Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve convenience of a user regarding replacement of a belt unit in a configuration in which a recovery toner container is provided inside the belt unit.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 includes the image forming portion P, the belt unit 11 which is detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 and which includes the endless belt 12 and the collected toner container 18, the first acquiring portion 82 for acquiring the value relating to the remaining lifetime of the belt 12, and the second acquiring portion 83 for acquiring the value relating to the remaining lifetime of the collected toner container 18. And the processing portion 84 configured to execute a process of notifying the information on the remaining lifetime of the belt unit 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, printer, facsimile machine, or multifunction machine that uses an electrophotographic or electrostatic recording method, or that has a plurality of functions selected from these. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses using electrophotography or the like include image forming apparatuses equipped with an endless belt, such as an intermediate transfer belt or a conveyor belt, stretched over multiple tension rollers. For example, an image forming apparatus equipped with an intermediate transfer belt forms an image on a recording material by primarily transferring a toner image formed on an image carrier to the intermediate transfer belt and then secondarily transferring the toner image onto a recording material such as paper. Also, an image forming apparatus equipped with a conveyor belt forms an image on a recording material by transferring a toner image formed on an image carrier onto the recording material, which is carried and conveyed by the conveyor belt. The following description mainly uses an image forming apparatus equipped with an intermediate transfer belt as an example.

[0003] After the toner image is transferred to the recording material, toner that was not transferred to the recording material (transfer residual toner) remains on the intermediate transfer belt. The image forming apparatus is provided with a cleaning device that removes this transfer residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt and cleans the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer residual toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt by the cleaning device is collected in a collected toner container that stores toner and is provided in the image forming apparatus. Here, the toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt and collected by the cleaning device is also referred to as "collected toner."

[0004] The intermediate transfer belt is a consumable part. In some image forming devices, when the intermediate transfer belt reaches the end of its life, the entire belt unit (intermediate transfer belt unit) including the intermediate transfer belt and its tension rollers can be replaced. The collected toner container is also a consumable part. In image forming devices, the collected toner container is replaced when it becomes full of collected toner. The collected toner container is often installed in a location on the image forming device that is easy for the user to access, so that it can be replaced by the user of the image forming device.

[0005] Image forming devices may be configured to display information about the remaining lifespan of consumable parts on an information confirmation screen or the like so that the remaining lifespan of consumable parts can be known in order to determine whether replacement of consumable parts is necessary or to prepare replacement consumable parts. In a typical image forming device in which a belt unit and a collected toner container are provided separately, the remaining lifespan of each can be checked, such as the percentage of the belt unit's remaining lifespan and the percentage of the collected toner container's remaining lifespan. Furthermore, image forming devices may be configured to display information indicating that the belt unit and the collected toner container have reached the end of their respective lives on an information confirmation screen or the like when they have reached the end of their respective lives, or information prompting the user to replace them.

[0006] Meanwhile, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a recovered toner container is installed in the space inside the belt unit. This configuration eliminates the need for the space outside the belt unit for the recovered toner container, which has the advantage of allowing the size of the image forming apparatus to be reduced. Another advantage is that the intermediate transfer belt and recovered toner container can be replaced at the same time by replacing the belt unit, reducing the frequency of replacing consumable parts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-197702 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in a configuration where the collected toner container is placed inside the belt unit, it is not possible to identify the collected toner container by looking at the exterior of the belt unit. Therefore, even if the remaining life of the collected toner container is displayed on an information confirmation screen, the user may be confused because they do not know which part's remaining life is being displayed.

[0009] The same applies to a configuration in which a collected toner container is provided inside a belt unit (conveyor belt unit) that includes a conveyor belt and a tension roller for the conveyor belt.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve user convenience in replacing a belt unit in a configuration in which a collected toner container is provided inside the belt unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier; a belt unit detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus, the belt unit including an endless belt onto which the toner image is transferred from the image carrier; and a collected toner container disposed within an area defined by an inner circumferential surface of the belt and configured to store toner collected within the main body; a first acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the belt; a second acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the collected toner container; and a processing unit that executes processing to notify information related to the remaining life of the belt unit based on the first acquisition result obtained by the first acquisition unit and the second acquisition result obtained by the second acquisition unit.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier; a belt unit that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus and includes an endless belt that carries and transports a recording material onto which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier; and a collected toner container that is provided within an area defined by the inner surface of the belt and that stores toner collected within the main body of the apparatus; a first acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the belt; a second acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the collected toner container; and a processing unit that executes a process to notify information related to the remaining life of the belt unit based on the first acquisition result by the first acquisition unit and the second acquisition result by the second acquisition unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, in a configuration in which a collected toner container is provided inside a belt unit, it is possible to improve user convenience regarding replacement of the belt unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a belt unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a drive transmission portion of the belt unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a belt unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the belt unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the belt unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for displaying the remaining life of a belt unit. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a remaining life display of a belt unit. [Figure 12] 10 is a graph showing an example of the transition of the remaining life of an intermediate transfer belt and a collected toner container. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for an operation after the end of the life of a belt unit. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of a setting screen and an alert screen. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for displaying the remaining life of a belt unit. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to another example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the following embodiments can be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0016] [Example 1] 1. Configuration of image forming device Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the exterior of an image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the general internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a tandem laser printer that employs an intermediate transfer system and is capable of forming full-color images using an electrophotographic system.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 1 has four image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK that form images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. Elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations for each color are sometimes collectively described by omitting the Y, M, C, or K suffix to the reference numeral indicating the element for that color. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of one image forming unit P. In this embodiment, the image forming unit P includes photosensitive drums 41 (41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K), charging rollers 42 (42Y, 42M, 42C, and 42K), an exposure device LS, developing devices 43 (43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K), and drum cleaning devices 44 (44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K), which will be described later. In this embodiment, the exposure device LS is configured as one unit that exposes each of the photosensitive drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K, but may be provided independently for each of the photosensitive drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K.

[0018] In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 employs a process cartridge system. In each image forming station P, a photosensitive drum 41 and the process means acting thereon, namely, a charging roller 42, a developing device 43, and a drum cleaning device 44, are integrally configured as a process cartridge 40 that is detachably attached to the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. The four process cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are arranged in a row at regular intervals. The process cartridges 40 and a belt unit 11 (described later) are removed from or attached to the main body 2 with the door 3 provided on the image forming apparatus 1 open. In this embodiment, the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 corresponds to the image forming apparatus 1 excluding the process cartridges 40 and the belt unit 11.

[0019] Furthermore, with respect to the image forming apparatus 1, the side where the opening / closing door 3 is provided (the left side in FIG. 2) is referred to as the "front (front) side," and the side opposite the front side (the right side in FIG. 2) is referred to as the "rear (rear) side." Furthermore, when viewing the image forming apparatus 1 from the front side, the right side is referred to as the "drive side," and the left side is referred to as the "non-drive side." The image forming apparatus 1 is disposed and used so that the direction connecting the front side and the rear side, and the direction connecting the drive side and the non-drive side, are both approximately horizontal. Furthermore, in the drawings, the direction from the rear side to the front side is referred to as the "(+)X direction." Furthermore, the direction from the non-drive side to the drive side (perpendicular to the X direction) is referred to as the "(+)Y direction." Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is disposed on a horizontal plane, the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface (perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction) is referred to as the "(+)Z direction." Here, with respect to the image forming apparatus 1, the up and down direction refers to the up and down in the direction of gravity (vertical direction), but does not mean just directly above or just below, but also includes above and below a horizontal plane passing through a position or element of interest. Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where it is capable of forming an image, the rotation axis directions of the photosensitive drum 41 and the tension roller of the intermediate transfer belt 12, which will be described later, are assumed to be approximately parallel to the Y direction.

