JPH0517728Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention relates to a device for measuring the usage period of a device component unit that constitutes a part of OA equipment. A measuring means for cumulatively measuring the amount of operation time of the device component unit that operates in conjunction with the operation of the device when the component unit is attached to the device body, as the operating time of the device component unit; and a device configuration. The present invention relates to a usage period measuring device comprising a reset means for resetting the cumulative measurement value of the measuring means when the unit is loaded into the main body of the device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, regarding this type of usage period measuring device, there is a technique as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 195854/1983.

This is intended for image forming devices, such as copying machines, but the components such as the charger, developing device, transfer device, cleaning device, etc. that are arranged around the photosensitive drum are housed together with the photosensitive drum. It is integrated into a module (hereinafter referred to as a process unit), and the process unit is configured to be detachable from the main body of the copying machine. By replacing the entire process unit based on the period of use, it is possible to not only replace deteriorated photosensitive drums, but also to dispose of used toner collected in a cleaning device, and to replace discharge wires of chargers contaminated with toner. We are trying to make it happen virtually.

Here, the usage period, which is a guideline for replacing a process unit, is measured as follows.

That is, the process unit performs a series of operations as the copying machine operates, generates a predetermined pulse signal every time an image is formed, and cumulatively counts these pulse signals to obtain the count value. it's shown. This count value corresponds to the usage period of the process unit, and the maintenance worker replaces the entire process unit when the displayed count value reaches the standard value corresponding to the usage limit of the photosensitive drum, etc. . This makes it possible to prevent troubles related to copy defects with ease.

Furthermore, when replacing the process unit, the count value that has been cumulatively counted up to that point is reset in conjunction with the loading of the process unit, in preparation for measuring the usage period of the new process unit in the same way. ing.

By the way, the usage period measuring device for equipment component units such as the process unit of the copier mentioned above is convenient for work because when a new unit is replaced, the count value corresponding to the usage period up to that point is automatically reset. However, before replacement, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the count value from being reset when the equipment component unit is attached or detached, such as when performing partial repairs.

The conventional countermeasure is to provide a separate switch so that, in the case of simply attaching or detaching a device component unit, the reset is not applied by switching the switch (see the above-mentioned publication).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional usage period measuring device described above, the workability of preventing the count value from being reset corresponding to the usage period has not been sufficiently considered.

This is because the reset prevention must be performed manually by switching each switch.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to prevent the cumulative measurement value of the operating time corresponding to the period of use of the equipment component unit from being reset without bothering the operator.

[Means for solving the problem] As shown in FIG. a measuring means 3 for cumulatively measuring the amount corresponding to the operating time of the equipment component unit 2 that operates together with the equipment component unit 2 as the usage period of the equipment component unit; The technical means for solving the above problem in the usage period counting device is to replace the unused equipment configuration unit 2 with a reset means 4 for resetting the cumulative measured value of When loaded into the main body of the device, it changes from the first state corresponding to the unused state to the second state, and thereafter this second state
A usage state monitoring means 5 for maintaining the state of the equipment is mounted on the equipment component unit 2 side, and the usage state monitoring means 5 is installed when the equipment component unit 2 is loaded into the equipment body 1.
The apparatus main body 1 side is provided with a state discriminating means 6 for discriminating the state of the second state, and a reset function is provided for prohibiting the reset operation of the reset means 4 when the state discriminating means 6 on the apparatus main body 1 side determines the second state. It is equipped with a prohibition means 7.

As a specific aspect of the usage state monitoring means 5, for example, the equipment configuration unit 2 is connected to the equipment main body 1.
There is a current regulating circuit element that burns out due to the current supplied from the device main body 1 side when it is attached to the device body 1 side. This current regulating circuit element is realized by a normal fuse, a fuse resistor, an ultra-fine pattern formed on a printed circuit board, and the like. Further, a specific embodiment of the state determining means 6 corresponds to the current regulating circuit element, and is, for example, a current determining circuit that determines whether or not a current flows through the current regulating circuit element.

[Operation] When the equipment component unit 2 is attached to the equipment main body 1 and operates in conjunction with the operation of the equipment, the measuring means 3 measures the amount corresponding to the operating time while the equipment component unit 2 is in operation. do. Note that this amount corresponding to operating time is an amount corresponding to the time during which the equipment component unit 2 is operating. the number of pulses when configured, the number of cycles when the device performs cyclic operation (in the case of a copier, the number of copying processes,
number of copy sheets, number of rotations of the photosensitive drum, etc.).

