Transfer belt unit and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To accurately calculate the amount of wear of a transfer belt.SOLUTION: A transfer belt unit is used for an image forming apparatus comprising photoreceptor drums and a cleaning roller 61, and comprises a transfer belt and a belt memory 58. The transfer belt transfers toner on the photoreceptor drums to a sheet conveyed between the photoreceptor drums and the transfer belt. The transfer belt is in contact with a cleaning roller and cleaned by the cleaning roller. The belt memory 58 has a first storage area 58A that stores a first rotation time X being the total of the time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at a first rotation speed V1, and a second storage area 58B that stores a second rotation time Y being the total of the time during which the cleaning roller rotates at a second rotation speed V2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transfer belt unit and an image forming apparatus including the transfer belt unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus equipped with a transfer belt unit (see Patent Document 1). The transfer belt unit transfers toner on a photosensitive drum onto a sheet. The image forming apparatus is provided with a cleaning roller for cleaning the transfer belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-010839 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The amount of wear of the transfer belt is calculated based on, for example, the time it takes for the cleaning roller to rotate. When cleaning the transfer belt, the rotation speed of the cleaning roller may be changed depending on the state of the transfer belt. If the rotation speed of the cleaning roller is not taken into consideration when calculating the amount of wear of the transfer belt, there is a possibility that the amount of wear of the transfer belt cannot be calculated accurately.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to accurately calculate the wear amount of a transfer belt. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the transfer belt unit according to the present disclosure is used in an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a cleaning roller, and includes a transfer belt and a belt memory. The cleaning roller rotates at a first rotation speed or at a second rotation speed faster than the first rotation speed. The transfer belt transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt. The transfer belt comes into contact with the cleaning roller and is cleaned by the cleaning roller. The belt memory has a first storage area that stores a first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and a second storage area that stores a second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the second rotation speed.

[0007] According to this configuration, the first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and the second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the second rotation speed, are stored separately in the belt memory, making it possible to accurately calculate the amount of wear of the transfer belt.

[0008] In the transfer belt unit, the amount of wear of the transfer belt caused by the rotation of the cleaning roller may be calculated based on a first rotation time and a second rotation time. In order to solve the above problem, the transfer belt unit according to the present disclosure is used in an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a cleaning roller, and includes a transfer belt and a belt memory. The cleaning roller rotates at a first rotation speed or a second rotation speed faster than the first rotation speed. The transfer belt transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt. The transfer belt comes into contact with the cleaning roller and is cleaned by the cleaning roller. The belt memory stores the wear amount of the transfer belt calculated based on a first rotation time, which is the total time the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and a second rotation time, which is the total time the cleaning roller rotates at the second rotation speed.

[0009] According to this configuration, the wear amount of the transfer belt is calculated based on the first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and the second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the second rotation speed, and is stored in the belt memory, making it possible to accurately calculate the wear amount of the transfer belt.

[0010] In addition, in the above-mentioned transfer belt unit, the amount of wear of the transfer belt may be calculated by adding a number obtained by multiplying a first rotation time by a first coefficient and a number obtained by multiplying a second rotation time by a second coefficient greater than the first coefficient.

[0011] In the transfer belt unit, the second rotation speed may be 1.5 to 2.0 times the first rotation speed.

[0012] The transfer belt unit may be used together with a fixing device, and the transfer belt may be configured to transport a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt to the fixing device.

[0013] The transfer belt unit may be configured to be attachable to or detachable from the image forming apparatus.

[0014] In order to solve the above problem, the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an apparatus main body, a photosensitive drum, a transfer belt unit, a cleaning roller, a main body memory, and a control unit. The transfer belt transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt. The cleaning roller is a roller that comes into contact with the transfer belt to clean the transfer belt, and is rotatable at a first rotation speed or a second rotation speed that is faster than the first rotation speed. The control unit calculates the amount of wear of the transfer belt based on a first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at a first rotation speed, and a second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at a second rotation speed faster than the second rotation speed, both of which are stored in the main body memory.