[0020] The process cartridges 40 are arranged side by side substantially horizontally on the bottom surface of the apparatus main body 2. Each process cartridge 40 has an electrophotographic process mechanism such as a photosensitive drum 41, a charging roller 42, a developing device 43, and a drum cleaning device 44, and a rotational driving force is transmitted to each process cartridge 40 from a driving device (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 2. An exposure device LS is provided above the process cartridge 40. The exposure device LS outputs laser light based on image information received by a video controller 60 (FIG. 9(a)) from an external device such as a personal computer. The laser light output from the exposure device LS passes through an exposure window portion of the process cartridge 40 and scans and exposes the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the photosensitive drum 41.

[0021] In addition, a belt unit (intermediate transfer belt unit) 11 is provided below the process cartridge 40. The belt unit 11 includes an intermediate transfer belt 12, primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K, a drive roller 13, a tension roller 17, a secondary pre-transfer roller 15, a belt cleaning device 19, and a collected toner container 18. The belt unit 11 is detachably mounted to the apparatus main body 2.

[0022] The intermediate transfer belt 12, which is a rotatable endless belt serving as an intermediate transfer body, is stretched around a plurality of tension rollers, namely, a drive roller 13, a tension roller 17, and a pre-secondary transfer roller 15, and is tensioned under a predetermined tension. Here, the intermediate transfer belt is also referred to as an "ITB (Intermediate Transfer Belt)." The drive roller 13 receives a driving force from a drive device (not shown) provided in the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus, and rotates. This causes the intermediate transfer belt 12 to rotate (circulate) in the direction of arrow R2 (counterclockwise) in FIG. 2. The tension roller 17 applies a predetermined tension to the intermediate transfer belt 12. The drive roller 13 and the tension roller 17 form the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (primary transfer surface) that passes through each primary transfer portion N1 (described later). The pre-secondary transfer roller 15 forms the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (secondary transfer surface) that enters the secondary transfer portion N2 (described later). The belt cleaning device 19 removes and collects residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The toner collected from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the belt cleaning device 19 is stored in a collected toner container 18 provided within an area defined by the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12.

[0023] The primary transfer rollers 16, which are roller-type primary transfer members, are an example of primary transfer means for transferring the toner images carried on the photosensitive drums 41 from the photosensitive drums 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 12. The primary transfer rollers 16 are arranged in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are provided corresponding to the photosensitive drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K, respectively, via the intermediate transfer belt 12. The primary transfer rollers 16 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12, i.e., along the Y direction. The primary transfer rollers 16 urge the intermediate transfer belt 12 toward the photosensitive drums 41, forming primary transfer portions (primary transfer nips) N1 (N1Y, N1M, N1C, and N1K) where the photosensitive drums 41 and the intermediate transfer belt 12 come into contact.

[0024] In this embodiment, the primary transfer roller 16 is configured as a metal roller without an elastic layer. In this embodiment, the primary transfer roller 16 is disposed offset from the position of the primary transfer portion N1 where the photosensitive drum 41 and the intermediate transfer belt 12 contact each other. More specifically, in this embodiment, the primary transfer roller 16 is disposed shifted downstream from the position of the primary transfer portion N1 in the movement direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12. This reduces the possibility that the primary transfer roller 16, which is configured as a metal roller, will wear out the photosensitive drum 41. Note that the primary transfer roller 16 may also be disposed shifted upstream from the position of the primary transfer portion N1.

[0025] The belt cleaning device 19 has a cleaning container (cleaning frame) 19a and a cleaning blade 19b as a cleaning member (collection member) that is provided inside the cleaning container 19a and extends along the Y direction. The cleaning blade 19b is disposed in contact with the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 in a counter direction to the moving direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cleaning blade 19b scrapes off the residual toner from the surface of the rotating intermediate transfer belt 12 and collects it into the cleaning container 19a.

[0026] The drive roller 13, which is a driving rotor, functions as a secondary transfer opposing roller. On the outer circumferential surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 12, a secondary transfer roller 14, which is a roller-type secondary transfer member serving as secondary transfer means, is disposed at a position facing the drive roller 13 across the intermediate transfer belt 12. The secondary transfer roller 14 is pressed toward the drive roller 13 and abuts against the drive roller 13 across the intermediate transfer belt 12, forming a secondary transfer portion (secondary transfer nip portion) N2 where the secondary transfer roller 14 and the intermediate transfer belt 12 come into contact.

[0027] In terms of the conveyance direction of the recording material S, upstream of the secondary transfer portion N2, a feeding device 50 is provided as a feeding means for feeding the recording material S toward the secondary transfer portion N2. The feeding device 50 is configured to include a cassette 51 as a recording material storage portion, a feeding roller 52 as a feeding member, and a pair of registration rollers 53 as a conveying member. The cassette 51 stores the recording material S. The feeding roller 52 feeds the recording material S from the cassette 51. The pair of registration rollers 53 conveys the recording material S fed from the cassette 51 by the feeding roller 52 to the secondary transfer portion N2.

[0028] Further, downstream of the secondary transfer portion N2 in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, there are provided a fixing device 21 as a fixing means for fixing a toner image onto the recording material S, and a pair of discharge rollers 22 for discharging the recording material S with the fixed toner image from the apparatus main body 2. The recording material S discharged from the apparatus main body 2 by the pair of discharge rollers 22 is stacked on a tray 23 as a discharge portion (stacking portion) provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2.

[0029] 2. Image formation operation Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described. When the video controller 60 (FIG. 9(a)) receives image information (image signal) from an external device, the control unit 30 (FIG. 9(a)) starts the image forming operation. When the image forming operation starts, the photosensitive drum 41, the drive roller 13, etc. start to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) by the driving force from the drive source of the drive device (not shown).

[0030] The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 41 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential of a predetermined polarity (negative in this embodiment) by a charging roller 42, which is a roller-type charging member serving as charging means. The charged surface of the photosensitive drum 41 is scanned and exposed by an exposure device (laser scanner) LS serving as exposure means, which irradiates it with laser light in accordance with image information, and an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) corresponding to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 41. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 is developed (visualized) by a developing device 43 serving as developing means, which supplies toner as a developer, and a toner image (toner image, developer image) corresponding to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 41. Toner images corresponding to the image components of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed on each of the photosensitive drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K, respectively. In this embodiment, toner charged with the same polarity as the charge polarity of the photosensitive drum 41 (negative in this embodiment) adheres to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 41, where the absolute value of the potential has been reduced by exposure after being uniformly charged (reverse development method). In this embodiment, the normal charge polarity of the toner, which is the main charge polarity of the toner during development, is negative.

[0031] The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 reaches the primary transfer portion N1 as the photosensitive drum 41 rotates. Then, at the primary transfer portion N1, the toner image is transferred (primary transfer) onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 12 by the action of the primary transfer roller 16. During primary transfer, a primary transfer voltage (primary transfer bias), which is a DC voltage of opposite polarity (positive polarity in this embodiment) to the normal charging polarity of the toner, is applied to the primary transfer roller 16 by a primary transfer power supply (not shown). For example, when a full-color image is formed, the toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black formed on each photosensitive drum 41 are sequentially primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 at each primary transfer portion N1 so as to be superimposed on top of each other. As a result, four-color toner images corresponding to the desired color image are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12.

