JPS615257A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rationalize maintenance by forming a kit consisting of several process members for an image forming process incorporated into one housing in such a manner that said kit can be freely attached and detached to and from a main body, providing a display device for the number of image formation to the main body and resetting the display device at every kit exchange. CONSTITUTION:The SW of the main body 1 is closed and a reset button 24 is set when the kit K for executing several processes for forming an image is set to the main body. A trigger is then generated 27 and a reset pulse is generated 28 to clear the display device 25 via a counter circuit 30. For example, the passage of transfer paper, the number of revolution of a photosensitive body, the number of reciprocation of an original platen, etc. are detected 29 and are counted up 30 and displayed when the kit K operates. The SW1 is kept open when the clearing of the display device is not desired. The number of operation of the kit K is thus automatically displayed and the life thereof is predicted. The rational maintenance, inspection, exchange, etc. of the kit are made possible and the kit device is used always in the most suitable condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is used for copying and recording, and can be widely used in copying machines, telefax machines, and other applications.

, First, as an example, the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic method is the 1st v! An example is given in J. The surface of the photosensitive drum 2 rotating at a constant speed is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by a corona discharger 3, a latent image is formed by image exposure by an optical system 4, and the latent image is developed by a developing device 5. The developed image is transferred to the transfer material sent from the tray 12 by the transfer corona charger 6, and the transfer material is separated by the separating means 15, sent to the fixing device 17 via the moving path 16, and sent out to the copy tray 19. . The photosensitive drum 2 is cleaned by the cleaning device 7 and charged again by the charger 3, and the above cycle is repeated.

The illustrated example is an electronic copying machine in which a document placed on a movable document table 10 is illuminated by a lamp 11, and the image is exposed by a short focus optical element array 4. be.

In the figure, 13 is a conveyance roller, 14 is a timing b-ra, 18
indicates the discharge roller.

As mentioned above, process members of the image forming process disposed around the photosensitive drum 2, such as the corona discharger 3, the developing device 5, the transfer corona discharger 611, the cleaning device 7, etc., and one or more members such as the discharger 3, The developing device 5 and cleaning device 7,
The photosensitive drum 2 and the photosensitive drum 2 are integrally assembled into a housing/body 8 (hereinafter referred to as a process kit), and are guided and supported by guide rails 91 and 92 provided in the apparatus main body 1 to be attached to and removed from the main body 1.

For copying machines using the above process kit, if the number of image formations that can be used is determined based on the usage durability of the photoreceptor, the entire process kit can be replaced based on the number of times this process kit has been used. By doing so, it is possible to not only replace the deteriorated photoreceptor, but also dispose of the used toner collected in the cleaning device, replace the corona wire of the discharger 3 contaminated with toner, and replenish new toner all at once. becomes possible. The repair work described above can be completed by simply replacing the process kit with the main unit, so even a person without special skills or experience can easily make the copying machine usable. I can do it.

It is most appropriate for the above-mentioned lifespan determination to determine the usable period of the process kit to indicate the limit based on the number of times the process kit is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to accurately inform an operator of the usage limit of a process kit that can be attached to and removed from a main unit and has a limited number of uses.

The present invention relates to a counter of an image forming apparatus configured for such purpose, which is provided with an image forming number display, and clears the display in front of the display in conjunction with loading of process killer) K. The number of times the process kit has been used is newly displayed.

To give a concrete example of the drawings, in Fig. 2, 25 is a display provided in the main body 1 of the apparatus, and when the process kit K is removed, the number of copies actually made is displayed as the number of times the process kit has been used. is displayed. When a new process kit K is loaded, a reset button 24 provided at the back of the main body l is pressed and the display 25 is cleared.

A mechanism for clearing the display 25 by loading the above kit will be explained. By loading the newly prepared process kit K into the main body, press the reset button 2 in Figure 3.
Switch 4 is pushed in, trigger generation circuit 2 on the main body side
7 is closed and a single trigger signal is generated.

Since the switch SWl is closed when at least the Kira) K is loaded and ready for image formation, the generation of this trigger signal causes the reset pulse generation circuit 28 to generate a pulse, and the display 25 is cleared.

Next, as means for detecting the number of image formations, the number of image formations is detected by an image formation number detection means 29 that detects the passage of the transfer paper, the number of rotations of the photoreceptor, or the reciprocating movement of the document table. However, the counter 30, which is driven by a pulse signal generated each time this detection is performed, adds or subtracts the count based on the pulse signal and displays the result on the display 25. This counter uses random access memory (RAM).
) is incorporated, and the values counted up to that point are stored even when the power is turned off, and are displayed on the display 25 when the power is turned on.

In this embodiment, the image forming number detection means is an original platen lO.
Detection means is a combination of a Hall element and a magnet attached to the main body. On the other hand, the switch SWl is a switch provided to keep the trigger circuit open so that the counter display 25 is not cleared when the process kit loaded in the main body is pulled out of the main body and desired to be reloaded. At this time, switch S
If Wt is specially opened, it is possible to prevent the counter display from being cleared. Note that this kind of switch SW1
As shown in Fig. 4, it may be opened and closed (0-FF, ON) by rotating a lock lever 31 for fixing the loaded process kit to the main body. If you close it when you turn K in the locking direction.

SWI with kit K installed and switch 24 closed.
To further close the counter circuit 30, a reset pulse signal is delivered to the counter circuit 30, which resets the display to display, for example, 0 or the number of times the kit can be used.

As shown in Fig. 3, the switch 24 is always biased by a spring 24a in the direction of turning the contact OFF, and the switch 24 is closed (ON) by pressing the protrusion Kl on the loaded kit.
) state.

In Figure 2, 32 is a display to add up the cumulative number of times the main unit has been used.It has nothing to do with attaching or removing the process kit.For example, if the number of uses is the number of copies, then how many copies has been made by the main unit including the kit? total. Therefore, regardless of whether this process kit is installed or removed, the number of times the document table is reciprocated and the number of times the transfer material passes is detected and displayed in five clicks.Its use is for determining the timing of repair of the main unit and for determining the warranty period of the main unit. used for.

According to the present invention, the number of times image forming is performed on each replacement process kit is displayed, so that the operator can easily perform the replacement process based on the number of times of its life, and this type of image forming apparatus can always be used in the best condition. .

Note that the process kit illustrated in the embodiment of the present invention has a photosensitive drum, a charger, a developing device, and a cleaning device that are integrally configured to be removable from the main body. A combination of a consumable member such as a developing device or a developing device and a cleaning device may be considered, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an example of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a process kit thereof, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image forming number display circuit. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a modified example. 1 is an image forming apparatus, K is a process kit, and 25 is an image forming number display.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus, a process kit in which several process members of the image forming process are assembled into one housing is detachably attached to the apparatus body, and an image forming number indicator is installed on the apparatus body. What is claimed is: 1. An image forming apparatus, wherein a display on the apparatus main body side is reset in conjunction with loading of a process kit to display the number of times of image formation by the loaded process kit.