JPS63287865A - Electrostatic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable use of respective members with the highest possible efficiency by displaying the time for exchanging a photosensitive body and cleaning unit in an adequate period. CONSTITUTION:A controller displays the exchange of the cleaning unit 6 upon detection 'full of toner' by a toner detecting means 59 and thereafter, the controller stops an image forming operation when a counter 54 counts the number of image formation times by as much as the preset number of times. Also, the controller is so formed as to display the exchange of the photosensitive body 2 and the cleaning unit 6 when the toner detecting means 59 detects 'full of toner' and the counter 54 detects that the number of the image formation times of the photosensitive body 2 attains the preset life time as well as to stop the image forming operation when the counter 54 counts the number of the image formation times by as much as the preset number of times after the detection by the toner detecting means 59. The cleaning unit 6 and the photosensitive body 2 are thereby utilized fully by as much as the number of the image formation times corresponding to their life.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Five minutes of strings! The present invention relates to electrostatic recording devices such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers.

■ In conventional electrostatic recording devices, the lifespan of parts involved in the image forming process is set as a single unit, such as the photoreceptor and cleaning unit, and if there is variation in the lifespan of each component, the lifespan of the parts involved in the image forming process is set as one unit. The overall lifespan is determined by the short lifespan of the parts, and from the user's perspective, even parts that are still usable are discarded at the end of their lifespan, resulting in an inefficient configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide an electrostatic recording device in which each member can be used as efficiently as possible. At that time, the replacement time of each component is displayed at an appropriate time.

(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control device that displays cleaning unit replacement when the toner detection means detects that the toner is full, and then the counter counts the number of image formations by a preset number of times. When the image forming operation is stopped, and when the toner detecting means detects that the toner is full and the counter detects that the number of image formations on the photoreceptor has reached the preset lifespan, the photoreceptor and the cleaning unit are removed. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus is configured to indicate the replacement of the toner, and to stop the image forming operation when the counter counts the number of image forming operations a preset number of times after detection by the toner detecting means.

The structure and operation of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a laser printer as an example of an electrostatic recording device.

Since the image forming means is the object of the present invention in FIG. 1, only the object portion will be explained, and the explanation of the other parts will be omitted.

Image exposure is performed on the photoreceptor 2 by the laser exposure device 1 .

A charging charger 3, a developing device 4, a transfer charger 5, and a cleaning device 6 are arranged around the photoreceptor 2, respectively, as is known in the art.

In FIG. 2, the photoreceptor 2, the electrification charger 3, and the cleaning device 6 are formed as one unit, and can constitute a photoreceptor unit 7.

The developing device 4 includes a developing roller 8, a toner replenishing roller 9, and a developing tank 10 as one unit to form a developing unit 11.

The photoreceptor unit 7 and the developing unit 11 are separately and detachably supported by the image forming unit case 12.

The photoreceptor unit 7 has a box-shaped case 13,
A supporting shaft 14 of the photoreceptor 2 is rotatably and detachably supported by the case 13 . Further, this case 13 is formed with a hole 15 through which the laser beam from the laser exposure device 1 (FIG. 3) enters, and furthermore, the case 13 itself defines a toner collection tank 16 (FIG. 1) of the cleaning device 6. A wall surrounding the casing 17 of the charger 3, that is, the charge wire 18, is configured.

Cleaning blade 1 forming cleaning device 6
9 and the toner collection roller 20 are each supported by the case 13. The photoreceptor 2 is detachably attached to the case 3, and therefore to the toner collection tank 1G. This configuration was adopted for the following reasons. That is, generally when the toner recovery tank 16 becomes full of waste toner, it is replaced with a new one. In this case, if the photoconductor 2 and the toner recovery tank 16 are integrated, the photoconductor will also be replaced when the toner recovery tank is replaced. However, the lifespan of recent photoreceptors has been significantly extended due to improvements in materials, manufacturing methods, and the like. Therefore, if the photoreceptor is to be used until the end of its life, a very large-capacity toner collection tank will be required, making the entire printer unnecessarily large. In order to avoid this, the printer is configured as described above so that the toner collection tank can be used interchangeably for one photoreceptor, thereby reducing the size of the printer and making effective use of the photoreceptor.

The developing unit 11 has a case 21, which defines a developing tank 10 (FIG. 1), and further supports a developing roller 8 and a toner replenishing roller 9 so as to be rotatable. The toner cartridge 22 is removably mounted on the case 21. When the remaining amount of toner in the developing tank 10 becomes low, the cartridge 22 that has been attached until then is replaced with a new cartridge, and toner is replenished into the developing tank 10.

