Image forming system, image forming apparatus, static electricity eliminating apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

The invention discloses an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, a static electricity eliminating apparatus, and a storage medium. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a static electricity eliminating apparatus that performs static electricity elimination on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus. The static electricity eliminating apparatus includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a static electricity eliminating unit that performs static electricity elimination on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a signal transmitting unit that transmits a specific signal based on a state of the static electricity eliminating unit. The image forming apparatus includes a signal receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted by the signal transmitting unit, and a first notification unit that indicates notification content corresponding to the signal received by the signal receiving unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming system including a static eliminating device that performs static elimination on a recording medium output from an image forming device. Background Art

[0002] The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-15168 includes a plurality of static elimination units and a high-voltage power supply unit that supplies power to the static elimination units. An abnormality may occur in the static elimination unit due to adhesion of toner or the like. If any abnormality of the static elimination unit is detected, the output from the high-voltage power supply unit with the highest output is reduced, and it is determined whether the abnormality occurs in the static elimination unit to which power is supplied from the high-voltage power supply unit. Then, the determination result is notified to the user, and the user is caused to perform cleaning or the like. If it is determined that no abnormality occurs, the output from the high-voltage power supply unit with the second highest output is reduced.

[0003] The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-15168 includes a static eliminating unit, and notifies a user of any abnormality of the static eliminating unit through a display unit of the image forming apparatus. Summary of the invention

[0004] In an image forming apparatus (such as a copier, printer, or fax machine) using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method, a sheet (recording medium) may be charged during image formation, and due to electrostatic force generated between discharged sheets, the sheets may be stuck together, or poor loading may occur. Therefore, an image forming system is proposed, which includes an image forming apparatus and an electrostatic eliminator that performs electrostatic elimination on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus.

[0005] In the above-mentioned image forming system, the status of the static elimination unit in the static elimination device and the content of required support, etc. are not indicated on the image forming device. Therefore, it is difficult for a user working near the image forming device to notice any maintenance required in the static elimination unit. As a result, a sheet having an image formed thereon may not undergo static elimination, resulting in sheet adhesion or poor loading. If a sheet is adhered, the sheet may not be successfully conveyed when it is conveyed and processed in another sheet processing device.

[0006] The disclosure of the present application is intended to more ideally perform maintenance of a static elimination unit.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides an image forming system having the following configuration.

[0008] The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a static eliminator that performs static elimination on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus.

[0009] The static eliminating device includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a static eliminating unit that performs static elimination on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a signal transmitting unit that transmits a specific signal based on a state of the static eliminating unit.

[0010] The image forming apparatus includes a signal receiving unit that receives a signal transmitted by the signal transmitting unit and a first notification unit that indicates notification content corresponding to the signal received by the signal receiving unit.

[0011] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 is a mechanical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the static elimination device in the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3 : is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus and the static eliminating apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 4 An example of a maintenance necessity notification setting window displayed to accept notification setting of the maintenance necessity of the static eliminating device in the first embodiment is shown.

[0016] Figure 5A and Figure 5B An example of a maintenance necessity notification window displayed to notify the user of the necessity of maintenance of the static eliminating device in the first embodiment is shown.

[0017] Figure 6 It is a message list describing the correspondence between the necessity of maintenance of the ionizer, opposing ionizer, static eliminating roller pair, and high voltage substrate in the first embodiment and the notification contents displayed in the image forming apparatus and static eliminating apparatus.

[0018] Figure 7 1 is a flowchart describing the process of the maintenance necessity notification performed by the static eliminating device in the first embodiment.

[0019] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B is a flowchart describing the processing of maintenance necessity notification performed by the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0020] Fig.9A FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a notification window that needs to be maintained in the second embodiment. Fig. 9B An example of a maintenance process notification window displayed to notify a user of a maintenance process of the static elimination device in the second embodiment is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are not intended to limit the present disclosure according to the scope of the appended claims. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, the present disclosure does not necessarily require all of the multiple features and the multiple features may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings to identify the same or similar components, and repeated descriptions of these components are omitted herein. The image forming device in the embodiments described below may be referred to as a multi-function device or a multi-function peripheral (MFP).

