JP3363609B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a process unit such as a drum unit can be replaced to facilitate service and maintenance.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when an image quality defect occurs in a process unit in a service or maintenance for guaranteeing the performance of the process unit, how many total copies can be made in the process unit? I didn't really know if it was there.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of accurately grasping the total number of times of copying of a replaceable process unit.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an image forming apparatus using a replaceable process unit having a first storage means, wherein: Second storage means provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus; storage content updating means for updating the contents of the first and second storage means in response to execution of a recording operation; and the second storage means. said first and comparison means for comparing the contents of the storage means, the stored content updating means, the contents of the first and second memory means at a first timing after the execution of the recording operation, both Relationships that match the content of
And the comparing means updates the contents of the second storage means and the first storage means at a second timing after the recording operation is instructed and before the recording operation is started. If the compared contents do not match, the image
The feature is that the recording operation of the image is prohibited .

[0006]

An image forming method according to a second aspect is the image forming method in an image forming apparatus to which a replaceable process unit is attached, wherein the process unit is provided with a first storage means, and the image forming apparatus main body is provided with a first storage means. Providing the second storage means and updating the contents of the first and second storage means according to the execution of the recording operation;
A step of comparing the contents of the second storage means with the contents of the first storage means, and in the storage content updating step, the first and second contents are stored at a first timing after the recording operation is executed. The contents of the storage means are related to each other
In the comparison step, the contents of the second storage means and the first storage means are changed at a second timing after the recording operation instruction is received and before the recording operation is started. When comparing , when the compared contents do not match,
It is characterized in that the image recording operation is prohibited .

[0008]

[0009]

EXAMPLES Next, examples of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is applied to a copying machine. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a copying machine.

In the figure, the drive system comprises a main drive system for driving the paper feed section, the transport section, the photoconductor, and the fixing section, and an optical drive system for driving the optical system as a load. A DC brushless motor 25 is used for the main drive system, and a stepping motor 26 is used for the optical drive system. In the optical drive system,
A phase excitation signal applied to each phase A, A *, B, B * of the stepping motor PM is output. Further, in the excitation drive method of this embodiment, the stepping motor PM can be switched between two types of a two-phase excitation method and a one-two phase excitation method according to speed information set in the load.

The paper feeding method can be selected from the paper feeding from the cassette 23 and the paper feeding from the multi-manual feed 24. When feeding from the cassette 23, a switch group 3 for detecting the presence or absence of the cassette 23 and a switch group 3 for detecting the size of the cassette 23
1 and switch 37 for detecting the presence of paper in cassette 23
The state is managed by, and when an abnormality is detected by the switch, the display is displayed.

In the case of multi-manual feeding, the state is managed by a switch for detecting the state of the manual feeding section 24, and when an abnormality is detected, the display is displayed.

The photoconductor 12 rotates clockwise. The potential charged on the photoconductor 12 by the primary charger 13 is exposed at the exposure position, and the developing unit 15
The image is transferred to the transfer paper which has been developed by and transferred from the paper feeding section in the transfer unit section 14. After the transfer, the cleaning unit 38 removes the residual toner from the photoconductor 12, and the pre-exposure lamp 16 eliminates the residual potential.
After this, the image forming process is repeated again. The transfer sheet on which the image has been transferred is placed on the conveyor belt of the conveyor unit 20 and sent to the fixing unit 21.

The fixing unit 21 includes three rollers, a driving roller 35, a tension roller 45 and a pressure roller 44.

The heater 43 of the fixing unit 21 has a resistor printed on a ceramic substrate and has electrodes at its ends.
The heater 43 is supported by a heat resistant plastic supporter 42. A metal stay is attached to the plastic supporter 42. An endless film 47 is wound around the drive roller 35, the tension roller 45, and the heater 43.

A temperature detecting element (thermistor) 41 is attached to the metal stay, and the temperature detecting element 41 is in direct contact with the back surface of the heater 43. Another temperature detecting element 48 is attached to the back surface of the heater 43 like the temperature detecting element 41. The temperature detecting element 48 is attached to the end of the heater 43, and when a small-sized sheet passes, the temperature of the part without the sheet becomes high. There is.

The heater 43, the plastic supporter 42,
Endless film 47 and heater part made of metal stay
Is pressed by the pressure roller 44.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the control unit of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus. In the figure, 101
Is a controller for controlling inputs from various sensors provided in a copying machine as an image forming apparatus and outputs of respective loads such as a DC brushless motor and a stepping motor.
Reference numeral 02 is an SRAM that stores process conditions necessary for image formation, recovery information when a jam occurs, backup when an error occurs, 103 is an operation unit that sets a copy mode, and 104 is a drum unit 38 (photoreceptor 12, primary charger). 13, including a cleaner) is a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) built in.

When the drum unit 38 is attached to the main body,
The drawer connector automatically connects the non-volatile memory built in the drum unit 38. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing data stored in the nonvolatile memory 104. 16-bit data is stored for one address.

[0020] Here, the process conditions 1 and 2 are used to change the high voltage application condition at the time of image formation according to the variation of the photoconductor (drum) 12 of the drum unit 38. The serial number is a number for each of the drum units 38 and has 2 words (4 bytes) of information. The most significant byte is always "00". Free addresses 5 to 63
"FFFFH" is put in. The counter value is incremented by 1 each time a copy is made.

