Cleaning device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a cleaning device that, when an abnormality occurs in one of an operation detection unit and a driving source, can determine the abnormality, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A cleaning device (67) comprises a state determination processing unit (752) and an abnormality determination processing unit (753). When movable bodies (69A, 69B) are not detected by an operation detection unit (72) from the start of the drive of a driving source (71) until the lapse of a specific time set in advance, the state determination processing unit (752) determines the drive state of the driving source (71) on the basis of a result of detection performed by a current detection unit (74). When the state determination processing unit (752) determines that the driving source (71) is in the drive state, the abnormality determination processing unit (753) determines that an abnormality occurs in the operation detection unit (72), and when the state determination processing unit (752) determines that the driving source (71) is not in the drive state, determines that an abnormality occurs in the driving source (71).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Image forming devices such as printers are sometimes provided with cleaning devices that automatically clean objects to be cleaned, such as the exit window of an optical scanning device or the wires of a charging device. Specifically, this type of cleaning device cleans the object by moving the cleaning unit with a driving force transmitted from a driving source such as a motor while the cleaning unit is in contact with the object. The drive control of the cleaning unit is sometimes performed based on the detection results of a motion detection unit, such as an optical sensor, that is provided to detect the position of the cleaning unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Alternatively, the drive control of the cleaning unit may be performed based on changes in the drive current of a driving source without using a motion detection unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-200357 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if only one of drive control based on the detection results of a motion detection unit such as an optical sensor and drive control based on the drive current of a drive source such as a motor is executed, it is not possible to determine if an abnormality has occurred in the motion detection unit or the drive source.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus that can determine if an abnormality occurs in either the operation detection unit or the drive source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A cleaning device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a moving mechanism, a current detection unit, a motion detection unit, a drive processing unit, a state determination processing unit, and an abnormality determination processing unit. The moving mechanism moves a moving body having a cleaning unit that contacts the cleaning object along the cleaning object. The current detection unit detects a drive current of a drive source that supplies drive force to the moving mechanism. The motion detection unit detects the moving body at a predetermined specific position. The drive processing unit stops the drive source when the motion detection unit detects the moving body after the drive source starts to drive. The state determination processing unit determines the drive state of the drive source based on the detection result of the current detection unit when the motion detection unit does not detect the moving body within a predetermined specific time period from the start of drive of the drive source. The abnormality determination processing unit determines an abnormality in the motion detection unit when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is in a driving state, and determines an abnormality in the drive source when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is not in a driving state.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the cleaning device and an optical scanning device that scans a photosensitive member with light based on image data, and the cleaning target is a light-transmitting member provided on an irradiation path of the light in the optical scanning device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning device and an image forming apparatus that can determine whether an abnormality has occurred in either the operation detection unit or the drive source. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cleaning device is detached from an optical scanning device of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a cleaning device attached to an optical scanning device of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a drive control process of the cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an abnormality determination process in the drive control process of the cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] [Schematic Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10] As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment includes an operation display unit 100, an ADF 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, and the like.

[0012] The operation display unit 100 includes an operation unit that accepts user operations, a display unit that displays various information, etc. For example, the operation display unit 100 is a touch panel.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine having a print function, a fax function, a scan function, a copy function, etc. The present invention is also applicable to image processing apparatuses such as facsimiles or copy machines.

[0014] The ADF 1 is an automatic document feeder that conveys a sheet such as paper placed as a document on a document setting section, passing it through a position where image data is read by the image reading section 2. The image reading section 2 can read an image from a sheet placed as a document on a contact glass, or from a sheet conveyed by the ADF 1. Specifically, the image reading section 2 includes various optical components such as a light source, mirrors, lenses, and a CCD.

[0015] The image forming unit 3 includes a plurality of process units 4, an intermediate transfer belt 5, an optical scanning device 6, a secondary transfer roller 7, a fixing device 8, a paper output tray 9, a plurality of toner containers 11, a paper feed cassette 21, and a conveyance path 22. The image forming unit 3 forms a monochrome image or a color image on a sheet based on input image data.