[0032] The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 reaches the secondary transfer portion N2 as the intermediate transfer belt 12 moves. Then, at the secondary transfer portion N2, the toner image is transferred (secondary transfer) by the action of the secondary transfer roller 14 onto the sheet-like recording material S, which is being conveyed while being sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 14. During the secondary transfer, a secondary transfer voltage (secondary transfer bias), which is a DC voltage of opposite polarity to the normal charging polarity of the toner, is applied to the secondary transfer roller 14 by a secondary transfer power source (not shown). The drive roller 13 is electrically grounded (connected to a ground potential). Alternatively, a secondary transfer voltage of the same polarity as the normal charging polarity of the toner may be applied to an inner roller corresponding to the drive roller 13 in this embodiment, and an outer roller corresponding to the secondary transfer roller 14 in this embodiment may be electrically grounded.

[0033] Recording materials (transfer materials, recording media, sheets) S such as paper or plastic sheets (for example, overhead projector sheets) are stored in a cassette 51. The recording materials S stored in the cassette 51 are fed one by one from the cassette 51 by a feed roller 52 or the like at a predetermined timing. The recording materials S are conveyed to the secondary transfer section N2 by a pair of registration rollers 53 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12.

[0034] The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred at the secondary transfer portion N2 is conveyed to the fixing device 21. The fixing device 21 heats and pressurizes the recording material S bearing the unfixed toner image, thereby fixing (melting and adhering) the toner image onto the recording material S. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been fixed is discharged (output) from the apparatus main body 2 by a pair of discharge rollers 22 or the like, and is stacked on a tray 23.

[0035] On the other hand, transfer residual toner (primary transfer residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 41 after the primary transfer is removed and collected from the photosensitive drum 41 by a drum cleaning device 44 serving as a photosensitive body cleaning means. Also, transfer residual toner (secondary transfer residual toner) remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12 after the secondary transfer is removed and collected from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by a belt cleaning device 19 serving as a belt cleaning means.

[0036] By the above operation, for example, a full-color print image is formed.

[0037] 3. Belt cleaning device Next, cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the belt cleaning device 19 in this embodiment will be further described.

[0038] Residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12 after the secondary transfer is scraped off from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by a cleaning blade 19b and temporarily stored in a cleaning container 19a. The process of recovering residual toner by the belt cleaning device 19 will be described below. In addition to the residual toner, the belt cleaning device 19 can also remove and recover deposits on the intermediate transfer belt 12. Examples of such deposits include toner of test toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 for image density control and color registration control, toner adhering to non-image areas (fog toner), and paper dust adhering from the recording material S. Here, the description will focus mainly on residual toner as the deposit removed and recovered from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the belt cleaning device 12.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the belt unit 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 12 removed. Arrows Sa, Sb, and Sc in Fig. 4 indicate the transport path of the collected toner collected from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the cleaning blade 19b. Note that in order to explain the internal configuration of the belt cleaning device 19, the cleaning container 19a is not shown in Fig. 4.

[0040] The belt cleaning device 19 has, inside a cleaning container 19a, a cleaning blade 19b and an in-cleaner container transport member 19c that transports the residual toner scraped by the cleaning blade 19b from the intermediate transfer belt 12. The in-cleaner container transport member 19c has a screw shape, and is rotated by a driving force from a driving source of a drive device (not shown) provided in the device main body 2, thereby transporting the collected toner in the direction of arrow Sa (direction Y in this embodiment).

[0041] The collected toner transported in the direction of arrow Sa in the cleaning container 19a is transported in the direction of arrow Sb in a transport path 184 provided adjacent to the downstream end in the direction of transport of the collected toner by the cleaning container transport member 19c. The downstream end in the direction of transport of the collected toner by the cleaning container transport member 19c is, in other words, the drive side end of the belt unit 11. The transport path 184 is connected to the inlet 18a of the collected toner container 18. Inside the collected toner container 18, a transport member 18b is provided, one end of which is located near the inlet 18a. The transport member 18b has a screw shape and, as will be described later, rotates by a driving force to transport the collected toner that has reached the inlet 18a in the direction of arrow Sc.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a mechanism for transmitting drive to the drive roller 13 and the conveying member 18b, which are provided at the drive-side end of the belt unit 11. As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the conveying member 18b and the drive roller 13 are drive-coupled by a drive coupling member 200 having a first drive coupling gear portion 201 and a second drive coupling gear portion 202. More specifically, the drive roller 13 has a drive transmission gear 131 on a shaft portion 132 at the drive-side end, and the conveying member 18b has an input gear 186 at the drive-side end. The drive transmission gear 131 engages with the first drive coupling gear portion 201, and the input gear 186 engages with the second drive coupling gear portion 202. The drive coupling member 202, which includes the first drive coupling gear portion 201 and the second drive coupling gear portion 202, rotates integrally. The drive roller 13 receives drive force from a drive source via the shaft portion 132 at the drive-side end to rotate. When the shaft portion 132 rotates, the drive transmission gear 131 also rotates. When the drive transmission gear 131 rotates, the rotational force of the drive roller 13 is transmitted to the input gear 186 via the drive connecting member 200, and the conveying member 18b rotates.

[0043] 4. Belt Unit Configuration Next, the configuration of the belt unit 11 in this embodiment will be further described. Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view (XZ plane) of the belt unit 11 as seen from the drive side. Fig. 7 is a schematic side view (XZ plane) for explaining the configuration of the side portion of the drive side of the belt unit 11. Here, in Fig. 7, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is not shown.

[0044] 6 and 7, in this embodiment, the collected toner container 18 is provided in an area of ​​the belt unit 11 that is defined by the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The bottom surfaces of the belt unit 11 and the collected toner container 18 are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0045] In this embodiment, the collected toner container 18 includes an upper member 18c that forms the top surface of the collected toner container 18 and a lower member 18d that forms the bottom surface of the collected toner container 18 in the direction of gravity. The upper member 18c and the lower member 18d form a frame for the collected toner container 18. More specifically, in the direction of gravity, the upper member 18c is disposed closer to the primary transfer roller 16, and the lower frame 18d is disposed closer to the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 1. The upper member 18c and the lower member 18d are joined by ultrasonic welding at four edges of the upper member 18c and the lower member 18d, which are substantially rectangular in shape on the XY plane. As a result, the upper member 18c and the lower member 18d are integrated to form the frame for the collected toner container 18. The means for fastening the upper member 18c and the lower member 18d together is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and any method can be used as long as it can sufficiently prevent leakage of the collected toner from the collected toner container 18. As the means for fastening the upper member 18c and the lower member 18d together, for example, in addition to ultrasonic welding, any other fastening means such as heat welding or other welding, fastening, or adhesion can be used.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the portions of the upper member 18c facing the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, and 16C for yellow, magenta, and cyan are retracted away from the positions where the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, and 16C are provided. That is, these portions are retracted toward the lower member 18d. More specifically, grooves 181Y, 181M, and 181C are formed in the upper member 18a at the positions where the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, and 16C are provided, along the rotational axes of the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, and 16C. This allows the collected toner container 18 to have a sufficient toner capacity without restricting the rotation of the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, and 16C. Furthermore, forming the grooves 181Y, 181M, and 181C in the upper member 18c improves the strength of the collected toner container 18 and prevents deformation of the collected toner container 18.