[0022] The first embodiment will now be described. The image forming system of the first embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a static eliminating apparatus 200 . Figure 1 1 is a mechanical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 in the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) using an electrophotographic process. Figure 1 As shown, the photosensitive drums (latent image bearing members) 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The surfaces of the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are uniformly charged by charging devices 102Y, 102M, 102C, and 102K, respectively. The surfaces of the uniformly charged photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are exposed according to image information by exposure devices 103Y, 103M, 103C, and 103K, respectively, to generate electrostatic latent images. The developing devices 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K develop the electrostatic latent images with toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively, to form toner images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K. In the first embodiment, the developing devices 104Y, 104M, 104C, and 104K use a reversal development method of attaching toner to an exposure unit of an electrostatic latent image for development.

[0023] The primary transfer rollers 105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K are arranged to be opposed to the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K, respectively, with the intermediate transfer belt 106 interposed therebetween. With this configuration, the primary transfer rollers 105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K form a primary transfer nip (primary transfer unit) between the intermediate transfer belt 106 and the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K. While the toner images of the respective colors on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are conveyed to the respective primary transfer nips, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner images and subjected to constant voltage control is applied to the primary transfer rollers 105Y, 105M, 105C, and 105K. As a result, the toner images on the surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K are transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 106. The intermediate transfer belt 106 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow B to convey the transferred toner images to the secondary transfer nip.

[0024] The intermediate transfer belt 106 is arranged to abut against the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 101Y, 101M, 101C, and 101K. The intermediate transfer belt 106 rotates at a speed of 150 mm to 470 mm per second while being stretched by a plurality of stretching rollers 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116. In the first embodiment, the stretching roller 112 is a tension roller that keeps the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 106 constant. The stretching roller 115 is a driving roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 106. The stretching roller 114 is a secondary transfer inner roller.

[0025] The secondary transfer outer roller 117 is arranged opposite to the stretching roller 114 with the intermediate transfer belt 106 interposed therebetween. The secondary transfer outer roller 117 sandwiches the sheet S between the secondary transfer outer roller 117 and the intermediate transfer belt 106 by a secondary transfer nip (secondary transfer unit) to convey it.

[0026] The feed tray 131 is a tray on which the sheet S is loaded, and the sheet S loaded in the feed tray 131 is conveyed to the registration roller 118. The registration roller 118 conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer nip in synchronization with the conveyance of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 106 to the secondary transfer nip. The secondary transfer pre-conveying guide 121 improves the conveying accuracy of the sheet S to the secondary transfer nip. The high voltage applying unit 122 applies a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image and being controlled by a constant voltage to the secondary transfer outer roller 117. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 106 is transferred onto the sheet S (secondary transfer).

[0027] The sheet S to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 124 by the pre-fixing conveying device 123. The pre-fixing conveying device 123 loads the sheet S on a belt member which rotates to convey the sheet S. The fixing device 124 applies heat and pressure to the sheet S to fix the toner image on the sheet S.

[0028] The belt cleaning device 107 electrostatically collects the secondary transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 106 to clean it. The cleaned intermediate transfer belt 106 is repeatedly used for the formation of an image.

[0029] Figure 2 : is a schematic diagram of the static elimination device 200 in the first embodiment. The static elimination device 200 is arranged on the downstream side of the image forming device 100 in the conveying direction C of the sheet S. The static elimination device 200 performs static elimination on the sheet S received from the image forming device 100 and as a medium to be subjected to static elimination. The static elimination device 200 may be directly connected to the image forming device 100, or may be connected to the image forming device 100 through a post-processing device such as an inserter inserted therein. The image forming device 100 and the static elimination device 200 operate using independent power supplies.

[0030] The static elimination device 200 includes a frame body (housing) 221. The frame body 221 accommodates the static elimination roller pair 202, the high voltage substrate 203, the ionizer pair 212, and the conveying guide 213. The static elimination roller pair 202, the high voltage substrate 203, and the ionizer pair 212 are examples of multiple static elimination units. The static elimination device 200 includes at least one contact static elimination unit, such as the static elimination roller pair 202, and / or at least one non-contact static elimination unit, such as the ionizer pair 212.