[0015] According to this configuration, the amount of wear of the transfer belt is calculated based on a first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at a first rotation speed, and a second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at a second rotation speed, so that the amount of wear of the transfer belt can be calculated with high accuracy.

[0016] In addition, in the image forming apparatus described above, the control unit may be configured to calculate the amount of wear of the transfer belt by adding a number obtained by multiplying a first rotation time by a first coefficient and a number obtained by multiplying a second rotation time by a second coefficient greater than the first coefficient.

[0017] In the image forming apparatus described above, the second rotation speed may be 1.5 to 2.0 times the first rotation speed.

[0018] The image forming apparatus may have a transfer belt unit that is attachable or detachable, the transfer belt unit may further have a belt memory, and the control unit may store the amount of wear of the transfer belt in the belt memory.

[0019] In addition, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the control unit may be configured to execute a determination process for determining whether the amount of wear is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and a notification process for notifying that the transfer belt has reached the end of its life if the determination process determines that the amount of wear of the transfer belt is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

[0020] According to this configuration, it is possible to appropriately notify the user when the transfer belt reaches the end of its life.

[0021] In the image forming apparatus, the control unit may calculate the remaining life of the transfer belt by subtracting the amount of wear from the life of the transfer belt.

[0022] According to this configuration, the remaining life of the transfer belt can be calculated appropriately.

[0023] The image forming apparatus may further include a fixing device, and the transfer belt may be configured to transport the sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt to the fixing device.

[0024] In the image forming apparatus described above, the transfer belt unit may be configured to be attachable to or detachable from the main body of the apparatus. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the present disclosure, the wear amount of the transfer belt can be calculated with high accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a drawer, a transfer belt unit, and a belt cleaner are removed from the main body of the apparatus. [Diagram 3] 4 is a diagram showing electrical connections between a control unit, a main body memory, a belt memory, a motor, and a clutch, and a drive force transmitted from the motor to a cleaning roller. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1A illustrates the state in which driving force is transmitted from the motor to the cleaning roller when the clutch is OFF, and FIG. 1B illustrates the state in which driving force is transmitted from the motor to the cleaning roller when the clutch is ON. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a process in which the control unit stores information in the belt memory in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart showing a lifespan determination process in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a process in which a control unit stores information in a belt memory in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a lifespan determination process in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] 1, an example of an image forming apparatus 1 is a color laser printer. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a device main body 10, a supply unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a discharge unit 4, a control unit 100, and a motor M.

[0028] The supply unit 2 supplies sheets S. The supply unit 2 is located at the bottom inside the device body 10. The supply unit 2 includes a supply tray 21 and a supply mechanism 22. The supply tray 21 stores the sheets S. The supply mechanism 22 supplies the sheets S from the supply tray 21 to the image forming unit 3. The sheets S in the supply tray 21 are separated one by one by the supply mechanism 22 and supplied to the image forming unit 3.

[0029] The image forming section 3 forms an image on the supplied sheet S. The image forming section 3 includes an exposure unit 30, an image forming unit 40, a transfer belt unit 50, a belt cleaner 60, and Fixing device It is equipped with 70.

[0030] The exposure unit 30 is located in the upper part of the apparatus main body 10. The exposure unit 30 includes a laser emitting unit, a polygon mirror, a lens, and a reflecting mirror, all of which are not shown.

[0031] The image forming unit 40 includes a drum cartridge 40A and a developing cartridge 41. The drum cartridge 40A is detachably attached to the device main body 10. The developing cartridge 41 is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 40A. When the drum cartridge 40A is attached to the device main body 10, the drum cartridge 40A is located between the supply section 2 and the exposure unit 30. The drum cartridge 40A is configured to be movable between an attached position (position in FIG. 1) in the device main body 10 and a detached position (position in FIG. 2) pulled out to the outside of the device main body 10.

[0032] The drum cartridge 40A includes four photosensitive drums 43 and four chargers 44. The developer cartridge 41 includes a developer roller 46, a supply roller (not shown), a layer thickness regulating blade, and a toner storage section.