[0016] Each process unit 4 is an electrophotographic process unit equipped with a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, a primary transfer roller, a static eliminator, a cleaning device, etc. The process units 4 are arranged side by side along the running direction of the intermediate transfer belt 5, constituting a so-called tandem image forming section. Specifically, in each process unit 4, toner images corresponding to C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) are formed.

[0017] 2 and 3, the optical scanning device 6 includes a unit housing 60, a light source unit 61, a polygon mirror 62, emission mirrors 63 to 66, and a cleaning device 67. The cleaning device 67 is detachable from the optical scanning device 6. When attached to the optical scanning device 6, the cleaning device 67 functions as an upper cover of the optical scanning device 6. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the optical scanning device 6 with the cleaning device 67 removed. In other embodiments, the cleaning device 67 does not have to be detachable from the optical scanning device 6.

[0018] In the optical scanning device 6, laser light corresponding to each process unit 4 is emitted from a light source unit 61 and deflected and scanned in main scanning directions D1 and D2 by a polygon mirror 62. The light scanned by the polygon mirror 62 is guided to each of the exit mirrors 63 to 66 via optical members such as various lenses and mirrors. The laser light reflected by the exit mirrors 63 to 66 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum of each process unit 4.

[0019] [Configuration of cleaning device 67] 3 and 4, cleaning device 67 includes a cover 68, two moving bodies 69A and 69B, a moving mechanism 70, a motor 71, a motion detection unit 72, a motor drive unit 73, a current detection unit 74, and a control unit 75. Note that control unit 75 may also serve as a main control unit that comprehensively controls image forming apparatus 10, or may be provided separately from the main control unit.

[0020] In the cover portion 68, a plurality of exit windows 681 are provided on irradiation paths along which laser beams emitted from the respective exit mirrors 63 to 66 of the optical scanning device 6 are emitted. The exit windows 681 are an example of a light-transmitting member to be cleaned in the present invention.

[0021] Movable bodies 69A and 69B clean exit window 681 by sliding in contact with exit window 681, which is the cleaning target. Specifically, movable bodies 69A and 69B each have two cleaning units 691 corresponding to the two exit windows 681. In cleaning device 67, two movable bodies 69A and 69B are driven to reciprocate along four exit windows 681 by movement mechanism 70, so that four exit windows 681 are simultaneously cleaned by cleaning units 691 of movable bodies 69A and 69B. Note that instead of movable bodies 69A and 69B, four movable bodies corresponding to the four exit windows 681 may be provided, or only one movable body may be provided.

[0022] The moving mechanism 70 reciprocates moving bodies 69A and 69B, each having a cleaning portion 691 that contacts the exit window 681, along the longitudinal direction of the exit window 681. Specifically, the moving mechanism 70 includes a wire 76, a plurality of pulleys 78, four guide rails 79, and a drum 80. The drum 80 of the moving mechanism 70 includes a first drum 81 and a second drum 82. The first drum 81 includes a winding portion 811, and the second drum 82 includes a winding portion 821. The first drum 81 and the second drum 82 are integrated and rotate in the same direction.

[0023] Both ends of the wire 76 are connected to the drums 80, and the wire 76 is stretched by a plurality of pulleys 78 arranged on a path that extends from a first drum 81 of the drums 80 to a second drum 82 of the drums 80. The two ends of the wire 76 are connected so that the wire is wound in opposite directions relative to the first drum 81 and the second drum 82. In other words, when the first drum 81 and the second drum 82 rotate in the same direction, the wire 76 is pulled out from one of the first drum 81 and the second drum 82 and wound around the other.

[0024] The first drum 81 is connected to the drive shaft of the motor 71 via a drive transmission member including, for example, a drive gear (not shown) and a worm gear (not shown). The motor 71 is a drive source such as a DC brush motor that can be driven in forward and reverse directions, and supplies drive force to the movement mechanism 70. The first drum 81 rotates forward and reverse as the motor 71 is driven in forward and reverse directions. The second drum 82 is integrated with the first drum 81, and therefore rotates in the same direction as the first drum 81 when the first drum 81 rotates.