[0031] The static elimination roller pair 202 includes a static elimination roller 201a and a static elimination relative roller 201b arranged to be opposite to the static elimination roller 201. The static elimination roller 201a and the static elimination relative roller 201b are pressed to contact each other to form a static elimination nip. The high voltage substrate 203 generates a high voltage and applies the high voltage to the static elimination roller 201a. The high voltage to be applied to the static elimination roller 201a has a polarity opposite to the polarity of the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer outer roller 117. The static elimination roller 201a and the static elimination relative roller 201b perform static elimination while clamping the sheet S in the static elimination nip. The static elimination roller pair 202 is also a conveying unit that receives a sheet discharged from the image forming device 100 and conveys the received sheet.

[0032] In the first embodiment, the ionizer pair 212 is arranged on the downstream side of the static elimination roller pair 202 in the conveying direction C. The ionizer pair 212 includes an ionizer 211a and an opposing ionizer 211b, wherein the conveying guide 213 is sandwiched between them to form a conveying path. The ionizer 211a is arranged above the conveying guide 213, and the opposing ionizer 211b is arranged below the conveying guide 213. The ionizer 211a is arranged to be opposite to the upper surface (first surface) of the sheet S being conveyed. The opposing ionizer 211b is arranged to be opposite to the lower surface (second surface) of the sheet S being conveyed, which is opposite to the upper surface. The ionizer 211a and the opposing ionizer 211b of the first embodiment use a corona discharge method to perform static elimination of the sheet S, wherein an alternating current (AC) high voltage (AC voltage) is applied to an electrode needle (discharge needle) to alternately generate positive ions and negative ions. In the corona discharge method, the front and rear surfaces of the sheet S are simultaneously subjected to static elimination regardless of the polarity of the charge of the sheet S. The sheet S subjected to static elimination is discharged to the outside of the static elimination device 200. In the present specification and the drawings, the ionizer 211a may be referred to as an ionizer (upper part), and the reverse ionizer 211b may be referred to as an ionizer (lower part).

[0033] The light emitting diode (LED) 222 is an example of a second notification unit, and indicates to the user the status of the ionizer pair 212, the static elimination roller pair 202, and the high-voltage substrate 203 by lighting and flashing. The LED 222 is arranged outside the frame body 221 so that the user can confirm the display content from outside the frame body 221. The second notification unit may be a display, or may have a configuration that notifies the user of the status with a sound instead of a display, as long as the second notification unit notifies the user of the status of the ionizer pair 212, the static elimination roller pair 202, and the high-voltage substrate 203.

[0034] The operation unit 223 accepts instructions from the user to perform or not perform the static elimination operation and the setting of the high voltage output value output from the high voltage substrate 203. The operation unit 223 is arranged outside the frame body 221 so that the user can operate the operation unit 223 from outside the frame body 221.

[0035] Figure 3 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 and the static eliminating apparatus 200 in the first embodiment.

[0036] First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication interface (I / F) 141, a central processing unit (CPU) 142, a memory 143, a hard disk drive (HDD) 144, an image forming unit 145, a display unit 146, an operation unit 147, and a local area network (LAN) I / F 148. The communication I / F 141 is an example of a signal receiving unit, and is connected to the static elimination device 200 via a communication cable 301 to control the required communication. The HDD 144 is a storage unit that stores programs and data. The CPU 142 decomposes the programs stored in the HDD 144 into the memory 143, and executes the programs to comprehensively perform image processing and print control. The memory 143 stores programs and image data required for the CPU 142 to perform various processes, and is used as a work area. The operation unit 147 accepts instructions for various settings and operations from the user. The display unit 146 is an example of a first notification unit, and displays setting information about the image forming apparatus 100, a processing status of a print job, a status of a static elimination unit, etc. The image forming unit 145 displays the image forming apparatus 100 by referring to the instruction of the CPU 142. Figure 1 The described operation forms an image on the sheet S. The LAN I / F 148 is a communication interface capable of communicating with an external information processing apparatus in a wired manner or wirelessly.