[0033] The transfer belt unit 50 can be attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 10 (see FIG. 2). When the transfer belt unit 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 10, the transfer belt unit 50 is located between the supply section 2 and the image forming unit 40. The transfer belt unit 50 includes a drive roller 51, a driven roller 52, a transfer belt 53, four transfer rollers 54, a belt frame 55, a backup roller 56, four belt electrodes 57, and a belt memory 58.

[0034] The driving roller 51 is a roller that drives the transfer belt 53. The driving roller 51 is in contact with the inner surface of the transfer belt 53. A driving force generated by the motor M of the image forming apparatus 1 is transmitted to the driving roller 51. This causes the transfer belt 53 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise).

[0035] The driven roller 52 is a roller that rotates in accordance with the drive of the transfer belt 53. The driven roller 52 is in contact with the inner surface of the transfer belt 53.

[0036] The transfer belt 53 is an endless belt. The transfer belt 53 is in contact with the photoconductor drum 43 when the transfer belt unit 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 10. The transfer belt 53 transfers the toner on the photoconductor drum 43 to the sheet S transported between the photoconductor drum 43 and the transfer belt 53. The transfer belt 53 transports the sheet S transported between the photoconductor drum 43 and the transfer belt 53 to the fixing device 70.

[0037] The transfer roller 54 is in contact with the inner surface of the transfer belt 53. The transfer roller 54 is a roller that sandwiches the transfer belt 53 between itself and each of the photoconductor drums 43. The belt frame 55 rotatably supports the drive roller 51, the driven roller 52, the transfer roller 54, and the backup roller 56. The backup roller 56 is in contact with the inner surface of the transfer belt 53.

[0038] The belt electrode 57 is an electrode electrically connected to the transfer belt 53 via the transfer roller 54. The belt electrode 57 applies a transfer bias to the transfer roller 54 in order to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to the sheet S while the sheet S is transported between the photosensitive drum 43 and the transfer belt 53.

[0039] The belt memory 58 is located on the outer surface of the belt frame 55. When the transfer belt unit 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 10, the belt memory 58 comes into contact with a reading device (not shown) and is electrically connected to the control unit 100 via the reading device. The belt memory 58 is capable of storing information related to the transfer belt unit 50.

[0040] The belt cleaner 60 is attachable to or detachable from the apparatus main body 10 (see FIG. 2). The belt cleaner 60 is located below the transfer belt unit 50 when the belt cleaner 60 is attached to the apparatus main body 10. The belt cleaner 60 includes a cleaning roller 61 and a collection box 62.

[0041] The cleaning roller 61 comes into contact with the transfer belt 53 and rotates to clean the transfer belt 53. The cleaning roller 61 collects toner on the transfer belt 53 and stores it in a collection box 62. The cleaning roller 61 sandwiches the transfer belt 53 between itself and the backup roller 56. The cleaning roller 61 rotates at a first rotation speed V1 or a second rotation speed V2 that is faster than the first rotation speed V1.

[0042] The fixing device 70 is located downstream in the transport direction of the image forming unit 40 and the transfer belt unit 50. The fixing device 70 includes a heating roller 71 and a pressure roller 72. The pressure roller 72 faces the heating roller 71. The pressure roller 72 presses the heating roller 71.

[0043] In the image forming section 3, the surface of the photoconductor drum 43 is uniformly charged by the charger 44. Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 43 is irradiated with laser light (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1) from the exposure unit 30. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 43. Also, the toner in the toner storage section is supplied to the developing roller 46 via a supply roller. The toner is then carried on the developing roller 46.

[0044] The toner carried on the developing roller 46 is supplied from the developing roller 46 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 43. As a result, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 43. Thereafter, the sheet S supplied onto the transfer belt 53 is transported between the photosensitive drum 43 and the transfer roller 54. As a result, the toner images formed on each photosensitive drum 43 are transferred onto the sheet S. Then, the sheet S is transported between the heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72. As a result, the transferred toner images are thermally fixed onto the sheet S.