In the state in which the above measurement has already started, the usage state monitoring means 5 changes to the second state when the equipment component unit 2 is loaded into the equipment main body 1, and maintains the second state. Here, for example, when the equipment component unit 2 is removed from the equipment main body 1 for partial repair of the equipment component unit 2, and then reloaded after the repair is completed, the state determining means 6 detects that the usage state monitoring means 5 is determine that it is in the second state,
As a result, the reset inhibiting means 7 inhibits the reset operation of the reset means 4. Therefore, when the equipment component unit 2 is reloaded, the cumulative measurement value in the counting means 3 is not reset.

On the other hand, for example, the cumulative measurement value by the measuring means 3 is
When replacing the equipment configuration unit 2 with an unused one because the value corresponding to the usage limit of the equipment configuration unit 2 has been reached, the reset means 4 is activated when loading the equipment configuration unit 2.
resets the cumulative measurement value of the measuring means 3. As a result, preparations for measuring the operating time corresponding amount for the new equipment configuration unit 2 are automatically made.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of equipment to which the operating time measuring device according to the present invention is applied, and specifically, an example of a copying machine is shown as in the above-mentioned known technology (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 195854/1983). It shows.

In this copying machine, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, etc. arranged around the photosensitive drum are integrated into a housing, and are modularized as a process unit. This process unit 20 is the copying machine main body 1.
It has a structure that allows it to be attached and detached from the 0.

The process unit 20 and the copying machine main body 10 are electrically connected via a drawer connector in the attached state. In particular, there is a monitor circuit on the process unit 20 side that indicates whether it is unused or used, and a status detection circuit on the copying machine main body 10 side that detects the status of the monitor circuit by connecting with the drawer connector. It is provided. The specific configuration of each of these circuits is, for example,
The structure is as shown in Figure 3.

On the copying machine main body 10 side, a transistor Tr
A state detection circuit is constructed in which a bias is applied to the base of a battery B via a switch SW and resistors R1 and R2, and the terminal voltage of the collector resistor R3 is used as a detection output. And resistance R1,
The connection point of R2 is terminal P11 of the main body side connector 11
and the terminal P1 of the connector 11.
2 is connected to ground. Also, on the process unit 20 side, the terminal P1 of the unit side connector 21 connected to the main body side connector 11
A fuse resistor FR, which is blown out by a predetermined current, is connected between terminals P21 and P22 corresponding to terminals P1 and P12. This fuse resistor FR serves as a monitor circuit that indicates whether the process unit 20 is in use (burned out state) or unused (non-burned out state).

Main unit side connector 11 and unit side connector 21
As a result, the fuse resistor FR is connected between the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 and the ground, and the current required to blow out the fuse resistor FR is supplied to the copying machine main body 10 side. is determined by the resistance R1.

The basic configuration of the entire usage time measuring device is, for example,
The result is as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 14 is a process end detection circuit that outputs a end pulse every time a series of processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, cleaning, and static elimination are completed during operation of the copying machine, and 16 is a microcomputer. This control circuit 16 basically has a function of cumulatively counting the pulses output from the process end detection circuit 14, a function of storing the cumulative count value, and a display function of the stored cumulative count value. It has a control function and a function of clearing the stored cumulative count value when a new process unit 20 is loaded into the copying machine main body 10,
In particular, the memory that implements the above-mentioned storage function is configured to be backed up by a battery or the like so that the stored contents are always retained. The control circuit 16 is
In addition, the detection signal from the state detection circuit 12 configured on the copying body 10 side as described above is input, and in addition to the above basic functions, the burnout state of the fuse resistor FR is determined based on the detection signal. It has a clear prohibition function that sometimes prohibits clearing of the stored cumulative count value.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 18 is a display for displaying the cumulative count value in the control circuit 16, and this display 18 is provided near the housing position of the process unit 20 in the main body 10 of the copying machine.

Next, the operation will be explained according to the timing chart shown in FIG. 5 and the flow chart shown in FIG. 6.

When replacing the process unit 20, the power to the copying machine is cut off, the old process unit 20 is pulled out from the copying machine main body 10, and then a new process unit 20 is loaded. At this time, the main body side connector 11 and the process side connector 21 are connected. Here, when the power of the copying machine is turned on (time t ₀ in FIG. 5), the switch SW in the state determination circuit 12 is turned on, and the current from the battery B is transmitted to the resistor R1, the connectors 11, 21,
Connected to ground via fuse resistor FR. Then,
The base potential of the transistor Tr becomes L level, the transistor Tr is turned on, and the detection signal of the state detection circuit 12 rises to H level. Then, when the fuse resistor FR burns out after a predetermined period of time based on the burning characteristics of the fuse resistor FR, the transistor Tr is turned off.
The detection signal from the state detection circuit 12 falls to L level (time t ₁ ).

On the other hand, the control circuit 16 executes processing according to the flow shown in FIG. 5 while the state detection circuit 12 is in operation.

