JPS6275667A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely and easily set automatically data peculiar to a unit by storing data peculiar to the unit for image formation and rewriting data by connection to a device body. CONSTITUTION:After a unit 51 or 52 for image formation is set to a device body 1, a control unit 3 fetchs data stored in a rewritable non-volatile memory 61 or 62 and uses this data to set each process condition and controls copying in accordance with this condition. At every time one copying operation is terminated, the unit 3 stores the count data of a copy counter of the device body 1 in the memory 61 or 62. The unit 3 checks maintenance timing data from the unit 51 or 52 and the copy counter of this unit to decides whether the maintenance timing come near or not. Non-volatile memories are provided in units 51 and 52 to form the images having high quality in accordance with proper condition setting even for unit replacement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One industrial field of application - Undeveloped IJJ relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process.

1. Prior Art 1. In image forming apparatuses using the 'ilZ f-photographic process, such as copying machines, there are some in which a unit for image formation has a separate SNR function from the main body of the apparatus.9 For example, in a color copying machine, a drum unit, a developing device, Each unit, such as the electrode, is made replaceable, and the color unit is exchanged and rotated to develop and transfer different patterns using different colored toners, and other drum units can be used during maintenance and inspection of the drum, etc. Enable copying.

This type of conventional image forming apparatus is equipped with six types of control mechanisms and control circuits in the main body of the apparatus, and one unit includes parts of the image forming process elements that require unitization and parts that require maintenance and inspection. By providing a unit or a plurality of units and mounting each unit on the apparatus main body, each unit can perform an image forming operation under control from the apparatus main body. For example, in a color copying machine, each unit is equipped with a drum unit, a developing device, various electrodes, etc., and the main body of the device has a microcomputer as the control center, an optical system, an operation console, a power supply, a drive mechanism, and a feeder. Equipped with a paper ejection mechanism.

In such an image forming apparatus including at least one unit, data necessary for image forming control and unit management is manually set in the apparatus body by an operator or the like each time the unit is replaced. For example, in a color copying machine, there is a PM counter compatible with Color Uni/), developer color, drum characteristics 4fi (drum current value,
Development bias value, appropriate light amount value, drum potential hJ')
, each electrode voltage, etc. are manually recorded for each unit, and when replacing the occupied unit, the recorded data is manually input to the main body of the apparatus to set copy conditions. For this reason,
Conventional devices have the trouble of having to record and set various data every time the unit is replaced, and there are problems in that incorrect data recording and settings can degrade image quality or lead to inappropriate maintenance timing.

1. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 1. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably and easily automatically set unit-specific data for image forming, in view of the actual situation of conventional image forming apparatuses as described above. It is about providing.

Configuration of the Invention The present invention includes at least one unit for forming an image by an electrophotographic page process, an apparatus main body, and a molecule i j ■! In an image forming apparatus that is equipped with an image forming apparatus, data specific to the image forming unit is stored in at least one of the units, and when the unit is installed in the apparatus main body, the data is stored in the apparatus main body. The apparatus is characterized in that it includes a storage stage which performs image formation control and performs data replacement by the apparatus main body.

Embodiment 1 An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a control system block diagram of a color copying machine. The apparatus main body l includes a copying apparatus 2 consisting of an optical system, a power supply, a drive mechanism, a paper feed/discharge mechanism, etc., a control unit 3 consisting of a microcomputer, and an operation section 4 consisting of a copy number setting device, etc.
and (7) the control unit 3 controls each part of the copying apparatus 2 based on the settings of the operating section 4 and the like. 22) 51.52
The drum 12 and the developing unit 1 are mounted on a unit stand 11, as shown in FIG.
3. Toner supply device 14. 15. A cleaning box 16 etc. is installed, and in addition to this, a non-volatile memory 61 is installed.
．． 62.

This non-volatile memory (also called durable memory) f3+
+ 62 is a memory element that can be replaced by a memory element 1, which is connected to the control unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1 by installing the unit in the apparatus main body 1, and is connected to the control unit 3 of the apparatus main body 1, and is used to store various data unique to the unit for image formation, that is, electrodes. Write (or set) unique data for each unit for image formation, such as bias values, drum characteristic values, and maintenance timing.
This is performed by the operating section 4 during unit manufacture or adjustment after installation in the main body 1 of the apparatus, and data as a result of copying is also converted during actual copying operations.

- The copying operation in the configuration described above will be explained.

For example, if 51.57 is a drum unit, after replacing it and installing it in the main body of the apparatus, the control unit 3 imports each data to be stored in the non-volatile memory 61 as a ready state process before starting copying. This data is used to adjust each process condition (tram current value, development bias (
i/i, appropriate light j1: set the limit (, drum potential, etc.), and perform copy control based on these conditions. Then, at the end of one copying operation (at j+j, the control unit 3
Copy counter count data to non-volatile memory 6
Let I update the memory. Furthermore, the control unit 3 determines whether the maintenance time is near by checking the maintenance time data from the drum unit 51 and the copy counter of that drum unit.

In this way, by providing a non-volatile memory in a unit, data for unit replacement can always be secured in the unit, and as a result, a stable copy image format can always be obtained even when the unit is replaced. can.

In the embodiment, the case of a color copying machine and the case of one unit are shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a unit with exchangeable rif capability.

In addition, although the case where non-volatile memory is used for storage is shown, for data that does not change much, such as bias voltage values and toner color data, and does not require nine changes, other storage means such as a dimp switch can be used instead. However, it is also possible to provide a storage means for each unit.

Effects of the Invention - As mentioned above, according to the uninvention, the unit stores unique data in a 1+7 changeable manner, and when connected to the main body of the apparatus 4, image formation control using the data is performed. and data from the device itself! Because I changed the
It is possible to obtain high-quality image formation by setting IL conditions suitable for unit replacement, and it has the effect of being more reliable and easier than conventional data recording and setting by humans. Since this is a relocation mode, data that is stored and updated among unit-specific data such as PM counter data will remain updated and stored in the device even if the unit is removed from the device. This has the effect of ensuring reliable data without having to store data for each unit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of a color copying machine showing an example of unoccurred IJI, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the unit of the color copying machine in a pulled out state. 1... Equipment and main body, 2... Copying device, 3... Control unit, 4...'& production fif1.5+, 52.
...Unit, 61.62...Nonvolatile memory, 11
... Unit replacement, 12... Drum, 13... Developing] 14... Toner replenisher, 15... Electrode, 16...
・Cleaning box.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An image forming apparatus in which at least one unit for forming an image by an electrophotographic process is separable from the main body of the apparatus, wherein at least one of the units is provided with unit-specific data for forming an image. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a storage means for rewritably storing the data, and for providing the data to image formation control of the apparatus main body and for rewriting the data by the apparatus main body when the unit is attached to the apparatus main body. Image forming device.