[0047] 7, primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are rotatably supported at their ends in the direction of their rotational axes by primary transfer bearings 162Y, 162M, 162C, and 162K, respectively. Primary transfer bearings 162Y, 162M, 162C, and 162K are biased in the +Z direction by primary transfer biasing springs 163Y, 163M, 163C, and 163K, which are biasing members having one ends fixed to upper member 18c. Primary transfer bearings 162Y, 162M, 162C, and 162K are supported by upper member 18c in a state that allows them to move in the Z direction.

[0048] In this embodiment, the belt unit 11 does not have a mechanism for separating the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K from the intermediate transfer belt 12. In other words, when the belt unit 11 is installed in a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 2, each primary transfer roller 16 is urged by each primary transfer urging spring 163, so that the intermediate transfer belt 12 and each photosensitive drum 41 are always in contact with each other. In this way, by not providing the belt unit 11 with a mechanism for separating the primary transfer rollers 16 from the intermediate transfer belt 12, it is possible to maximize the internal space of the belt unit 11 for the capacity of the collected toner container 18.

[0049] The tension roller 17 is biased in the +X direction via a tension bearing 17a by a tension spring 173, which is a biasing member serving as a biasing means. As a result, the tension roller 17 applies a predetermined tension to the intermediate transfer belt 12. One end of the tension spring 173 biases the tension bearing 17a, and the other end is supported by the upper member 18c. In this embodiment, the belt unit 11 is configured so that the tension roller 17 can release the tension on the intermediate transfer belt 12 by moving the tension bearing 17a against the biasing force of the tension spring 173.

[0050] 5. Fill the waste toner container with waste toner Next, a description will be given of how to fill the collected toner container 18 with collected toner in this embodiment. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram (XY plane) of the belt unit 11 from above with the intermediate transfer belt 12 removed.

[0051] The collected toner flows into the collected toner container 18 from the inlet 18a via the transport path 184 (FIGS. 4 and 7), which is not shown in FIG. 8, and is transported by the transport member 18b to approximately the center of the collected toner container 18 in the XY plane.

[0052] One end of the conveying member 18b is provided on the inlet 18a side with respect to its rotational axis, and the other end is supported by a conveying member bearing 183a, which serves as a support. The conveying member bearing 183a is provided on the lower member 18d of the collected toner container 18 and rotatably supports the conveying member 18b. The conveying member 18b has, with respect to its rotational axis, a first region St where the conveying portion (screw blade) 18b1 is provided, and a second region Sr where the conveying portion 18b1 is not provided and is composed only of a shaft portion. An end (terminal end) Eb of the conveying portion 18b1 is provided at the boundary between the first region St and the second region Sr, on the opposite side of the inlet 18a with respect to the rotational axis of the conveying member 18b. The rotational axis of the conveying member 18b is not perpendicular to either the X or Y direction, but is arranged along a direction that intersects with both the X and Y directions. The X direction is approximately parallel to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 in the XY plane, and the Y direction is approximately parallel to the rotation axis direction of the primary transfer roller 16 in the XY plane.

[0053] When the recovered toner container 18 is viewed projected onto the XY plane, the end Eb is located downstream of the yellow primary transfer roller 16Y and upstream of the black primary transfer roller 16K in the X direction. In other words, the end Eb is located between the yellow primary transfer roller 16Y and the black primary transfer roller 16K in the X direction. In this embodiment, more specifically, the end Eb is located in the central region of the recovered toner container 18, between the yellow primary transfer roller 16Y and the magenta primary transfer roller 16M in the X direction. As a result, the recovered toner that flows in from the inlet 18a is transported by the transport unit 18b1 from the inlet 18a toward the end Eb inside the recovered toner container 18 and accumulates at the end of the region St, which is approximately the center of the recovered toner container 18.

[0054] As the collected toner container 18 approaches full capacity, the toner density near the end Eb increases. This increases the torque of the conveying member 18b. Therefore, in this embodiment, the conveying member 18b is provided with a torque detection sensor 90 (FIG. 9A) for detecting the torque of the conveying member 18b. The control unit 30 (FIG. 9A) is configured to determine that the collected toner container 18 is approaching full capacity when the torque of the conveying member 18b detected by the torque detection sensor 90 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The control unit 30 is also configured to determine that the collected toner container 18 is full when the pixel count value from the point in time when the torque of the conveying member 18b detected by the torque detection sensor 90 exceeds the predetermined threshold exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method for detecting the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 will be described in detail below.

[0055] 6. Control Configuration Next, a description will be given of the control configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment. Fig. 9(a) is a block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 in this embodiment.

[0056] The device main body 2 is provided with a control unit 30 as a control means. The control unit 30 is configured to include a CPU 31 as a control and calculation means that is a central element for performing control and calculation processing, a memory unit 32 as a storage means, and an input / output unit (not shown) as an input / output means for sending and receiving signals to and from devices external to the control unit 30. The memory unit 32 is configured with a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 34, a non-volatile memory 35, etc. The ROM 33 stores various control information such as programs and pre-determined data tables. The RAM 34 stores information input to the control unit 30, detected information, calculation results, etc. The non-volatile memory 35 stores various setting information and various usage history information (such as accumulated count values ​​of various counters).

[0057] The control unit 30 is connected to an operation / display unit 70 provided in the apparatus main body 2 and a torque detection sensor 90 provided in the belt unit 11. The operation / display unit 70 has an operation unit 71 as an input means for inputting information to the control unit 30 based on the operation of an operator such as a user or a service representative (hereinafter simply referred to as "user"), and a display unit 72 as a display means for displaying information to the user under the control of the control unit 30. In this embodiment, the operation / display unit 70 is configured with a touch panel having the functions of the operation unit 71 and the display unit 72. As described above, the torque detection sensor 90 inputs a signal indicating the detection result of the torque of the conveying member 18b provided in the collected toner container 18 to the control unit 30. Although not shown in the figure, the control unit 30 is also connected to various parts of the image forming apparatus 1 that execute the image formation process described above. The control unit 30 is also connected to a video controller (image processing unit) 60 provided in the apparatus main body 2. The video controller 60 generates image data for forming an image in the image forming apparatus 1 based on image information input from an external device (not shown) such as an image reading device, digital camera, or personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0058] The control unit 30 performs overall control of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 based on image data generated by the video controller 60 in response to an image formation signal (image information, control command) from an external device, for example, to perform image formation operations. For example, the control unit 30 performs control related to the transport of the recording material S, control related to the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the image forming unit P, control related to image formation, and further control related to the detection of the remaining life of various consumable parts and the detection of various malfunctions. Note that a job (print job) is a series of operations that is started by a single start instruction and forms and outputs an image on one or more recording materials S.

[0059] 7. Remaining life detection Next, detection of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, detection of the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, and determination of the remaining life of the belt unit 11 in this embodiment will be described.