[0045] The discharge section 4 discharges the sheet S on which the image has been formed. The discharge section 4 includes a discharge path 81 that extends upward from the exit of the fixing device 70 and turns forward, and a plurality of transport rollers 82 that transport the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image has been thermally fixed passes through the discharge path 81 by the transport rollers 82. Thereafter, the sheet S is discharged onto a discharge tray 12 at the top of the apparatus main body 10.

[0046] The device body 10 is provided with an openable and closable front cover 11. The front cover 11 is a side wall on the front side of the device body 10. A user can open the front cover 11 and pull out the drum cartridge 40A to the outside of the device body 10. That is, the drum cartridge 40A is detachable from the device body 10. In addition, a user can remove the transfer belt unit 50 to the outside of the device body 10 by removing the drum cartridge 40A from the device body 10.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 100 has a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, and an EEPROM 104. The control unit 100 executes printing control by performing arithmetic processing based on information about the installed cartridge and programs and data stored in the RAM 102, ROM 103, etc. The cartridge information includes at least one of the cartridge identification number and the cartridge product information. The cartridge identification number is, for example, a serial number. The cartridge product information is, for example, information about the cartridge's lifespan.

[0048] The RAM 102 and the EEPROM 104 are examples of the main body memory 110. The RAM 102 is an example of a volatile memory. The EEPROM 104 is an example of a non-volatile memory. The CPU 101 is electrically connected to the RAM 102, the ROM 103, and the EEPROM 104. In Fig. 3, the transmission of an electrical signal is indicated by a solid arrow, and the transmission of a driving force is indicated by a dashed arrow.

[0049] The control unit 100 is electrically connected to the belt memory 58, the motor M, and the clutch CR1. The control unit 100 can read data from and write data to the belt memory 58. The motor M and the clutch CR1 are controlled by receiving electrical signals from the control unit 100.

[0050] The motor M drives the photoconductor drum 43, the drive roller 51, and the cleaning roller 61 via a gear train (not shown). The clutch CR1 can be switched between an ON state and an OFF state by an electric signal from the control unit 100. In this embodiment, when the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state, the cleaning roller 61 rotates at a first rotation speed V1. When the clutch CR1 is in the ON state, the cleaning roller 61 rotates at a second rotation speed V2.

[0051] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the motor M drives the cleaning roller 61 via the clutch CR1, the first gear G1, the one-way clutch CR2, and the second gear G2. The clutch CR1 is connected to the motor M and the second gear G2. When the clutch CR1 is in the ON state, it transmits the driving force of the motor M to the second gear G2. When the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state, it does not transmit the driving force of the motor M to the second gear G2. The first gear G1 rotates by receiving the driving force from the motor M. The one-way clutch CR2 transmits the driving force of the first gear G1 to the second gear G2, and does not transmit the driving force of the second gear G2 to the first gear G1. The second gear G2 transmits the driving force to the cleaning roller 61.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4(a), when the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state, the clutch CR1 does not transmit driving force to the second gear G2, so that the driving force of the motor M is transmitted from the motor M to the first gear G1, the one-way clutch CR2, and the second gear G2 in that order, rotating the cleaning roller 61 at the first rotational speed V1.

[0053] 4(b), when the clutch CR1 is in the ON state, the driving force of the motor M is transmitted to the second gear G2 via the clutch CR1, and is also transmitted from the motor M to the first gear G1. The second gear G2 rotates by the driving force received from the clutch CR1, and rotates the cleaning roller 61 at a second rotation speed V2 that is faster than the first rotation speed V1. In this case, since the first gear G1 is slower than the second gear G2, the one-way clutch CR2 does not transmit the driving force of the first gear G1 to the second gear G2.

[0054] The second rotation speed V2 is, for example, 1.5 to 2.0 times the first rotation speed V1. When the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2, the cleaning performance of the transfer belt 53 is improved compared to when the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1. However, when the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2, the transfer belt 53 is more likely to wear out than when the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1.