[0025] Two moving bodies 69A and 69B are connected to wire 76, and moving bodies 69A and 69B each move back and forth in response to the reciprocating movement of wire 76. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, moving bodies 69A and 69B are arranged such that when one is located at one end of exit window 681, the other is located at the other end of exit window 681. When moving body 69A moves from one end of exit window 681 to the other end, moving body 69B moves conversely from the other end of exit window 681 to one end.

[0026] The moving mechanism 70 configured as described above is driven by the motor 71 rotating the first drum 81 in a clockwise direction (forward rotation direction) or a counterclockwise direction (reverse rotation direction). When the first drum 81 rotates counterclockwise, the wire 76 is wound around the winding portion 811 of the first drum 81 and pulled out from the winding portion 821 of the second drum 82. This causes the movable body 69A to move in the main scanning direction D1, and the movable body 69B to move in the main scanning direction D2. On the other hand, when the first drum 81 rotates clockwise, the wire 76 is pulled out from the winding portion 811 of the first drum 81 and wound around the winding portion 821 of the second drum 82. This causes the movable body 69A to move in the main scanning direction D2, and the movable body 69B to move in the main scanning direction D1.

[0027] Each of the four guide rails 79 extends along the main scanning directions D1 and D2 and engages with a part of the movable bodies 69A and 69B to restrict the movement directions of the movable bodies 69A and 69B to the main scanning directions D1 and D2.

[0028] 3, the motion detection unit 72 is provided at a predetermined specific position, which is an end P1 on the downstream side of the exit window 681 in the main scanning direction D1, and detects the moving objects 69A and 69B at the specific position. The motion detection unit 72 is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit 91 that emits light and a light receiving unit 92 that detects the light received from the light emitting unit 91. The motion detection unit 72 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 75 indicating whether the light irradiated from the light emitting unit 91 is received by the light receiving unit 92.

[0029] Specifically, each of the movable bodies 69A and 69B is provided with a detectable portion 692 that is positioned between the light emitting portion 91 and the light receiving portion 92 of the motion detection unit 72 and blocks light when the movable body 69A or 69B moves to the downstream end P1 of the exit window 681 in the main scanning direction D1. When the movable body 69A moves from the downstream end P2 to the end P1 of the exit window 681 in the main scanning direction D2, the detectable portion 692 of the movable body 69A is positioned between the light emitting portion 91 and the light receiving portion 92 of the motion detection unit 72 and blocks light. Similarly, when the movable body 69B moves from the downstream end P2 to the end P1 of the exit window 681 in the main scanning direction D2, the detectable portion 692 of the movable body 69B is positioned between the light emitting portion 91 and the light receiving portion 92 of the motion detection unit 72 and blocks light. Therefore, the motion detector 72 outputs to the controller 75 a detection signal indicating that the moving object 69A has moved from the end P1 to the end P2 and from the end P2 to the end P1.

[0030] The motor driving unit 73 drives the motor 71 based on a drive control signal from the drive processing unit 751. The motor driving unit 73 is configured as a drive circuit including, for example, an input unit connected to a DC voltage, a switching element, and the like.

[0031] The current detection unit 74 detects the drive current flowing through the motor 71. The drive current detected by the current detection unit 74 is input to an analog port of the control unit 75. The current detection unit 74 may be incorporated into the motor drive unit 73.

[0032] The control unit 75 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU includes one or more processors that execute various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile storage device that stores in advance information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various types of processing. The RAM is a volatile storage device that is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing executed by the CPU. In the control unit 75, the CPU executes the various control programs that are pre-stored in the ROM.