[0060] <Configuration> FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing functional blocks of the control unit 30 related to detecting the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, detecting the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, and determining the remaining life of the belt unit 11. The control unit 30 is provided with a print count counter 81, an ITB remaining life calculation unit 82, a collected toner container remaining life calculation unit 83, and a belt unit remaining life determination unit 84. In this embodiment, these units are realized by the CPU 31 executing a program stored in the ROM 33 of the storage unit 32 in the control unit 30. However, all or at least a portion of the functions of these units may be realized by hardware circuits such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field-programmable array). The control unit 30 also has a print count memory unit 85, an ITB remaining life memory unit 86, and a collected toner container remaining life memory unit 87. In this embodiment, these memory units are configured using corresponding storage areas of the non-volatile memory 35 in the storage unit 32 of the control unit 30. However, at least one of these memory units may be configured using an individual memory unit (storage medium). In this embodiment, the ITB remaining life calculation unit 82 constitutes a first acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12. In addition, in this embodiment, the collected toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 constitutes a second acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. In addition, in this embodiment, the belt unit remaining life determination unit 84 constitutes a processing unit that executes a process to notify information related to the remaining life of the belt unit 11.

[0061] <Detecting remaining life of intermediate transfer belt> First, detection of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 will be described.

[0062] The ITB remaining life calculation unit 82 calculates the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is determined by electrical deterioration due to current flow during image formation and deterioration due to wear caused by rotation. In this embodiment, the ITB remaining life calculation unit 82 calculates the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 assuming that the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is determined by the number of prints. Note that the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 may be calculated taking into account not only the number of prints but also the rotation time of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 can be calculated using any index value that correlates with the amount of use of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and enables the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 to be estimated.

[0063] The print number counter 81 counts the cumulative number N of prints (the number of recording materials S on which images are formed) from the beginning of use (when the intermediate transfer belt 12 is new) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 in order to calculate the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12. P The print number counter 81 may be configured to count the number of prints converted into a recording material S of a predetermined size. The ITB remaining life calculation unit 82 calculates an ITB life count L, which is the number of prints corresponding to a predetermined life of the intermediate transfer belt 12. P (In this embodiment, 150,000 sheets) is set as 100%, and the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt (%)=(1-N P / L P )×100 to calculate the remaining life (%) of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The ITB remaining life calculation unit 82 stores the calculated remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 in the ITB remaining life storage unit 86.

[0064] <Detecting remaining life of waste toner container> Next, detection of the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 will be described.

[0065] The recovered toner is toner generated by several factors, such as transfer residual toner (secondary transfer residual toner), toner of a test toner image (calibration toner), and fog toner. In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, most of the recovered toner is transfer residual toner. Therefore, in this embodiment, the recovered toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 calculates and estimates the amount of transfer residual toner, thereby calculating the remaining life of the recovered toner container 18.

[0066] First, the toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 calculates the amount of toner used in image formation from the pixel count value of the image separated by color. The pixel count value is the integral value of the image signal value of 255 gradations per pixel (one picture element). In this embodiment, the video controller 60 accumulates the pixel count value for one image surface each time an image is formed on one surface of the recording material S. The toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 acquires the pixel count value from the video controller 60. For example, the image formation area of ​​an A4-sized recording material S is 200 x 287 mm, assuming a margin of 5 mm. Furthermore, for example, assuming a resolution of 600 dpi, the entire image formation area has 32,029,264 pixels. Therefore, since there are 255 gradations per pixel, if a solid image with a gradation level of 255 is formed on the entire surface, the pixel count value of the A4-sized solid image is 8,167,462,335. By multiplying the pixel count value by the transfer efficiency (95% in this embodiment), the pixel count value Nt corresponding to the amount of collected toner collected in the collected toner container 18 can be obtained.

[0067] Furthermore, the relationship between the pixel count value and the toner volume can be known in advance from values ​​such as the weight of the toner and the volume of the toner. Since the volume of the collected toner container 18 is fixed, the pixel count value at which the collected toner container 18 becomes full can be calculated in advance. The collected toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 calculates the container life count L, which is the pixel count value corresponding to the previously calculated life (full) of the collected toner container 18. Tis set to 100%, and the pixel count value Nt corresponding to the amount of recovered toner for one image is subtracted each time an image is formed, thereby calculating the remaining life (%) of the recovered toner container 18. In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, for example, when the image ratio of a solid image is set to 100%, and 150,000 images with an image ratio of 20% are formed, the recovered toner container 18 becomes full. The recovered toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 stores the calculated remaining life of the recovered toner container 18 in the recovered toner container remaining life storage unit 87.

[0068] Here, transfer efficiency changes due to, for example, changes in the installation environment of the image forming apparatus 1, changes in the triboelectric charge (charge amount) of the toner, differences in the type of recording material S (paper), and so on. Therefore, the amount of collected toner predicted based on the pixel count value may differ from the amount of collected toner actually stored in the collected toner container 18. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, a torque detection sensor 90 is provided to detect the load torque of the conveying member 18b of the collected toner container 18. When the torque detection sensor 90 detects that the collected toner container 18 is nearly full, the collected toner container remaining life calculation unit 83 corrects the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to a value corresponding to the predetermined state. In other words, the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 stored in the collected toner container remaining life storage unit 87 is updated to the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 corresponding to the predetermined state and stored. This allows the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to be detected more accurately.

[0069] The method for calculating the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 is not limited to the pixel count method or the torque measurement method of the conveying member. Any index value that correlates with the amount of collected toner collected in the collected toner container 19 and enables the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to be estimated can be used to calculate the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. For example, optical detection means, weight measurement detection means, capacitance measurement detection means, and the like are known as means for detecting the amount of toner. The above-mentioned exemplary detection means, including pixel counting and measurement of the torque of the conveying member, can be used in any combination.

[0070] <Determining the remaining life of the belt unit> Next, an outline of how the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is determined will be described.

[0071] As described above, in a configuration in which the collected toner container 18 is provided inside the belt unit 11, the collected toner container 18 cannot be recognized by looking at the exterior of the belt unit 11. Therefore, even if the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 is displayed on an information confirmation screen or the like, the user may be confused because they do not know which part's remaining life is being displayed.

[0072] Therefore, in this embodiment, the belt unit remaining life determination unit 84 determines the remaining life of the belt unit 11 based on the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. Then, in this embodiment, the remaining life of the belt unit 11 determined by the belt unit remaining life determination unit 84 is displayed on the operation and display unit 70. As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured so that the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 are not displayed separately on the operation and display unit 70, but rather one remaining life is displayed on the operation and display unit 70 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11. In particular, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured so that the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, whichever has the shorter remaining life (the smaller remaining life value), is displayed on the operation and display unit 70 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11.

[0073] 8. Determining and displaying the remaining life of the belt unit Next, a description will be given of the control of determining and displaying the remaining life of the belt unit 11 in this embodiment. Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of this control procedure.

[0074] The control unit 30 starts calculating the remaining life of the belt unit 11 when the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on (at startup) or when the image forming apparatus 1 returns from a sleep state (at sleep return) (S101). The control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) acquires the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 from the storage unit 32 (ITB remaining life storage unit 86, collected toner container remaining life storage unit 87) (S102). Next, the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) checks which of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 is shorter (S103). Specifically, in this embodiment, the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines whether the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is shorter than the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. If the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines in S103 that the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is shorter than the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 ("Yes"), it controls the operation and display unit 70 to display the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S104). On the other hand, if the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines in S103 that the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 is shorter than the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 ("No"), it controls the operation and display unit 70 to display the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S106). After executing the process of displaying the remaining life of the belt unit 11 in S104 or S106, the control unit 30 ends the process of determining and displaying the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S105). The determined remaining life of the belt unit 11 is stored in the RAM 34 of the storage unit 32 and is updated each time the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is determined. If the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 and the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 are the same, the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) can determine and display the remaining life as the remaining life of the belt unit 11.