That is, when the power is turned on, the internal state is reset to the initial state, and then the state of the detection signal from the state detection circuit 12 is checked (the processing up to this point is performed at least from time _t0 to time _t1 ). .
Here, if the detection signal is at H level (unused state), the internal memory is cleared and the input monitoring state of the pulse signal from the process end detection circuit 14 is entered. Then, when a pulse is input from the process end detection circuit 14 each time the process is actually copied and the process is completed, the internal register N is incremented and the value is written to the memory, while the data is displayed on the display 18. Output. As a result, the value displayed on the display 18 is incremented each time one copy is completed.

Further, the process unit 20 may be, for example,
If the copier is pulled out for partial repair and then loaded again after the repair is completed, the fuse resistor FR
has already been burnt out, the detection signal from the state detection circuit 12 remains at the L level.
Therefore, when the power is turned on again after the repair, the control circuit 16 that started the process returns to the process end detection circuit 14 without clearing the accumulated count value in the memory.
It is in the state of monitoring pulses from. Thereafter, the same operation as above is repeated every time a copy is made, and the above-mentioned count value is successively accumulated.

According to the above embodiment, when the process unit 20 is loaded into the copying machine main body 10, a current is supplied to the fuse resistor FR provided in the process unit 20 so as to burn it out, and the current flows through the fuse resistor FR. The used or unused state of the loaded process unit 20 is determined based on the presence or absence of the loaded process unit 20, and in particular, when the used state is determined, clearing of the memory that stores the cumulative count value of the end of the process in the memory is prohibited. Only when a new process unit 20 is replaced, the memory storing the cumulative count of process terminations is cleared without any special operation.

Note that, in place of the above-mentioned fuse resistor FR, the same effects as described above can be obtained even if a normal fuse or an ultra-fine pattern formed on a printed circuit board is used.

In addition to the various electrical circuit means described above, the usage state monitoring means may also be a mechanical means such as a latch mechanism that maintains a predetermined latched state after the equipment component unit is loaded into the main body of the equipment. When the usage state monitoring means is a latching mechanism, the corresponding state determining means is a means for determining whether or not the device is in the latched state. Specifically, when a predetermined switch is pressed and becomes latched when loading an unused equipment component unit into the main body of the equipment,
This can be realized by configuring a mechanism in which a switch is not pressed during loading, and determining the state by turning the switch on or off.

The present invention is not limited to the field of copying machines as in the above embodiment, but can be applied to other general equipment such as office automation equipment and industrial equipment.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the invention, it is possible to prevent the cumulative measurement value of the operating time corresponding to the period of use of the equipment component unit from being reset without requiring any special effort from the operator. You will get it. Therefore, it is possible to realize a device with even better workability regarding maintenance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention;
The figure shows an example of the structure of a copying machine to which the usage period measuring device according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a monitor circuit and a state detection circuit, and FIG. 4 shows a usage period measurement device according to the invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the apparatus, FIG. 5 is a timing chart when the copying machine is powered on, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the processing flow of the control circuit. Explanation of symbols, 1...Equipment body, 2...Equipment configuration unit, 3...Measuring means, 4...Resetting means, 5...Usage condition monitoring means, 6...State determining means, 7...Reset prohibition means , 10... Copying machine body, 12... Status detection circuit, 14... Process end detection circuit, 16... Control circuit, 18... Display, 20... Process unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) When a device component unit that is detachably attached to the device body is attached to the device body, the amount corresponding to the operating time of the device component unit that operates in conjunction with the operation of the device shall be A usage period measuring device comprising a measuring means for cumulatively measuring the usage period of an equipment component unit, and a reset means for resetting the cumulative measurement value of the measuring means when loading the equipment component unit into the equipment body, The equipment configuration unit includes a usage state monitoring means that changes from a first state corresponding to an unused state to a second state when an unused equipment configuration unit is loaded into the equipment main body, and maintains this second state thereafter. At the same time, the device main body side is provided with a state determining means for determining the state of the usage state monitoring means when the device component unit is loaded into the device main body, and the state determining means on the device main body side determines the second state. A usage period measuring device characterized in that it is provided with a reset inhibiting means for inhibiting the reset operation of the reset means when the reset means is reset. (2) The usage state monitoring means is constituted by a current regulating circuit element that is blown out by the current supplied from the equipment main body when the equipment component unit is attached to the equipment main body, and the state determining means is configured to
1. A usage period measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a current determining circuit that determines the presence or absence of a current flowing through a current regulating circuit element. (3) The usage period measuring device according to claim 2 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that a fuse resistor is used as the current regulating circuit element. (4) The usage period measuring device according to claim 2 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that the current regulating circuit element is an ultrafine pattern formed on a printed circuit board.