[0037] Next, the configuration of the static elimination device 200 will be described. The static elimination device 200 includes a communication I / F 241, a CPU 242, a memory 243, an LED 222, an operation unit 223, a static elimination roller pair 202, a high voltage substrate 203, a high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, an ionizer 211a, and a reverse ionizer 211b. The communication I / F 241 is an example of a signal transmission unit, and is connected to the image forming device 100 via a communication cable 301 to control required communications. When a static elimination operation is instructed using the operation unit 223, the CPU 242 executes a control program stored in the memory 243 to perform various controls required for static elimination. The static elimination roller pair 202, the high voltage substrate 203, the ionizer 211a, and the reverse ionizer 211b are controlled based on instructions from the CPU 242 by referring to Figure 2 The static elimination of the sheet S is performed by the operation described.

[0038] The high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244 determines whether any abnormality occurs in the static elimination roller pair 202 and the high voltage output from the high voltage substrate 203 based on the instruction from the CPU 242. If the difference between the high voltage output value from the high voltage substrate 203 and the high voltage output value set using the operation unit 223 is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244 determines that a high voltage output abnormality occurs. If the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244 determines that a high voltage output abnormality occurs, the CPU 242 stops the static elimination operation of the static elimination device 200, and causes the static elimination device 200 to perform only the conveyance of the sheet.

[0039] The ionizer 211a includes an ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a. The ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines whether the ionizer 211a needs to be cleaned and whether any fault occurs in the ionizer 211a based on the instruction from the CPU 242. The reverse ionizer 211b includes a reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b. The reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b determines whether the reverse ionizer 211b needs to be cleaned and whether any fault occurs in the reverse ionizer 211b based on the instruction from the CPU 242.

[0040] For example, the following method may be used to determine whether cleaning is required and whether any fault has occurred. If the voltage supplied to the ionizer 211a is lower than a first threshold, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines that cleaning is required. If the voltage supplied to the ionizer 211a is lower than a second threshold lower than the first threshold, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines that any fault has occurred. The same applies to the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b.

[0041] If the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a or the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b determines that cleaning is required, the CPU 242 does not stop the static elimination operation of the static elimination device 200. If the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a or the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b determines that any failure occurs, the CPU 242 stops the static elimination operation of the static elimination device 200 and causes the static elimination device 200 to perform only the conveyance of the sheet.

[0042] In addition, the CPU 242 lights or flashes the LED 222 based on the determination results of the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, and the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b. The CPU 242 transmits a maintenance necessity signal including information on the determination result to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication I / F 241. The maintenance necessity signal enables the image forming apparatus to determine what kind of maintenance is required in which static eliminating unit. One maintenance necessity signal including information on the determination results of a plurality of maintenance necessity determiners may be transmitted, or a plurality of maintenance necessity signals including information on the determination results by one maintenance necessity determiner may be transmitted.

[0043] The CPU 142 in the image forming apparatus 100 , upon receiving the maintenance necessity signal from the static eliminating apparatus 200 , displays a maintenance necessity message in the display unit 146 based on the maintenance necessity signal.

[0044] The image forming apparatus 100 may have a configuration including a transmission unit (LAN I / F 148) that converts the received maintenance necessity signal into a signal that can be analyzed by an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100 via a network, and transmits the converted signal to the information processing apparatus. When the image forming apparatus 100 includes the transmission unit, the state of the static removing apparatus can be displayed also in the information processing apparatus used by the user to improve user-friendliness.

[0045] Figure 4 An example of a maintenance necessity notification setting window 400 is shown, which is displayed to accept notification settings of the maintenance necessity of the ionizer pair 212, the static elimination roller pair 202, and the high-voltage substrate 203 in the first embodiment. Although the maintenance necessity notification setting window 400 is displayed in the display unit 146 in the image forming apparatus 100 in the first embodiment, a display unit may be provided as an alternative to the LED 222 in the static elimination device 200, and the maintenance necessity notification setting window 400 may be displayed in the display unit. In this case, settings from the user may be accepted through the operation unit 223. The maintenance necessity notification setting window 400 includes a maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 and an addressing method notification setting 402.