[0075] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example of an information display screen 301 displayed on the operation display unit 70. As shown in Fig. 11, the information display screen 301 is provided with a belt unit remaining life display section 311 that displays the remaining life of the belt unit 11, and displays the remaining life of the belt unit 11 determined by the processing in the control unit 30 as described above. Note that the information display screen 301 shown in Fig. 11 may be displayed when called up by a predetermined operation by the user on the operation display unit 70, or may be displayed as part of the main screen without a special calling operation.

[0076] FIG. 12 is a graph showing an example of the transition of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. In FIG. 12, the horizontal axis represents the number of prints (in thousands), and the vertical axis represents the remaining life (%). The solid line in FIG. 12 represents the transition of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, and when the number of prints reaches 150,000, the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 becomes 0%. The dashed line in FIG. 12 represents the transition of the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. For example, when an image with an image ratio exceeding 20% ​​is formed, the slope of the transition of the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 becomes larger in the negative direction than the slope of the transition of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The shorter of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, which is determined and displayed as the remaining life of the belt unit 11, is the remaining life at the bottom of the graph in FIG. 12. In the example shown in Figure 12, the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 is displayed as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 between 65 and 137.5 (K sheets), and the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is displayed as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 for other periods.

[0077] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming section P that forms a toner image on an image carrier (photosensitive drum) 41, a belt unit 11 that is detachable from the device main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 and includes an endless belt (intermediate transfer belt) 12 to which the toner image is transferred from the image carrier 41, and a collected toner container 18 that is provided within an area formed by the inner surface of the belt 12 and that stores toner collected within the device main body, a first acquisition section (ITB remaining life calculation section) 82 that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the belt 12, a second acquisition section (collected toner container remaining life calculation section) 83 that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, and a processing section (belt unit remaining life determination section) 84 that executes processing to notify information related to the remaining life of the belt unit 11 based on the first acquisition result by the first acquisition section 82 and the second acquisition result by the second acquisition section 83. In this embodiment, the processing unit 84 executes the above process to notify information about the remaining life of the belt unit 11 based on the smaller of the remaining life (remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12) indicated by the first acquisition result and the remaining life (remaining life of the collected toner container 18) indicated by the second acquisition result. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has a display unit (operation display unit) 70 that displays information, and the processing unit 84 executes the above process to display information about the remaining life of the belt unit 11 on the display unit 70. The processing unit 84 may execute the above process to display information about the remaining life of the belt unit 11 on a device (such as a personal computer) communicatively connected to the image forming apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has a cleaning device (belt cleaning device) 19 that removes toner from the belt 12, and the collected toner container 18 stores the toner removed from the belt 12 by the cleaning device 19.

[0078] As described above, according to this embodiment, the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, which is not visible from the outside, is not displayed, but the remaining life of the belt unit 11, which is a consumable part and can be clearly seen, is displayed. This reduces the possibility of the user becoming confused when not knowing which part's remaining life is being displayed, which can occur when the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, which is not visible from the outside, is displayed. Therefore, in a configuration in which the collected toner container 18 is provided inside the belt unit 11, it is possible to improve user convenience regarding replacement of the belt unit 11.

[0079] [Example 2] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the image forming apparatus of embodiment 1. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of the image forming apparatus of embodiment 1 are assigned the same reference numerals as those of embodiment 1, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0080] This embodiment describes the operation (processing) of the image forming apparatus 1 when the belt unit 11 reaches the end of its life. In this embodiment, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 when the belt unit 11 reaches the end of its life differs depending on whether the cause of the end of the life of the belt unit 11 is the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the collected toner container 18.

[0081] Here, the end of the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 means that the intermediate transfer belt 12 has been used to the point where printing performance using the intermediate transfer belt 12 can no longer be guaranteed. In this embodiment, as described in embodiment 1, the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is set to 150,000 prints. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is deemed to have reached the end of its life when the remaining life (%) of the intermediate transfer belt 12, calculated based on the cumulative number of prints when this number of prints (150,000) is taken as 100%, becomes 0%.

[0082] The end of the life of the collected toner container 18 refers to the state in which the collected toner container 18 is determined to be full. In this embodiment, the end of the life of the collected toner container 18 is determined to be the state in which the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, calculated as described in the first embodiment, becomes 0%.

[0083] The end of the life of the belt unit 11 means that at least one of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the collected toner container 18 has reached the end of its life.

[0084] Next, a description will be given of the control of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 when the belt unit 11 in this embodiment reaches the end of its life. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of this control procedure. Here, the description will be given taking as an example a case where an instruction to start a print job is input to the image forming apparatus 1, such as when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up.

[0085] When the image forming apparatus 1 is started up or returns from sleep mode, the control unit 30 acquires the remaining life of the belt unit 11 as described in the first embodiment (S201). That is, the control unit 30 acquires the remaining life of the belt unit 11 determined by the belt unit remaining life determination unit 84 based on the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. Next, the control unit 30 determines whether the belt unit 11 has reached the end of its life (S202). If the control unit 30 determines in S202 that the belt unit 11 has not reached the end of its life ("No"), it executes a print job (S203). Then, the control unit 30 updates the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S204) and ends the process. Note that the process of updating the remaining life of the belt unit 11 may be performed each time one page is printed or each time one print job is completed.

[0086] Furthermore, if the control unit 30 determines in S202 that the belt unit 11 has reached the end of its life ("Yes"), it acquires the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 and performs a process to confirm which one has reached the end of its life (S205). Then, the control unit 30 determines whether the end of the life of the belt unit is due to the end of the life of the collected toner container 18 (S206). If the control unit 30 determines in S206 that the end of the life of the collected toner container 18 is not due to the end of its life ("No"), that is, that the end of the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is due to the end of its life, it executes a "life end process" (S207).

[0087] In this embodiment, the "life end processing" of S207 specifically performs the following processing. That is, in this embodiment, if the cause of the end of the life of the belt unit 11 is the end of the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, the image forming apparatus 1 cannot guarantee the quality of images, but allows the user to continue using the belt unit 11 at their discretion. Also, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 allows the user to set in advance, from a setting screen, the timing at which an alert is displayed, which allows the user to decide whether or not to continue using the belt unit 11, and the number of times the alert is displayed thereafter. In this embodiment, either a "continue mode" or a "temporary stop mode" as described below can be selected.

[0088] Fig. 14(a) is a schematic diagram of an example of a setting screen 302 for the life end processing displayed on the operation display unit 70. As shown in Fig. 14(a), the setting screen 302 is provided with a first selection section 321 for selecting "continuous mode" and a second selection section 322 for selecting "temporary stop mode," allowing the user to select either one. Note that the setting screen 302 shown in Fig. 14(a) is displayed when called up by a predetermined operation by the user on the operation display unit 70. Also, by default, for example, "temporary stop mode" is selected.

[0089] FIG. 14B is a schematic diagram of an example of an alert screen 303 displayed on the operation display unit 70 in S207. As shown in FIG. 14B, the alert screen 303 includes a message 331 prompting the user to decide whether to continue using the belt unit 11, such as "Do you want to continue printing?", along with a confirmation button 332 with "Yes" or "No." The "continue mode" is a mode in which, when "Yes" is selected using the confirmation button 332 on the alert screen 303 as shown in FIG. 14B, the user can continue using the belt unit 11 and the alert is not displayed thereafter. In this case, the alert screen 303 is not displayed in S207 upon subsequent startup, and processing from S209 onward, which will be described later, is performed. The "temporary stop mode" is a mode in which, when "Yes" is selected using the confirmation button 332 on the alert screen 303 as shown in FIG. 14B, the user can continue using the belt unit 11 and the alert is not displayed thereafter. In this case, the alert screen 303 is displayed in S207 every time the device is started up, and the belt unit 11 can be used continuously by selecting "Yes" on the decision button 332 in the same manner as above.