Read and write operations of the non-volatile memory 104 (EEPROM) will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing operation codes of the nonvolatile memory 104. In addition, FIG. 5 shows three modes (data reading,
7 is a timing chart in data writing and data erasing). Here, the symbols are CS: chip select, SK: clock, DI: operation code,
Address input and DO: data output are shown.

Since the operation code and address are sent to the DI terminal in synchronization with the rising edge of the clock, they are read. Data is output to the DO terminal in synchronization with the rising edge of the clock. Seven modes are realized by combining operation codes and addresses.

First, the manufacturing stage of the drum unit 38 will be described. Since the drums 12 have variations in sensitivity, the correction value is measured for each drum unit 38. The measured correction values are process conditions 1 and 2. In addition, 0 is always written in the counter value as data in the nonvolatile memory 104 according to the timing chart shown in FIG. As a result, when shipping the drum unit 38, the contents of the non-volatile memory 104 are set as follows.

Address 0 to 1 serial number 1 to sequential address 2 counter value 0 address 3 process condition 1-10 to 10 address 4 process condition 2 to 63 to 63 The operation at the time of copying will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the copy processing routine. When the drum unit 38 is newly installed in the main body and the power is turned on, the main body first reads the contents of the non-volatile memory 104 in the drum unit 38 (step S201).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a read processing subroutine of the non-volatile memory. In this subroutine, it is checked whether the most significant byte of the serial number of addresses 0 to 1 is equal to "0" (step S2).
21). When they are equal, it is further checked whether or not the contents of addresses 5 to 63 (unused addresses) are "FFH" (step S222). When "FFH" is set, the process conditions 1 and 2 in the nonvolatile memory 104 are stored in the SRAM 102 of the main body (step S
223) Return to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the contents of the serial number or the unused address are different, copying is prohibited (step S224). This is because it is determined that the contents of the non-volatile memory have been rewritten and tampered with.

When the reading of the non-volatile memory 104 is completed, a counter in the main body and a non-volatile memory counter (called a drum counter) stored in the SRAM 102 of the main body.
Are compared with each other (steps S202 and S203), and when they are the same or not 0, the copy key input is awaited (step S205). If either of them is different, the mode is changed to the drum unit installation mode (step S
204).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the drum unit installation mode. In the drum unit installation mode, a predetermined primary voltage is output, the current value from the drum 12 is measured, and the primary output voltage of this drum unit 38 is determined (steps S235 to S237).
Further, the in-body counter is set to the same value as the drum counter, the process conditions 1 and 2 written in the nonvolatile memory 104 are read (step S238), and this subroutine is finished.

When the copy key is turned on, the paper is fed (step S206), the drum counter is read (step S207) and compared with the main body counter (step S208). If it matches the main body counter, the copy operation is executed (step S209), and the main body counter and the drum counter are incremented by 1 (step S210).
It returns to the process of step S205.

If they do not match, it is judged as a writing error of the drum unit 38 and copying is prohibited (step S21).
1).

[0031]

According to the present invention, the total number of copying flop Rosesuyunitto accurately grasped, it is possible to perform service or maintenance properly the life of the process unit. Further, the contents of the first storage means of the process unit can be surely checked in synchronization with the first and second timings .

Further, by the present onset bright lever, when the compared contents do not match, so to prohibit copying of the image, the copy in the first memory means of the process unit as a write error By prohibiting it, the service and maintenance of the process unit can be properly performed.

[0033]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus.

3 is an explanatory diagram showing data stored in a nonvolatile memory 104. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing operation codes of a nonvolatile memory 104.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart in three modes (data reading, data writing, data erasing).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a copy processing routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a read processing subroutine of a nonvolatile memory.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a drum unit installation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Photoconductor (drum) 13 ... Primary charger 13 21 ... Fixing unit 38 ... Drum unit 101 ... Controller 102 ... SRAM 103 ... Operation part 104 ... Nonvolatile memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takahiro Takahiro 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Atsushi Chaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ki In Canon Inc. (72) Shinichi Takada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) In-house Yasuo Fukatsu 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Daikichi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) Reference JP-A-6-67483 (JP, A) JP-A-3-221972 (JP, A) JP-A-6-35258 (JP, A) JP-A-2-43570 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 G03G 21/00-21/04 G03G 21/14-21/18 B41J 29/00-29/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus using a replaceable process unit having a first storage means, wherein the second storage means is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the second storage means is provided according to execution of a recording operation. Storage content updating means for updating the contents of the first and second storage means, and comparison means for comparing the contents of the second storage means and the first storage means, and the storage content updating means, the contents of the first and second memory means at a first timing after the execution of the recording operation, both
The contents are updated so that the contents have the same relationship, and the comparison unit receives the recording operation instruction and then, at a second timing before starting the recording operation, the second storage unit and the first storage unit. Compare the contents with the storage means and compare
An image forming apparatus , wherein the recording operation of the image is prohibited when the contents do not match . 2. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus to which a replaceable process unit is attached, wherein the process unit is provided with a first storage means, and the image forming apparatus main body is provided with a second storage means, Storing the contents of the first and second storage means according to the execution of the operation, and comparing the contents of the second storage means and the first storage means, In the content updating step, the contents of the first and second storage means are updated at a first timing after execution of the recording operation so that the two contents have the same relationship, and in the comparing step, the recording operation is performed. Is received, the contents of the second storage means and the first storage means are compared at the second timing before the recording operation is started, and the ratio is compared.
An image forming method , wherein the image recording operation is prohibited when the compared contents do not match .