 4 and 5 corresponding to the solenoids 7 and 8 are cut to add the unit code. At the same time, the code is registered in the RAM 15, and further, for example, the counter 1 inside the counter 16 is set as the counter corresponding to the unit having the 100 codes. As a result, a code has been added to the mounted unit, and thus the code has already been registered. Also, the code of the installed unit is not a newly used unit, and the code of the unit is RAM.
If it is not registered in 15, since there is no history of previous use, it is impossible to count the exact number of prints of the unit, and the unit is displayed as unusable to the user.

On the other hand, a code is attached to the mounted unit,
If this code is registered in the RAM 15, that is, the data comparison control circuit 14 causes the unit code and the RAM 1
If the code of the unit and any one of the registration codes of the RAM 15 match as a result, the data comparison control circuit 14 sets the counter corresponding to the code. Then, a command signal is output to the counter selector 18 to set the counter corresponding to the unit to which the counter selector 18 is attached. In this case, the counter holds the number of past prints of the unit, and when performing printing, the print signal output from the main control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body 1 at the number of past prints is printed. Sequentially add one by one. After this, when the counter is up,
Assuming that the number of printed sheets of the mounted unit has reached the end of its life, the counter is reset, the code of the unit is deleted from the RAM 15, and at the same time, the user is notified to replace with a new unit. Even when it is attached to a new unit, after assigning the code to the unit, set the counter as described above, count the number of prints with the counter, and when the life is reached, delete the code and notify the user of the life. I do.

As described above, when the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus main body is replaced, the code attached to the unit is compared with the code of the unit registered in the RAM. Can be determined. If the installed unit is a newly used unit as a result of the determination, a code can be automatically added to the installed unit, and a counter can be added from one sheet to the newly installed unit. If the unit is a reused unit, and if it is a reused unit, it is added to the past number of prints of that unit. The number of sheets can be counted accurately. Therefore, for example, even if the unit is removed halfway to change the toner color and the unit is used again after a while, the number of prints of the unit can be accurately counted. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the unit with a counter, the cost of the disposable unit can be reduced.

In the embodiment, the example in which the switch 12 detects that the unit is attached is shown, but a micro switch for detecting the operating piece may also be used. In this case, when the unit code is 000 and all the operating pieces are cut, the code 000 cannot be used as a registration code. Further, the code of the unit is given by the presence or absence of the three actuating pieces, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be more. Further, the combination of the actuating piece and the solenoid is used as the method of giving the code, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an identifiable light-reflecting mark or heat sensitivity may be used. In this case, as a means for discriminating the mark, a coating device of ink or the like for applying a light-reflecting mark and a photo sensor may be used, and a heating wire and a photo sensor for discoloring the thermal paper attached to the unit may be used. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately count the number of prints of each unit, and thereby reliably manage the life of the unit.
Further, it is not necessary to provide a counter in the unit, and the cost of the unit can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming unit, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a positional relationship between an operating piece, a solenoid and a micro switch, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electric circuit in the example, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention. 1 ... Image forming apparatus body, 2 ... Image forming unit 3, 4, 5 ... Operating piece, 6, 7, 8 ... Solenoid, 9, 10, 11 ... Micro switch, 12 ... Unit detection Micro switch, 13 ... Judgment circuit, 14 ... Data comparison control circuit, 15 ... RAM, 16 ... Counter, 17 ... Solenoid driver, 18 ... Counter selector.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 62-95552 (JP, A) JP 62-75667 (JP, A) JP 57-163276 (JP, A) JP 62-83768 (JP , A) JP 62-75667 (JP, A) JP 58-105168 JP, A) JP 62-40471 (JP, A) JP 1-178974 (JP, A) JP 61- 94070 (JP, A) JP 59-218480 (JP, A) JP 60-229047 (JP, A) Actually opened 59-176059 (JP, U) Actually opened 60-120466 (JP, U) Actual Kohei 4-12507 (JP, Y2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit including elements necessary for an image forming process is replaceable with respect to an image forming apparatus main body, the image forming apparatus main body distinguishes an image forming unit to be mounted. A code for applying the code to the image forming unit, the image forming unit includes a recording unit for recording the code applied by the applying unit, and the image forming apparatus main body includes the image forming unit. An identification unit for identifying a code recorded in the image forming unit according to the mounting of the image forming unit, a counter for measuring an image forming operation amount corresponding to each code, and a counter corresponding to the code identified by the identification unit. An image forming apparatus comprising a control unit for operating the image forming apparatus.