[0033] However, when only one of drive control based on the detection result of the operation detection unit 72 and drive control based on the drive current of a drive source such as the motor 71 is performed, it is not possible to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit 72 or the motor 71. In contrast, in the image forming apparatus 10 and cleaning device 67 according to this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in either the operation detection unit 72 or the motor 71.

[0034] 4, the control unit 75 includes various processing units such as a drive processing unit 751, a state determination processing unit 752, an abnormality determination processing unit 753, and a notification processing unit 754. The control unit 75 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM. Note that the various processing units of the control unit 75 may be configured with electronic circuits such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0035] The drive processing unit 751 controls the voltage applied to the motor 71 via the motor driving unit 73 based on a drive control signal sent to the motor driving unit 73. Specifically, the drive processing unit 751 controls the forward drive, reverse drive, drive stop, etc. of the motor 71 based on the drive control signal.

[0036] If the motion detection unit 72 does not detect the moving object 69A or the moving object 69B after the motor 71 starts to drive, the state determination processing unit 752 determines the drive state of the motor 71 based on the detection result of the current detection unit 74. Specifically, if the drive current of the motor 71 detected by the current detection unit 74 is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific value, the state determination processing unit 752 determines that the motor 71 is in a drive state, and if the drive current of the motor 71 detected by the current detection unit 74 is less than the specific value, the state determination processing unit 752 determines that the motor 71 is in a stopped state.

[0037] The abnormality determination processing unit 753 detects an abnormality in the operation detection unit 72 when the state determination processing unit 752 determines that the motor 71 is in a driving state, and detects an abnormality in the motor 71 when the state determination processing unit 752 determines that the motor 71 is not in a driving state.

[0038] The notification processing unit 754 executes notification processing when an abnormality is determined by the abnormality determination processing unit 753. Specifically, the notification processing unit 754 displays the determination results, such as the occurrence of the abnormality and the details of the abnormality, on the operation / display unit 100. The notification processing unit 754 may also transmit the occurrence of the abnormality and the details of the abnormality to a preset notification destination, such as another information processing device communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 10.

[0039] [Cleaning control process] An example of the procedure of the cleaning control process executed by the control unit 75 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0040] <Step S1> In step S1, the control unit 75 determines whether the drive conditions for the cleaning device 67 are satisfied (step S1). If the control unit 75 determines that the drive conditions for the cleaning device 67 are satisfied (step S1: Yes), the control unit 75 shifts the process to step S2. On the other hand, the control unit 75 keeps the process on standby at step S1 until the drive conditions for the cleaning device 67 are satisfied (step S1: No).

[0041] The driving condition is, for example, that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the previous driving of the cleaning device 67, or that a predetermined number of sheets have been printed since the previous driving of the cleaning device 67. The driving condition may also be that the image forming apparatus 10 has been powered on, that the image forming apparatus 10 has returned from a power saving mode, that the photosensitive drum or the toner container 11 of the image forming unit 3 has been replaced, or the like.

[0042] <Step S2> In step S2, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 outputs a drive control signal to the motor driving unit 73 to start driving the motor 71 in the forward direction. As a result, in the cleaning device 67, the motor 71 is driven in the forward direction, and a cleaning operation is started in which the movement mechanism 70 moves one of the movable bodies 69A and 69B from end P1 to end P2 of the exit window 681, and the other moves from end P2 to P1 of the exit window 681. At this time, the cleaning unit 691 held by the movable bodies 69A and 69B moves along the exit window 681 while in contact with the exit window 681 to be cleaned, thereby cleaning the exit window 681. Note that, hereinafter, the cleaning operation started here may be referred to as the outbound cleaning operation.

[0043] <Step S3> In step S3, the control unit 75 starts counting the driving time of the motor 71 from 0. The driving time counted here indicates the execution time of the forward path cleaning operation.