The image forming unit case 12 is disposed within the lower printer 24 when the printer is configured with an upper unit 23 and a lower unit 24. Therefore, the photoreceptor unit 7 and the developing unit 11 are also arranged within the printer lower unit 24. As a result, when the upper printer unit 23 is lifted, the upper portions of both the photoreceptor unit 7 and the developing unit 11 are exposed.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the image forming unit case 12 is formed into a box shape with an open top, and has front and rear walls 12a, 12.
A groove-shaped support portion 25 for supporting the support shaft 14 of the photoreceptor 2 is formed in each portion b. The photoreceptor unit 7, one side of which is supported by the support portion 25, is 1. On the other hand, it is pressed by a stop pawl 26. The developing device unit 11 is also pressed by the stop claw 27 while being housed in the first unit case 12. These stop pawls 26,27 are made of a flexible material, and when each unit 7,11 is inserted into the imaging unit case 12, they flare outward so as not to obstruct the insertion.

When the photoreceptor unit 7 is attached to the image forming unit case 12, a portion of the lower side of the photoreceptor 2 enters the opening 28 formed in the bottom wall of the case 12, and furthermore, the gear 29 attached to the support shaft enters the opening 28 formed in the bottom wall of the case 12.
enters booth 30.

When the developing unit 11 is attached to the image forming unit case 12, a gear (not shown) is attached to the shaft end of the developing roller 8. The gear (not shown) protrudes outward from the recess 31 of the rear wall 12b of the image forming unit case in FIG.

A pair of pivot pins 32 and 33 are protruded from the left side wall 12d of the image forming unit case 12, and these pivot pins are attached to each side plate 35a of the frame 35 of the printer lower unit 24.
, 35b. As a result, the image forming unit case 12 can be rotated around the pivot pins 32 and 33 and lifted while housing the photoreceptor unit 7 and the developing unit 11. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower part of the case 12 is the conveyance path for the transfer paper, so when the case 12 is lifted as described above, the paper conveyance path is exposed to the outside, and the paper conveyance path is exposed to the outside. Transfer paper (so-called jammed paper) can be easily removed. The entire image forming unit case 12 can also be removed from the lower printer unit 24 if necessary.

In FIG. 2, a pair of support pins 34 are protruded from the right end of the image forming unit case 12, and the rotation member 3 is attached to these support pins.
6 is rotatably supported.

This rotating member 36 has a pair of lock claws 37 and a knob 3.
8 are integrally formed. Further, a compression spring 41 is press-fitted between the receiver portion 39 formed by cutting and bending a part of the rotating member 36 and the right end horizontal portion 40 of the image forming unit case 12, and these springs 41 cause the rotating member to 36 is support pin 3
4 in the direction of the image forming unit case 12.

Lower frame side! A pair of locking holes 43 are formed in the 35a, 35b, and when the image forming unit case 12 is placed in the mounting position shown in FIG. They each become involved due to the action of . In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, a compression spring 44 is provided at the lower right end of the image forming unit case 12, and the lower end of this spring 44 comes into pressure contact with the lever 45, so that when the case 12 is placed in the mounting position, the 12 is connected to the pivot pin 32 by the spring 44.
．． 33 in a counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the lock claw 37 comes into pressure contact with the upper surface of the locking hole 43, and the case 1
2 is securely locked.

The lever 45 is connected to the lower frame 3 by a pin 46.
5, and rotatably supports an upper conveyance roller 47 for conveying the transfer paper.

When the image forming unit case 12 is installed in the predetermined position shown in FIG. 1, the spring 44 presses the lever 45 as described above. As a result, the upper conveyance roller 47 and the lower conveyance roller 4B are brought into pressure contact with each other and convey the transfer paper.

In FIG. 2, another frame side plate 35c is fixed to the lower frame side plate 35b on the back side.

A main motor unit 50 having a main motor 49 is attached to this frame side plate 35c. A drive gear 51 is fixed to the output shaft of the main motor 49, and a photoreceptor drive gear 52 and a developing roller drive gear 53 are rotated by this drive gear via an appropriate gear train.

When the image forming unit case 12 is installed in the predetermined position shown in FIG.
, while the shaft end gear of the developing roller 8 (not shown)
is meshed with the developing roller drive gear 53. When the main motor 49 rotates in this state, the photoreceptor 2 and the developing roller 8 rotate.