[0046] The maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is an example of a second acceptance unit, and is an item for setting a device indicating the necessity of maintenance of the ionizer pair 212, the static elimination roller pair 202, and the high-voltage substrate 203. When the maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static elimination device", a notification of the necessity of maintenance is displayed in the LED 222 in the static elimination device 200. When the maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static elimination device and image forming device", a notification of the necessity of maintenance is displayed in the LED 222 in the static elimination device 200 and the display unit 146 in the image forming device 100.

[0047] The addressing method notification setting 402 is an example of a first receiving unit, and is an item for indicating whether the necessity of maintenance and the addressing method are to be displayed. When the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", a message of the necessity of maintenance and the addressing method is displayed. When the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", the content of the addressing method to be displayed may be a message indicating to contact a dealer / service of the static elimination device 200 or the image forming device 100 ( Figure 6 ), it can also be a maintenance process (the second embodiment in Figure 9).

[0048] Figure 5A and Figure 5B An example of a maintenance necessity notification window displayed in the first embodiment is shown to notify the user of the maintenance necessity of the ionizer pair 212, the static eliminating roller pair 202, and the high-voltage substrate 203. In the first embodiment, the display unit 146 and the operation unit 147 in the image forming apparatus 100 have an integrated configuration in which a user's touch operation of a window displayed on the display is accepted as an instruction and the maintenance necessity notification window is displayed in the display.

[0049] Figure 5A A maintenance required notification window 500 is shown. The maintenance required notification window 500 includes an operation area 501 and a message area 502. In the operation area 501, instructions for specific operations or settings of the image forming device 100, etc. are acceptable. The status of the image forming device 100 and the static elimination device 200 is displayed in the message area 502. A maintenance necessity message based on a maintenance necessity signal received from the static elimination device 200 is displayed in the message area 502. The maintenance required notification window 500 is an example of a window displayed when the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines that cleaning is required. When multiple maintenance necessity messages are to be displayed, the display of the messages is switched at intervals (for example, every few seconds).

[0050] Figure 5BA maintenance unnecessary notification window 510 is shown. The maintenance unnecessary notification window 510 is an example of a window displayed if it is determined that maintenance is unnecessary in all maintenance necessity determiners. Not displaying a message in the message area 502 in the first embodiment indicates that maintenance and addressing are not necessary.

[0051] Figure 6 It is a message list describing the correspondence between the necessity of maintenance of the ionizer 211 a , the back ionizer 211 b , the static eliminating roller pair 202 , and the high voltage substrate 203 in the first embodiment and the notification contents displayed in the image forming apparatus 100 and the static eliminating apparatus 200 .

[0052] Message (no addressing method) 601 is a column indicating a message displayed in the message area 502 when the maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static eliminating device and image forming device" and the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "No". The message is determined by a combination of the maintenance necessity determiner and the maintenance necessity determination result.

[0053] Message (addressing method) 602 is a column indicating a message displayed in message area 502 when maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static eliminating device and image forming device" and addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "yes". Figure 6 In the example in , the message indicating that maintenance is required is followed by a message addressing the method to be performed by the user (contacting a dealer / service). The message is determined by a combination of the maintenance necessity determiner and the maintenance necessity determination result.

[0054] The LED display 603 is a column indicating the display of the LED 222 for each maintenance necessity determination result of the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, and the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b. When it is determined that both the flashing and lighting are performed (for example, when the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244 determines that an output abnormality occurs and the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines that cleaning is required), lighting is given priority. A plurality of LEDs 222 may be provided to display the maintenance necessity of the ionizer 211a, the reverse ionizer 211b, the static elimination roller pair 202, and the high voltage substrate 203 on the corresponding plurality of LEDs 222.