[0044] <Step S4> In step S4, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 determines, based on the detection signal from the motion detection unit 72, whether or not either of the moving bodies 69A and 69B has reached the specific position, which is the end P1 on the side where the motion detection unit 72 is provided. Specifically, the drive processing unit 751 determines, based on the detection signal from the motion detection unit 72, that the light irradiated from the light irradiating unit 91 of the motion detection unit 72 has changed from being received by the light receiving unit 92 to not being received by the light receiving unit 92, that either of the moving bodies 69A and 69B has reached the specific position. That is, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the outbound cleaning operation has ended.

[0045] <Step S5> In step S5, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 outputs a drive control signal for stopping the drive of the motor 71 to the motor drive unit 73, thereby stopping the drive of the motor 71. As a result, the moving bodies 69A and 69B come to a stop at the specific positions.

[0046] <Step S6> Next, in step S6, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 outputs a drive control signal to the motor driving unit 73 to start driving the motor 71 in the reverse direction. As a result, in the cleaning device 67, the motor 71 is driven in the reverse direction, and a cleaning operation is started in which one of the movable bodies 69A and 69B is moved by the moving mechanism 70 from end P1 to end P2 of the exit window 681, and the other is moved from end P2 to P1 of the exit window 681. At this time, the cleaning unit 691 held by the movable bodies 69A and 69B moves along the exit window 681 while in contact with the exit window 681 to be cleaned, thereby cleaning the exit window 681. Note that hereinafter, the cleaning operation started here may be referred to as the return cleaning operation.

[0047] <Step S7> In step S7, the control unit 75 starts counting the driving time of the motor 71 from 0. The driving time counted here indicates the execution time of the backward cleaning operation.

[0048] <Step S8> In step S8, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 determines, based on the detection signal from the motion detection unit 72, whether or not either of the moving bodies 69A and 69B has reached the specific position, which is the end P1 on the side where the motion detection unit 72 is provided. Specifically, the drive processing unit 751 determines, based on the detection signal from the motion detection unit 72, that the light irradiated from the light irradiating unit 91 of the motion detection unit 72 has changed from being received by the light receiving unit 92 to not being received by the light, and determines that either of the moving bodies 69A and 69B has reached the specific position. That is, in step S8, it is determined whether or not the return cleaning operation has ended.

[0049] <Step S9> In step S9, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 outputs a drive control signal to the motor driving unit 73 to stop the driving of the motor 71, thereby stopping the driving of the motor 71. As a result, the moving bodies 69A and 69B stop at the specific positions. Thereafter, the control unit 75 ends the series of cleaning control processes and returns the process to step S1.

[0050] In this way, when the motion detection unit 72 is operating normally, the control unit 75 controls the operation of the cleaning device 67 based on the detection result of the motion detection unit 72. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that no motion has been detected by the motion detection unit 72 (S4: No), the control unit 75 executes an abnormality detection process in the following step S10. Similarly, when it is determined in step S8 that no motion has been detected by the motion detection unit 72 (S8: No), the control unit 75 executes the abnormality detection process in the following step S20.

[0051] [Anomaly detection processing] An example of the abnormality detection process executed in step S10 or step S20 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0052] <Step S11> In step S11, the state determination processing unit 752 of the control unit 75 determines whether a predetermined specific time has elapsed since the start of driving of the motor 71, based on the drive time whose measurement was started in step S3 or S7. The specific time is set in advance based on the result of measuring the time from when the motor 71 is driven to when the movable bodies 69A and 69B reach the other end in the cleaning device 67 of the image forming apparatus 10. The specific time may also be set in advance based on the relationship between the drive time of the motor 71 and the movement distance of the movable bodies 69A and 69B in the cleaning device 67 of the image forming apparatus 10. Note that, although the specific time in this embodiment is the same for the forward path cleaning operation and the backward path cleaning operation, it may be different in other embodiments.

[0053] If it is determined that the specific time has elapsed (S11: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if it is determined that the specific time has not elapsed (S11: No), the abnormality detection process ends and the process proceeds to step S4 or step S8. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, when the abnormality detection process in step S10 ends (S11: No), the control unit 75 returns the process to step S4, and when the abnormality detection process in step S20 ends (S11: No), the control unit 75 returns the process to step S8.