[0055] The control unit 100 normally rotates the cleaning roller 61 at a first rotation speed V1. When there is a possibility that a large amount of toner is present on the transfer belt 53, the control unit 100 rotates the cleaning roller 61 at a second rotation speed V2. The case where a large amount of toner is present on the transfer belt 53 includes, for example, a case where test printing is performed on the transfer belt 53 to correct the print density, a case where toner on the photoconductor drum 43 is expelled onto the transfer belt 53 to clean the photoconductor drum 43, etc. Furthermore, the control unit 100 may set the second rotation speed to V2 when the printing area is larger than normal, when printing is performed in a print mode that is darker than normal, etc.

[0056] Hereinafter, a method for calculating the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53, and the life and remaining life of the transfer belt 53 will be specifically described for the first embodiment.

[0057] The control unit 100 counts the rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 from when the motor M is turned ON to when it is turned OFF. The image forming apparatus 1 has an oscillator, and the control unit 100 calculates the rotation time by counting a clock generated by the oscillator. In this embodiment, the control unit 100 separately counts a first rotation time X, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at a first rotation speed V1, and a second rotation time Y, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at a second rotation speed V2.

[0058] When the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state, the control unit 100 determines that the cleaning roller 61 is rotating at the first rotation speed V1. When the clutch CR1 is in the ON state, the control unit 100 determines that the cleaning roller 61 is rotating at the second rotation speed V2.

[0059] The belt memory 58 has a first storage area 58A and a second storage area 58B. A first rotation time X is stored in the first storage area 58A. A second rotation time Y is stored in the second storage area 58B. The rotation time counted by the control unit 100 is temporarily stored in the RAM 102. The rotation time when the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1 is added to the first rotation time X in the first storage area 58A. The rotation time when the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2 is added to the second rotation time Y in the second storage area 58B.

[0060] The control unit 100 calculates the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 based on the first rotation time X and the second rotation time Y. Specifically, the control unit 100 calculates the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 by adding the number obtained by multiplying the first rotation time X by the first coefficient a and the number obtained by multiplying the second rotation time Y by the second coefficient b that is greater than the first coefficient a (W=aX+bY). Note that the first coefficient a and the second coefficient b are positive numbers, and are values ​​obtained from experimental data before the shipment of the image forming apparatus 1. The first coefficient a and the second coefficient b are stored in advance in the belt memory 58 or the main body memory 110 (for example, the EEPROM 104).

[0061] The control unit 100 executes a process of determining the life of the transfer belt 53 and a process of notifying the same. The determination process is a process for determining whether the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The threshold value for determining the lifespan is stored in advance in the belt memory 58 or the main body memory 110 (e.g., EEPROM 104). The notification process is a process for notifying that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its lifespan when it is determined in the determination process that the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The method for notifying that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its lifespan may be to display a message on a display (not shown) or to notify by voice.

[0062] The control unit 100 calculates the remaining life of the transfer belt 53 by subtracting the amount of wear W from the life of the transfer belt 53. For example, the calculated remaining life is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0063] Next, an example of a process for recording the rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5. The control unit 100 repeatedly executes this process while the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is ON.

[0064] 5, the control unit 100 determines whether the motor M is in the ON state (S1). If the control unit 100 does not determine that the motor M is in the ON state (S1, No), the control unit 100 waits until the motor M is in the ON state.

[0065] In step S1, when the control unit 100 determines that the motor M is in the ON state (S1, Yes), the control unit 100 determines whether the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S2).

[0066] In step S2, when the control unit 100 determines that the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S2, Yes), that is, when the cleaning roller 61 is rotating at the first rotation speed V1, it counts the rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 for a predetermined period (S3). The counted rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 is sequentially written to the RAM 102. Note that the predetermined period may be a fixed time, may be the duration of one print job, or may be the period during which the photoconductor drum 43 rotates a predetermined number of times.

[0067] After step S3, the rotation time for the predetermined period is added to the first rotation time X stored in the first storage area 58A of the belt memory 58, to update the first rotation time X (S4).

[0068] After step S4, the control unit 100 determines whether the clutch CR1 is in the ON state (S5).