[0090] If "Yes" is selected with the decision button 332 on the alert screen 303 shown in FIG. 14(b), the control unit 30 assumes that the belt unit 11 will not be replaced (S208) and executes the print job (S209). The control unit 30 then updates the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S210) and ends the process. The user can also replace the belt unit 11 depending on usage conditions, etc. If "No" is selected with the decision button 332 on the alert screen 303 shown in FIG. 14(b), the control unit 30 confirms that the belt unit 11 has been replaced (S211) and resets (initializes) the remaining life of the belt unit 11 to its initial value (100% in this embodiment) (S212). At this time, the control unit 30 also resets (initializes) the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to their initial values ​​(100% in this embodiment). The control unit 30 can confirm that the belt unit 11 has been replaced in response to, for example, a predetermined operation on the operation and display unit 70 by the user (such as selecting a belt unit 11 replacement confirmation button). Alternatively, the control unit 30 may be configured to confirm that the belt unit 11 has been replaced by detecting that the belt unit 11 is new based on a memory tag (such as the presence or absence of predetermined information) provided on the belt unit 11. Furthermore, when "No" is selected by the decision button 332 on the alert screen 303 as shown in FIG. 14(b), the control unit 30 may display information on the operation and display unit 70 that prompts the user to replace the belt unit 11 (which may also be information explaining how to replace the belt unit 11). Thereafter, the control unit 30 executes the print job (S209). The control unit 30 then updates the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S210) and ends the process.

[0091] On the other hand, if the control unit 30 determines in S206 that the collected toner container 18 has reached the end of its life ("Yes"), it executes a "complete stop process" (S213). If it determines that the collected toner container 18 has reached the end of its life, continuing the image forming operation may result in problems such as damage to the drive unit (e.g., gears) due to increased torque of the conveying member 18b provided in the collected toner container 18 or scattering of the collected toner. Therefore, in this case, the control unit 30 performs a "complete stop process" and controls the operation so as not to accept the next print job until the belt unit 11 is replaced. That is, the control unit 30 determines whether the belt unit 11 has been replaced (S214), and if it determines that the belt unit 11 has not been replaced ("No"), it controls the operation so as not to accept (execute) the print job (S215). Note that in S213, the control unit 30 can display an alert screen 304 on the operation display unit 70, as shown in FIG. 14(c), which displays information urging the user to replace the belt unit 11 (or may include information explaining how to replace the belt unit 11). If the control unit 30 determines in S214 that the belt unit 11 has been replaced ("Yes"), it confirms that the belt unit 11 has been replaced (S216) and resets (initializes) the remaining life of the belt unit to its initial value (100% in this embodiment) (S217). At this time, the control unit 30 also resets (initializes) the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to their initial values ​​(100% in this embodiment). Thereafter, the control unit 30 executes the print job (S218). The control unit 30 then updates the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S219) and ends the process.

[0092] If it is selected in S207 to continue using the belt unit 11, the remaining life of the belt unit 11 may thereafter be displayed as a negative value beyond 0%, or may remain at 0%. If the collected toner container 18 subsequently reaches the end of its life, the processes from S213 onward are performed, the belt unit 11 can no longer be used, and the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is stopped.

[0093] Here, the control unit 30 may control the operation display unit 70 to display information informing the user when the remaining life of the belt unit 11 approaches 0% (e.g., when it reaches a predetermined value greater than 0%). In this case, the display may differ depending on whether the remaining life of the belt unit 11 at that time is determined by the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the remaining life of the collected toner container 18. For example, if the remaining life of the belt unit 11 at that time is determined by the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (shorter than the remaining life of the collected toner container 18), a message such as "The belt unit is nearing the end of its life" may be displayed. On the other hand, if the remaining life of the belt unit 11 at that time is determined by the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 (shorter than the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12), a different message such as "The belt unit is nearing the end of its life" may be displayed. This makes it easy for service personnel to identify the cause of the end of the life of the belt unit 11 by checking the content of the above display using other information such as the service manual for the image forming apparatus 1, for example.

[0094] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 30 that executes different control when the remaining life value indicated by the first acquisition result by the first acquisition unit (ITB remaining life calculation unit) 82 reaches a first value corresponding to the preset life of the belt 12, and when the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result by the second acquisition unit (recovered toner container remaining life calculation unit) 83 reaches a second value corresponding to the preset life of the collected toner container 18. In addition, in this embodiment, when the remaining life value indicated by the first acquisition result reaches the first value, the control unit 30 controls the image forming unit P to allow the image forming unit P to form a toner image without the condition that the belt unit 11 is replaced, and when the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result reaches the second value, the control unit 30 controls the image forming unit P to allow the image forming unit P to form a toner image on the condition that the belt unit 11 is replaced.

[0095] As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and it is possible to switch whether or not the belt unit 11 can be continued to be used depending on the cause of the end of the life of the belt unit 11. This makes it possible to continue using the belt unit 11 within a range that is acceptable to the user, and also makes it possible to prevent problems such as scattering of the collected toner when the collected toner container 18 is full.

[0096] [Example 3] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the image forming apparatus of embodiment 1. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of the image forming apparatus of embodiment 1 are assigned the same reference numerals as those of embodiment 1, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0097] As explained in the second embodiment, if the cause of the end of the life of the belt unit 11 is the end of the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, the user can continue to use the belt unit 11 within a range that is acceptable to the user. Therefore, it is conceivable that the user would like the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 to always be displayed as the remaining life of the belt unit 11.

[0098] Therefore, the image forming device 1 can be configured to allow the user to select either a "first display mode" in which the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is displayed as the shorter of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 or the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, as described in Example 1, or a "second display mode" in which the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is always displayed as the remaining life of the collected toner container 18.

[0099] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an example of a remaining life display setting screen 305 displayed on the operation and display unit 70. As shown in FIG. 15, the setting screen 305 is provided with a first selection section 351 for selecting the above-mentioned "first display mode" and a second selection section 352 for selecting the above-mentioned "second display mode," allowing the user to select either one. Note that the setting screen 305 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed when called up by a predetermined operation by the user on the operation and display unit 70. Also, by default, for example, the above-mentioned "first display mode" is selected.

[0100] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for determining the remaining life of the belt unit 11 and controlling the display when the display mode of the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is selectable.

[0101] The control unit 30 starts calculating the remaining life of the belt unit 11 when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up or returns from sleep mode (S301). The control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) acquires the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 from the storage unit 32 (ITB remaining life storage unit 86, collected toner container remaining life storage unit 87) (S302). Next, the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) checks the setting of the display mode for the remaining life of the belt unit 11 and determines whether the first display mode or the second display mode is selected (S303). Specifically, in this embodiment, the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines whether the second display mode (using the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11) is selected. If the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines in S303 that the second display mode has been selected ("Yes"), it controls the operation and display unit 70 to display the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S304). On the other hand, if the control unit 30 (belt unit remaining life determination unit 84) determines in S303 that the second display mode has not been selected ("No"), that is, that the first display mode has been selected, it controls the operation and display unit 70 to display the shorter of the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S306), as described in the first embodiment. After executing the process of displaying the remaining life of the belt unit 11 in S304 or S306, the control unit 30 ends the process of determining and displaying the remaining life of the belt unit 11 (S305).