[0054] <Step S12> In step S52, the state determination processing unit 752 of the control unit 75 determines the driving state of the motor 71 based on the detection result of the current detection unit 74. If it is determined that the motor 71 is in the driving state (S12: Yes), the process proceeds to step S13. If it is determined that the motor 71 is not in the driving state (S12: No), the process proceeds to step S121. For example, the state determination processing unit 752 determines that the motor 71 is in the driving state when the current value of the driving current detected by the current detection unit 74 is equal to or greater than a predetermined specific value, and determines that the motor 71 is not in the driving state when the current value of the driving current is less than the specific value. Alternatively, the state determination processing unit 752 may determine that the motor 71 is in the driving state when the current value of the driving current detected by the current detection unit 74 remains equal to or greater than a predetermined specific value for a predetermined period of time, and may determine that the motor 71 is not in the driving state when the current value of the driving current does not remain equal to or greater than the specific value for a predetermined period of time. The state determination processing unit 752 may start determining the drive state of the motor 71 a predetermined time before the specific time has elapsed. This allows the process to be quickly branched in step S12 depending on the drive state of the motor 71.

[0055] <Step S13> In step S13, the abnormality determination processing unit 753 of the control unit 75 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit 72, and shifts the process to step S14. In this way, the abnormality determination processing unit 753 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit 72 when the specific time has elapsed after the motor 71 started to be driven and the state determination processing unit 752 has determined that the motor 71 is in a driven state.

[0056] <Step S121> Meanwhile, in step S121, the abnormality determination processing unit 753 of the control unit 75 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the motor 71, and shifts the process to step S14. In this way, the abnormality determination processing unit 753 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the motor 71 when the specific time has elapsed since the motor 71 started to be driven and the state determination processing unit 752 has determined that the motor 71 is not in a driven state.

[0057] <Step S14> Then, in step S14, the drive processing unit 751 of the control unit 75 outputs a drive control signal to the motor drive unit 73 to stop the drive of the motor 71, thereby stopping the drive of the motor 71 and ending the cleaning operation. As a result, the drive of the motor 71 stops if the motor 71 is running, and even if the motor 71 has stopped abnormally, the power supply to the motor 71 is stopped. This prevents damage to the movement mechanism 70, motor 71, etc. of the cleaning device 67.

[0058] <Step S15> In step S15, the notification processing unit 754 of the control unit 75 executes an abnormality notification process to notify the determination result such as the occurrence of the abnormality determined in step S13 or step S121 and the details of the abnormality, and then ends the abnormality detection process and cleaning control process. For example, if an abnormality is determined in step S13 in the operation detection unit 72, a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit 72 is displayed on the operation display unit 100. Furthermore, if an abnormality is determined in step S121 in the motor 71, a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the motor 71 is displayed on the operation display unit 100.

[0059] As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, the cleaning control process executed by the cleaning device 67 can determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the operation detection unit 72 and the motor 71. In particular, in the cleaning control process, the control unit 75 determines the drive state of the motor 71 only when the specific time has elapsed, and does not need to monitor the drive current of the motor 71 input to the analog terminal of the control unit 75 until the specific time has elapsed. Therefore, the processing of the control unit 75 is simplified and the processing load on the control unit 75 is reduced compared to when the drive state of the motor 71 is constantly monitored based on the drive current of the motor 71.

[0060] In this embodiment, the cleaning target is the exit window 681 of the optical scanning device 6, but the cleaning target according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning target of the cleaning device of the present invention may be various glass surfaces or wires. For example, an example of the wire is a wire of a charging device provided in the process unit 4 of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0061] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the motion detection unit 72 is an optical sensor has been described as an example. However, the motion detection unit according to the present invention may be another sensor, such as a contact sensor, that can detect that the moving objects 69A, 69B have reached the specific position by coming into contact with and displacing a part of the moving objects 69A, 69B.