[0055] Although in the first embodiment, in the case where it is determined that maintenance is not required in all maintenance necessity determiners, no message is displayed in the message area 502 and the LED 222 is turned off, the method of notifying the user that maintenance is not required is not limited to this. For example, a message indicating that no abnormality has occurred in the static eliminator may be displayed in the message area 502, or the state of the static eliminator, such as the time when maintenance is required next, may be displayed in the message area 502. Alternatively, the state that maintenance is not required may be indicated by changing the lighting color instead of turning off the LED 222.

[0056] Figure 7 2 is a flowchart describing the processing of the maintenance necessity notification performed by the static elimination device 200 in the first embodiment. A series of processing shown in the flowchart starts at the moment when at least one of the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, and the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b determines the necessity of maintenance. A series of processing shown in the flowchart is implemented by the CPU 242 in the static elimination device 200, and the CPU 242 executes the control program stored in the memory 243.

[0057] refer to Figure 7 In step S701, the CPU 242 acquires the maintenance necessity determination result of at least one of the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, and the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b. After acquiring the maintenance necessity determination result, the process proceeds to step S702.

[0058] In step S702, the CPU 242 determines the maintenance necessity based on the maintenance necessity determination result acquired in step S701. Figure 6 The LED display 603 in FIG. 704 is used to light, flash or turn off the LED 222. Then, the process proceeds to step S703.

[0059] In step S703, the CPU 242 generates a maintenance necessity signal according to the maintenance necessity determination result acquired in step S701 to transmit the maintenance necessity signal to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication I / F 241. After the maintenance necessity signal is transmitted, the process is terminated. Figure 7 in the processing.

[0060] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B 1 is a flowchart describing the processing of the maintenance necessity notification performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in the first embodiment. The series of processing shown in the flowchart is realized by the CPU 142 in the image forming apparatus 100, which decomposes the control program stored in the HDD 144 into the memory 143 for execution.

[0061] refer to Fig. 8A In step S801, the CPU 142 confirms whether a maintenance necessity signal has been received from the static eliminating device 200 in step S703. If a maintenance necessity signal has been received, the process proceeds to step S802.

[0062] In step S802, the CPU 142 determines whether to display a maintenance necessity message based on the maintenance necessity signal received in step S801. If the maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static elimination device", the CPU 142 determines not to display a maintenance necessity message, and then terminates the process. Fig. 8A and Figure 8B If the maintenance necessity notification device setting 401 is set to "static eliminating device and image forming device", the CPU 142 determines that a maintenance necessity message is to be displayed, and the process proceeds to step S803.

[0063] In step S803, the CPU 142 identifies the maintenance necessity determination section based on the maintenance necessity signal received in step S801. If the maintenance necessity determination section is the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, the process proceeds to step S804, if the maintenance necessity determination section is the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b, the process proceeds to step S812, and if the maintenance necessity determination section is the high voltage maintenance necessity determiner 244, the process proceeds to step S814.

[0064] In step S804, the CPU 142 identifies the state of the ionizer 211a based on the maintenance necessity signal received in step S801. If the supply voltage of the ionizer 211a is lower than or equal to the second threshold value (failure of the ionizer 211a), the process proceeds to step S805. Figure 8B If the supply voltage of the ionizer 211a is higher than or equal to the second threshold value and lower than or equal to the first threshold value (the ionizer 211b needs to be cleaned), the process enters step S805. Figure 8B If the supply voltage of the ionizer 211a is higher than or equal to the first threshold value (the ionizer 211a is normal), the process proceeds to step S811. In step S811, no message is displayed and the process is terminated. Fig. 8A and Figure 8B in the processing.

[0065] In step S805, the CPU 142 determines the content of the message. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "No", the process proceeds to Figure 8BIn step S806, a message "Need to check the ionizer (upper part) of the static elimination device" is displayed. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", the process proceeds to Figure 8B In step S807, a message "Need to check the ionizer (upper part) of the static eliminator (Please contact dealer / service)" is displayed.

[0066] In step S808, the CPU 142 determines the content of the message, as in step S805. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "No", the process proceeds to Figure 8B In step S809, a message "Cleaning time of the ionizer (upper part) of the static eliminator" is displayed. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", the process proceeds to Figure 8B In step S810, a message "Cleaning time of static eliminator ionizer (upper part) (please contact dealer / service)" is displayed.