[0069] In step S5, if the control unit 100 determines that the clutch CR1 is in the ON state (S5, Yes), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, in step S5, when the control unit 100 does not determine that the clutch CR1 is in the ON state (S5, No), the control unit 100 determines whether the motor M is in the OFF state (S6).

[0070] In step S6, if the control unit 100 does not determine that the motor M is in the OFF state (S6, No), the control unit 100 proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, in step S6, if the control unit 100 determines that the motor M is in the OFF state (S6, Yes), the process ends.

[0071] In step S2, when the control unit 100 does not determine that the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S2, No), that is, when the cleaning roller 61 is rotating at the second rotation speed V2, it counts the rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 for a predetermined period (S7). The counted rotation time of the cleaning roller 61 is sequentially written to the RAM 102. Note that the predetermined period may be a fixed time, may be the period for one print job, or may be the period for which the photoconductor drum 43 rotates a predetermined number of times.

[0072] After step S7, the rotation time for the predetermined period is added to the second rotation time Y stored in the second storage area 58B of the belt memory 58, to update the second rotation time Y (S8).

[0073] After step S8, the control unit 100 determines whether the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S9).

[0074] In step S9, when the control unit 100 determines that the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S9, Yes), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, in step S9, when the control unit 100 has not determined that the clutch CR1 is in the OFF state (S9, No), the control unit 100 determines whether the motor M is in the OFF state (S10).

[0075] In step S10, if the control unit 100 does not determine that the motor M is in the OFF state (S10, No), the control unit 100 proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, in step S10, if the control unit 100 determines that the motor M is in the OFF state (S10, Yes), the process ends.

[0076] Next, an example of a lifespan determination process in the first embodiment executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 6. The control unit 100 repeatedly executes the lifespan determination process while the power supply of the image forming apparatus 1 is ON.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, when executing the lifespan determination process, the control unit 100 reads out the first rotation time X and the second rotation time Y from the belt memory 58 to the RAM 102 (S11).

[0078] After step S11, the control unit 100 calculates the wear amount W of the photosensitive drum 43 by adding the first rotation time X read into the RAM 102 multiplied by the first coefficient a to the second rotation time Y read into the RAM 102 multiplied by the second coefficient b (W=aX+bY) (S12).

[0079] After step S12, the control unit 100 determines whether the calculated consumption amount W is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S13).

[0080] In step S13, when the control unit 100 determines that the calculated wear amount W is equal to or greater than the threshold value (S13, Yes), it notifies that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its life (S14), and ends the process. On the other hand, in step S13, when the control unit 100 does not determine that the calculated wear amount W is equal to or greater than the threshold value (S13, No), the control unit 100 ends the process without notifying that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its life.

[0081] According to the above-described embodiment, the first rotation time X, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1, and the second rotation time Y, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2, are stored separately in the belt memory 58, so that the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 can be calculated with high accuracy.

[0082] For example, the control unit 100 can calculate the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 by adding the number obtained by multiplying the first rotation time X by the first coefficient a and the number obtained by multiplying the second rotation time Y by the second coefficient b (W=aX+bY). This allows the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 to be calculated with high accuracy.

[0083] Further, the control unit 100 executes a determination process for determining whether the consumption amount W of the cleaning roller 61 is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and a notification process for notifying that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its life when it is determined in the determination process that the consumption amount W of the transfer belt 53 is equal to or greater than the threshold value. Therefore, when the transfer belt 53 reaches the end of its life, it can be appropriately notified.

[0084] Also, the control unit 100 calculates the remaining life of the transfer belt 53 by subtracting the consumption amount W from the life of the transfer belt 53. Therefore, the remaining life of the transfer belt 53 can be appropriately calculated.

[0085] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the control unit 100 stores the first rotation time X, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1, and the second rotation time Y, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2, in the belt memory 58. In contrast, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 100 stores the consumption amount W of the transfer belt 53 in the belt memory 58.