[0062] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which there is one motion detector 72, but a motion detector 72 may be provided at each end of the exit window 681. In this case, the state determination processing unit 752 of the control unit 75 can determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the motion detector 72 provided at one end in the abnormality detection processing of step S10, and can determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the motion detector 72 provided at the other end in the abnormality detection processing of step S20.

[0063] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which there is one motor 71, but a plurality of motors 71 may be provided corresponding to a plurality of moving bodies 69A, 69B. In this case, the state determination processing unit 752 of the control unit 75 can determine the presence or absence of an abnormality for each motor 71 in the abnormality detection processing of step S10 and the abnormality detection processing of step S20.

[0064] [Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0065] <Appendix 1> a moving mechanism that moves a moving body having a cleaning unit that comes into contact with a cleaning target along the cleaning target; a current detection unit that detects a drive current of a drive source that supplies a drive force to the movement mechanism; a motion detection unit that detects the moving object at a predetermined specific position; a drive processing unit that stops the drive source when the motion detection unit detects the moving object after the drive source starts to drive; a state determination processing unit that determines a drive state of the drive source based on a detection result of the current detection unit when the motion detection unit does not detect the moving object within a predetermined time period from when the drive source starts to drive; an abnormality determination processing unit that determines that an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is in a driving state, and that an abnormality has occurred in the drive source when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is not in a driving state; A cleaning device comprising:

[0066] <Appendix 2> the drive processing unit stops the drive source when the motion detection unit does not detect the moving object during the specified time period from when the drive source starts to be driven; 10. The cleaning device of claim 1.

[0067] <Appendix 3> a notification processing unit that notifies the result of the abnormality determination by the abnormality determination processing unit; 3. The cleaning device of claim 1 or 2.

[0068] <Appendix 4> the cleaning target is a light-transmitting member provided on an irradiation path of light in an optical scanning device that scans a photosensitive member with light based on image data; 4. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

[0069] <Appendix 5> The motion detection unit is an optical sensor or a contact sensor. 5. The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

[0070] <Appendix 6> An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and an optical scanning device that scans light onto a photosensitive member, wherein the object to be cleaned is a translucent member that is provided on an irradiation path of the light in the optical scanning device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10 Image forming device 6 Optical scanning device 67 Cleaning equipment 681 Exit window 69A Mobile 69B Mobile 691 Cleaning Department 70 Moving mechanism 71 Motor 72 Motion detection unit 73 Motor drive unit 74 Current detection section 75 Control Unit 751 Drive processing unit 752 Status determination processing unit 753 Abnormality determination processing unit 754 Notification processing section

Claims

1. a moving mechanism that moves a moving body having a cleaning unit that comes into contact with a cleaning target along the cleaning target; a current detection unit that detects a drive current of a drive source that supplies a drive force to the movement mechanism; a motion detection unit that detects the moving object at a predetermined specific position; a drive processing unit that stops the drive source when the motion detection unit detects the moving object after the drive source starts to drive; a state determination processing unit that determines a drive state of the drive source based on a detection result of the current detection unit when the motion detection unit does not detect the moving object within a predetermined time period from when the drive source starts to drive; an abnormality determination processing unit that determines that an abnormality has occurred in the operation detection unit when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is in a driving state, and that an abnormality has occurred in the drive source when the state determination processing unit determines that the drive source is not in a driving state; A cleaning device comprising:

2. the drive processing unit stops the drive source when the motion detection unit does not detect the moving object during the specified time period from when the drive source starts to be driven; The cleaning device of claim 1 .

3. a notification processing unit that notifies the result of the abnormality determination by the abnormality determination processing unit; 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the cleaning target is a light-transmitting member provided on an irradiation path of light in an optical scanning device that scans a photosensitive member with light based on image data; 3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The motion detection unit is an optical sensor or a contact sensor.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. a cleaning device including the cleaning device according to claim 1 and an optical scanning device that scans light onto a photosensitive member, the cleaning target being a light-transmitting member provided on an irradiation path of the light in the optical scanning device; Image forming device.

Images