[0067] Since the steps when the determination part is the reverse ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245b (step S812 and subsequent steps) are the same as those for the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a, the description of these steps is omitted here. Although steps similar to steps S805 to S810 are performed in step S813, ionizer (upper part) in the message is replaced by ionizer (lower part) ( Figure 6 ).

[0068] In step S814, the CPU 142 recognizes the states of the static elimination roller pair 202 and the high voltage substrate 203 based on the maintenance necessity signal received in step S801. If any abnormality (ABNORMAL) occurs, the process proceeds to step S814. Figure 8B If no abnormality occurs (NORMAL), the process proceeds to step S818. In step S818, no message is displayed and the process terminates. Fig. 8A and Figure 8B in the processing.

[0069] In step S815, the CPU 142 determines the content of the message. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "No", the process proceeds to Figure 8B In step S816, a message "Need to check the static elimination roller and high voltage substrate of the static elimination device" is displayed. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", the process proceeds to Figure 8B In step S817, a message "Need to check the static elimination roller and high voltage substrate of the static elimination device (Please contact dealer / service)" is displayed.

[0070] After displaying the message in steps S806, S807, S809, S810, S816 and S817, terminate Fig. 8A and Figure 8B in the processing.

[0071] The conditions for terminating the display of the message are exemplified by a case where it is determined that maintenance is not required, a case where the power of the static eliminator is turned off and on again, and the like.

[0072] The second embodiment will now be described. The description of the common points of the first embodiment is omitted here. It is assumed that the user performs the maintenance in the second embodiment. If the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "Yes", the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the window displayed in the display unit 146 in the image forming device 100. When a display unit is provided in the static elimination device 200 as an alternative to the LED 222, the window can be displayed in the display unit in the static elimination device 200.

[0073] Fig.9A It is shown that if the ionizer maintenance necessity determiner 245a determines that cleaning is required and the addressing method notification setting 402 is set to "yes" ( Figure 8B If "Yes" is displayed in step S808 in the above procedure, a maintenance required notification window 900 is displayed in the display unit 146. As in the maintenance required notification window 500, the maintenance required notification window 900 includes an operation area 901 and a message area 902. Fig.9A The message “Clean the ionizer (upper part) of the static elimination device” is displayed in the message area 902 in the display.

[0074] Fig. 9B Shows the user touching Fig.9A The maintenance process notification window 920 is displayed when the message area 902 in the maintenance process is displayed. An illustration and text describing the maintenance process are indicated in the maintenance process 921. The forward button 922 is a button for accepting a display instruction of a previous process of the process displayed in the maintenance process 921. The backward button 923 is a button for accepting a display instruction of a next process of the process displayed in the maintenance process 921.

[0075] Although in the second embodiment, the previous process or the next process is displayed when the user presses the forward button 922 or the backward button 923, a configuration in which the maintenance process 921 is automatically switched may also be adopted.

[0076] For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the CPU 242 detects the maintenance progress and sends a signal indicating the maintenance progress to the image forming apparatus 100 via the communication I / F 241 (maintenance progress sending unit) and the communication I / F 141 (maintenance progress receiving unit), and the maintenance process 921 is switched based on the information received by the CPU 142.

[0077] The maintenance process displayed in the maintenance process 921 may include turning off the static eliminator before maintenance, the manner of using tools for maintenance, and starting the static eliminator after maintenance. Since the maintenance process notification window 920 is displayed in the display unit 146 of the image forming apparatus 100 even when the static eliminator 200 is turned off before maintenance according to the second embodiment, the user can perform work while referring to the maintenance process even without a paper manual or the like.

[0078] As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, the state of the static elimination unit in the static elimination device is displayed on the display unit of the image forming device to inform the user of the state. Therefore, the user working near the image forming device can quickly become aware of any abnormality of the static elimination unit to solve the abnormality.

[0079] Other embodiments

[0080] The present disclosure can be implemented by providing a program that implements one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or a recording medium, and one or more processors in a computer in the system or device read the program for execution. The present disclosure can also be implemented by a circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that implements one or more functions.