[0102] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, when the display mode for the remaining life of the belt unit 11 is selectable and the second display mode is selected, the following operation is performed when the belt unit 11 reaches the end of its life, as described in the second embodiment. That is, when the "continue mode" is selected, if the cause of the end of life of the belt unit 11 is the end of the life of the intermediate transfer belt 12, the belt unit 11 continues to be used without performing the process equivalent to the end of life process of S207 in FIG. 13. In this case, the remaining life of the intermediate transfer belt 12 advances beyond 0% and is updated to a negative value. On the other hand, when the collected toner container 18 reaches the end of its life, the belt unit 11 cannot be used further, and the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 stops.

[0103] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has an input unit (operation display unit) 70 that inputs instructions to a processing unit (belt unit remaining life determination unit) 84, and the processing unit 84 executes processing to notify information regarding the remaining life of the belt unit 11 based on the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result from the first acquisition unit (ITB remaining life calculation unit) 82 and the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result from the second acquisition unit (recovery toner container remaining life calculation unit) 83, in response to the instructions input from the input unit 70.

[0104] As described above, by always being able to display the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 as the remaining life of the belt unit 11, it is possible to improve the convenience for users regarding replacement of the belt unit 11 according to their requests.

[0105] [Example 4] In the first to third embodiments, the present invention has been described as being applied to an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus 1 equipped with an intermediate transfer belt 12. In contrast, the present invention can also be applied to a direct transfer type image forming apparatus 400 equipped with a conveyor belt 412 as shown in FIG. 17 . In the image forming apparatus 400 of FIG. 17 , elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those in the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 , and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the image forming apparatus 400 of FIG. 17 , the right side in FIG. 17 where the opening / closing door 3 is provided is the "front (front) side," the left side in FIG. 17 opposite the front side is the "rear (rear) side," and the left side as viewed from the front side is the "drive side," and the right side is the "non-drive side." In the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 17 , the direction from the front side to the rear side is the "(+)X direction."

[0106] In the image forming apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 17, a recording material S fed from a cassette 51 is carried and conveyed by a conveyor belt 412, which is an endless belt serving as a recording material carrier. A transfer roller 16, a roller-type transfer member serving as a transfer means, corresponding to the primary transfer roller 16 in the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the conveyor belt 412. The transfer roller 16 forms a transfer portion (transfer nip portion) N where the photosensitive drum 41 and the conveyor belt 412 come into contact. Then, toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drums 41 of the image forming apparatuses P onto the recording material S carried and conveyed by the conveyor belt 412 so as to be superimposed on top of each other. After being separated from the conveyor belt 412, the recording material S with the transferred toner images is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing device 21 and then discharged to a tray 23 outside the main body of the image forming apparatus 400.

[0107] 17 also has a belt cleaning device 419 for cleaning toner from test toner images, fog toner, and the like that adhere to the conveyor belt 412. Also in the image forming apparatus 400 in FIG. 17, similarly to the image forming apparatus 1 in FIG. 2, a belt unit (conveyor belt unit) 411 including the conveyor belt 412 and its tension rollers has a collected toner container 18 provided in an area inside the conveyor belt 412.

[0108] 17, the remaining life of the belt unit 411 can be determined and displayed based on the remaining life of the conveyor belt 412 and the remaining life of the collected toner container 18, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments. As described in the third embodiment, the remaining life of the collected toner container 18 may be set to be displayed as the remaining life of the belt unit 411. This can achieve the same effects as in the above-described embodiments. Regarding the determination and display control of the remaining life of the belt unit 411, the explanations in the above-described embodiments are applicable, with the intermediate transfer belt being read as the conveyor belt.

[0109] As described above, the present invention can also be applied to a direct transfer type image forming apparatus 400 equipped with a conveying belt 412, and can obtain the same or corresponding effects as when the present invention is applied to an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus 1 equipped with an intermediate transfer belt 12.

[0110] [others] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the recovered toner container is described as storing toner recovered from the belt, but instead of or in addition to that, it may also be configured to store toner recovered from an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum.

[0112] In addition, the operations and displays described in the above embodiments as being performed by the operation and display unit provided in the image forming apparatus may be performed by an operation unit or display unit of an external device connected to the image forming apparatus so as to be able to communicate with the image forming apparatus. In this case, an input / output unit provided in the image forming apparatus functions as an input unit that inputs signals for various settings to the control unit and an output unit that outputs signals for the control unit to perform various displays.

[0113] Furthermore, the notification of information is not limited to displaying characters or images, but may be, for example, by generating sound using a sound generating means.

[0114] In the above embodiment, the remaining life value (0% when the life is reached) is displayed as information regarding the remaining life of the belt unit, belt, and collected toner container, but any information that indicates how much life is remaining may be used. Therefore, the remaining life information may be a value of usage amount that is 0% at the beginning of use (when new) and 100% when the life is reached. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 11 Belt unit (intermediate transfer belt unit) 12 Intermediate transfer belt 18 Waste toner container 30 Control Unit 70 Operation display section 411 Belt unit (conveyor belt unit)

Claims

1. In the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier; a belt unit detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the belt unit including an endless belt onto which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier, and a collected toner container provided within an area defined by an inner peripheral surface of the belt and configured to contain toner collected within the main body of the apparatus; a first acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the belt; a second acquiring unit that acquires a value related to a remaining life of the collected toner container; a processing unit that executes a process of notifying information about a remaining life of the belt unit based on a first acquisition result obtained by the first acquisition unit and a second acquisition result obtained by the second acquisition unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. In the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms a toner image on an image carrier; a belt unit detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the belt unit including an endless belt that carries and transports a recording material onto which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier, and a recovered toner container that is provided within an area defined by the inner circumferential surface of the belt and that stores toner recovered within the main body of the apparatus; a first acquisition unit that acquires a value related to the remaining life of the belt; a second acquiring unit that acquires a value related to a remaining life of the collected toner container; a processing unit that executes a process of notifying information about a remaining life of the belt unit based on a first acquisition result obtained by the first acquisition unit and a second acquisition result obtained by the second acquisition unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit executes the processing to notify information regarding the remaining life of the belt unit based on the smaller value of the remaining life indicated by the first acquisition result and the remaining life indicated by the second acquisition result.

4. A display unit for displaying information is provided.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit executes the processing so that information about the remaining life of the belt unit is displayed on the display unit.

5. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit executes the processing so as to display information about the remaining life of the belt unit on a device communicably connected to the image forming apparatus.

6. an input unit for inputting instructions to the processing unit; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit executes the processing to notify information regarding the remaining life of the belt unit based on the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result, out of the remaining life value indicated by the first acquisition result and the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result, in response to an instruction input from the input unit.

7. a cleaning device for removing toner from the belt; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the collected toner container contains toner removed from the belt by the cleaning device.

8. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs different control when the remaining life value indicated by the first acquisition result reaches a first value corresponding to a preset life of the belt, and when the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result reaches a second value corresponding to a preset life of the recovery toner container.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, when the remaining life value indicated by the first acquisition result reaches the first value, the control unit controls to allow the image forming unit to form a toner image without the condition that the belt unit is replaced, and when the remaining life value indicated by the second acquisition result reaches the second value, the control unit controls to allow the image forming unit to form a toner image on the condition that the belt unit is replaced.

Images