An OPC counter 54 that counts up the number of image formations by a transfer command signal from the main control section is installed in the electrostatic recording apparatus shown in FIG. placed at the top of the The OPC counter 54 counts the number of image formations each time the cleaning device 6 formed as a detachable unit in the photoreceptor unit 7, that is, the cleaning unit having the toner collection tank 16, cleaning blade 19, etc., is replaced. Formed to count from the beginning. An example of the related structure of the OPC counter 54 and the suction fan unit 55 is shown in FIG.
The suction fan unit 55 includes a suction fan 56 and an ozone filter 57.

When the OPC counter 54 counts a predetermined number of times corresponding to the lifespan of the photoreceptor 2, for example, 20,000 times, it sends a notification to that effect to the main control section.

Above the toner collection tank 16 in the electrostatic recording device shown in FIG.
The toner detecting means 59 is configured to detect a detection filler 60 that is lifted upward by waste toner when the toner in the toner filler 6 becomes full.

The process of replacing the cleaning unit and photoreceptor unit will be explained with reference to the replacement instruction time chart shown in FIG.

When the toner detection means 59 detects that the toner is full, the detection signal is sent to the main control section, and from the time when the main control section detects that the toner is full (time A in FIG. 4), the display section indicates that only the cleaning unit should be replaced. The symbol “1” indicates the necessity of
is displayed, and the OPC lamp is also blinked to make the user aware that toner full (toner over) has been detected. From the time when toner overflow is detected, image formation, that is, printing can be performed on a predetermined number of sheets, for example, about 50 sheets. This is to prevent the printing operation from stopping in the middle of printing the same image on multiple sheets. -Also, even if the printing operation is once completed with less than 50 remaining sheets, it is possible to perform further printing until the remaining 50 sheets are reached. and 50
When the number of sheets is reached (time B in FIG. 4), the OPC lamp is changed from blinking to lit, and the printing operation is stopped, making it impossible to form an image, that is, to become unable to print. In this state, even if a print command is sent from the main control section, it is not accepted and the printing process is not performed. Also, even if the power of the electrostatic recording device is turned off once and then turned on again, it is still marked r1. continues to be displayed,
Turn on the OPC.

By replacing the cleaning unit here (4th
Time point C in the figure: The unprintable state is canceled and the symbol "1" disappears and the lamp goes out. Symbol “1” on the first display and OPC
The display indicates that the cleaning unit is full of waste toner, and at this point there is no need to replace the photoreceptor 2 since it still has a service life.

In this embodiment, the lifespan of the photoreceptor 2 is preset to, for example, 20,000 times, so the photoreceptor 2 is not replaced yet when the toner runs out for the first time.

The photoreceptor 2 is removed from the photoreceptor unit 7 and only the cleaning unit 6 is discarded.

When replacing the cleaning unit 6, replace the old photoconductor unit 7 with the photoconductor 2 currently in use on a new photoconductor unit 7 with an empty toner collection link 16, and then replace the photoconductor 2 currently in use with the new photoconductor unit. is attached to the predetermined position of the printer lower unit 24. Thereafter, printing is repeated, and when the toner detection means 59 detects that the toner is full after the OPC counter 54 has counted 20,000 times (time H in FIG. 4), a symbol "2" appears on the display as a photoreceptor unit replacement indication. is displayed and the OPC clamp blinks (4th
Time point D in the figure). At this time as well, the symbol r1. The symbol "2" indicating the necessity of replacing the cleaning unit and photoconductor, that is, the photoconductor unit, is displayed in the same way as when the symbol "2" is displayed.
” is displayed, the predetermined number of sheets, for example 50
Printing operation is possible for about 100 sheets. When the number of prints reaches 50, the OPC lamp is changed from flashing to lit, the printing operation is stopped, and printing becomes impossible (time E in FIG. 4).

At the same time as the OPC lamp changes from blinking to lighting under the symbol "2", the latching solenoid 61 (Fig. 1,
3) is turned on and its plunger is pulled down, which turns on the latch sensor 62 (FIGS. 1 and 3). As long as the latch sensor 62 is on, the symbol "2" instructing replacement of the photoreceptor unit continues to be displayed. Once turned on, the latch sensor 62 is turned off (initial state) at the same time as the OPC counter 54 when the reset lever 63 (FIG. 3) that resets the OPC counter 54 is reset as shown by arrow R. Time point F in the figure). The display of the symbol "2" indicates that the photoconductor 2 has been used 20,000 times or more, and indicates that the life of the photoconductor itself has come to an end.