[0081] According to the present disclosure, notification of the status of the static eliminating unit in the image forming apparatus enables the user to quickly recognize the status requiring maintenance in the static eliminating unit to solve the problem before sticking or loading failure occurs.

[0082] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An image forming system, comprising: An image forming device; and a static elimination device configured to perform static elimination on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming device, Wherein, the static elimination device comprises: a conveying unit, for conveying the sheet, a static elimination unit for performing static elimination on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a signal sending unit, configured to send a specific signal based on the state of the static elimination unit, and Wherein, the image forming device comprises: a signal receiving unit, configured to receive a signal sent by the signal sending unit, and The first notification unit is used to indicate the content of the notification corresponding to the signal received by the signal receiving unit.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The static elimination device includes a plurality of static elimination units, and The content of the notification indicates what kind of maintenance is required in which static elimination unit.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The static elimination device includes a plurality of static elimination units, and The first notification unit switches the content of notification at regular intervals in notification of the states of the plurality of static elimination units.

4. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The state of the static eliminating unit is a state in which the static eliminating unit needs maintenance.

5. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit that transmits a state of the static elimination unit to an information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus via a network.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The static eliminating device includes a non-contact static eliminating unit as the static eliminating unit that performs static elimination in a non-contact manner on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit.

7. The image forming system according to claim 6, in, The non-contact static elimination unit is an ionizer.

8. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The static eliminating device includes a contact static eliminating unit as the static eliminating unit that performs static elimination in a contact manner on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit.

9. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The notification content of the first notification unit includes the maintenance process of the static elimination unit.

10. The image forming system according to claim 9, in, The maintenance process includes a manner of using a tool for maintaining the static elimination unit.

11. The image forming system according to claim 9, in, The maintenance process includes shutting down the static elimination device.

12. The image forming system according to claim 9, in, The maintenance process includes activating the static elimination device.

13. The image forming system according to claim 9, in, The maintenance process includes shutting down the static eliminator before maintenance, using a tool for maintaining the static eliminator unit, and starting up the static eliminator after maintenance.

14. The image forming system according to any one of claims 9 to 13, in, The static elimination device includes a maintenance progress sending unit, the maintenance progress sending unit is used to send a specific signal based on the progress of the maintenance process, The image forming apparatus includes a maintenance progress receiving unit, the maintenance progress receiving unit is used to receive a signal sent from the maintenance progress sending unit, and The first notification unit is used to notify the maintenance process corresponding to the signal received by the maintenance progress receiving unit.

15. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The image forming apparatus includes a first acceptance unit for accepting a setting indicating whether an addressing method is included in the content notified by the first notification unit.

16. The image forming system according to claim 1, in, The static electricity eliminating device includes a second notification unit, and The image forming apparatus includes a second accepting unit for accepting a setting indicating whether the content to be notified to the static elimination unit based on the necessity of maintenance is to be notified by the second notifying unit or by both the first notifying unit and the second notifying unit.

17. A static eliminator for eliminating static electricity from a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming device, the static eliminator comprising: A conveying unit, used for conveying the sheet; a static elimination unit for performing static elimination on the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit; and A signal sending unit is used to send a specific signal to the image forming device based on the state of the static eliminating unit.

18. An image forming apparatus that discharges a sheet having an image formed thereon to a static eliminator including a static eliminator unit for the sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising: a signal receiving unit, configured to receive a specific signal based on a state of the static elimination unit from the static elimination device; as well as A notification unit is used to indicate the content of a notification corresponding to the signal received by the signal receiving unit.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions, the executable instructions, when executed by one or more processors of an image forming system, causing the image forming system to execute a control method, the image forming system comprising an image forming device and a static eliminator, the static eliminator comprising a static eliminator unit for forming an image sheet thereon by the image forming device, the control method comprising: causing the static eliminating device to send a specific signal to the image forming device based on the state of the static eliminating unit; as well as The image forming apparatus is caused to indicate content of a notification corresponding to the signal received from the static removing unit.

Images