Therefore, when the symbol "2" is displayed, the operator replaces the entire photoconductor unit 7 including the photoconductor 2 with a new one.

After that, when the operator presses the reset lever 63, the latch sensor 62 is initialized, and at the same time the OPC counter 54
is reset. After being reset, the OPC counter 54 starts counting again from zero. Even if the photoreceptor unit 7 is replaced, the latch sensor 62 will not be initialized unless the reset lever 63 is pressed, and therefore the symbol "2J" will continue to be displayed, indicating the replacement of the photoreceptor unit.

In other words, the latch sensor 62 is OP after the photoconductor unit is replaced.
This prevents forgetting to reset the C counter 54.

When the toner detection means of the cleaning unit first detects that the toner is full when the life of the photoconductor approaches 20,000 sheets, for example, the display section will display the symbol "1" as shown in FIG. 5 at time A'. ), the OPC lamp will blink. After that, when the OPC counter 54 counts 20,000 times while printing continues, the symbol changes from "1" to "2" and the OPC counter 54 counts 20,000 times.
The PC lamp continues to blink (time H and time D' are at the same time),
When the remaining 50 sheets are reached, the OPC lamp remains lit at the symbol "2" (time point E'), and printing becomes impossible. When the photoreceptor unit is replaced and the reset lever is pressed, the symbol on the display and the OPC lamp go out, and the OPC counter 54 starts counting from zero again.

If the cleaning unit or photoconductor unit replacement symbol "1" or "2" is displayed and the OPC lamp is blinking when the power is turned off and on, replace the cleaning unit or replace the printer without putting the printer in standby mode. Until the photoconductor unit is replaced and the reset lever is pressed, printing is disabled and no printing operations will be accepted.

Depending on the size of the toner recovery tank of the cleaning unit, the cleaning unit may not be replaced only once as described above, but may be replaced several times before the photoreceptor unit is replaced.

On the other hand, in the developing unit 11, as shown in FIG. 6, when a toner end detection sensor (not shown) that detects toner shortage during printing detects toner shortage (toner end), the toner end indicator lamp blinks. Inform the operator (point A). Also, from the time when the toner end is detected, it is possible to print a predetermined margin number of sheets, for example, about 50 sheets. This is to prevent the printing operation from stopping during the printing of multiple copies of the same image, similar to the photoconductor unit replacement instruction described above. Even if the printing operation once ends within the remaining 50 sheets, it is possible to continue printing up to 50 sheets. When the number of prints reaches 50, the toner end indicator lamp changes from flashing to lit, and the printing operation is stopped.
The state becomes unprintable (time point B). In this case, the printing disable state is canceled when the toner cartridge is replaced and toner is replenished (time point C).

If you turn off and on the power while the toner end indicator lamp is blinking or lit, you will be unable to print after the power is turned on.

According to the present invention, the cleaning unit and the photoreceptor can be used sufficiently for the number of image formations corresponding to their lifespans, resulting in efficient use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an example of an electrostatic recording device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming means, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an OPC counter arrangement part, Figs. 4 and 5 6 is a time chart showing the process of replacing the cleaning unit and the photoreceptor unit, and FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the process of replacing the developing unit. 2... Photoreceptor 3... Charger 4.
...Developing bag M5...Transfer charger 6...
Cleaning device 7...Photoreceptor unit l-11...Developing unit 54
... OPC counter 59 ... Toner detection means = 1
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Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming unit including a photoconductor, a cleaning unit, and a developing unit, a counter that counts the number of times an image is formed on the photoconductor, and a toner detection unit that detects whether the cleaning unit is full of toner; In the electrostatic recording device, the electrostatic recording device includes a control device electrically connected to the counter and the toner detection means and controlling the image forming means, wherein the control device replaces the cleaning unit when the toner detection means detects that the toner is full. After that, when the counter counts the number of times of image formation by a preset number of times, the image forming operation is stopped, and the toner detection means detects that the toner is full, and the number of times of image formation of the photoreceptor reaches the preset lifespan. When the counter detects that the number of times of image formation has been reached, a message indicating that the photoconductor and cleaning unit should be replaced is displayed, and when the counter counts the number of times of image formation for a preset number of times after detection by the toner detection means, image formation is performed. An electrostatic recording device characterized in that it is configured to cease operation.