[0086] Specifically, in the second embodiment, the control unit 100 stores the first rotation time X in the first storage area 104A of the EEPROM 104 in the main body memory 110. Similarly, the control unit 100 stores the second rotation time Y in the second storage area 104B of the EEPROM 104 in the main body memory 110. The control unit 100 calculates the consumption amount W of the transfer belt 53 in the same manner as in the first embodiment by adding the product of the first rotation time X and the first coefficient a and the product of the second rotation time Y and the second coefficient b (W = aX + bY). Then, the control unit 100 stores the calculated consumption amount W of the transfer belt 53 in the belt memory 58. That is, the belt memory 58 stores the first rotation time X, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1, the second rotation time Y, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2, and the consumption amount W of the transfer belt 53 calculated based on these. Note that the timing at which the control unit 100 stores the consumption amount W may be every fixed time or every print job.

[0087] Next, an example of the process of the second embodiment executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 8. Only the parts different from the flowchart of Fig. 5 will be described here.

[0088] 8, in the second embodiment, after step S4, the control unit 100 calculates the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 by adding the first rotation time X multiplied by the first coefficient a and the second rotation time Y multiplied by the second coefficient b (W=aX+bY). Then, the calculated wear amount W is written in the belt memory 58 (S21). After step S21, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0089] Similarly, after step S8, the control unit 100 calculates the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 by adding the first rotation time X multiplied by the first coefficient a and the second rotation time Y multiplied by the second coefficient b (W=aX+bY). Then, the calculated wear amount W is written in the belt memory 58 (S22). After step S22, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0090] Next, an example of the life determination process in the second embodiment executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 9, when executing the life determination process, the control unit 100 reads out the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 from the belt memory 58 to the RAM 102 (S23).

[0092] After step S23, the control unit 100 determines whether the calculated consumption amount W is equal to or greater than a threshold value (S13).

[0093] In step S13, when the control unit 100 determines that the wear amount W is equal to or greater than the threshold value (S13, Yes), it notifies that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its life (S14), and ends the process. On the other hand, in step S13, when the control unit 100 does not determine that the wear amount W is equal to or greater than the threshold value (S13, No), the control unit 100 ends the process without notifying that the transfer belt 53 has reached the end of its life.

[0094] In the second embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53 is calculated from the first rotation time X, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the first rotation speed V1, and the second rotation time Y, which is the total time during which the cleaning roller 61 rotates at the second rotation speed V2. This makes it possible to accurately calculate the wear amount W of the transfer belt 53.

[0095] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified and implemented.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the photosensitive drum 43, the drive roller 51, and the cleaning roller 61 are driven by one motor, but they may be driven by different motors.

[0097] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the drum cartridge is a drawer that can be pulled out from the main body of the device and has four photosensitive drums and four installable or removable developing cartridges, but is not limited to this form. For example, the drum cartridge is not limited to a configuration having a plurality of developing cartridges and a plurality of photosensitive drums, and may be a configuration having one developing cartridge and one photosensitive drum. Also, for example, the drum cartridge is configured to be able to be pulled out from the main body of the apparatus, but it may be configured to be able to be attached to or detached from the main body of the apparatus from above or at an angle. Also, for example, the drum cartridge was configured such that a developing cartridge having a developing roller could be attached or detached, but a toner cartridge without a developing roller may also be configured to be attachable or detachable. In this case, the drum cartridge has a developing roller and a photosensitive drum. Also, the toner cartridge does not have a developing roller and has a toner storage section for storing toner. Also, for example, the developing cartridge was configured to be attachable or detachable to / from the drum cartridge, and the drum cartridge with the developing cartridge attached was configured to be attachable or detachable to / from the apparatus main body, but the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge may each be configured to be attachable or detachable to / from the apparatus main body separately. Also, it may be configured as an integral cartridge in which the developing cartridge cannot be removed separately from the drum cartridge. In this case, the drum cartridge has a toner storage section for storing toner, a developing roller, and a photosensitive drum.

[0098] Also, in the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 that prints a color image using four colors of toner was illustrated, but the image forming apparatus may be one that can only perform monochrome printing, or may be an apparatus that prints a color image using three colors or five or more colors of toner.

[0099] Also, the image forming apparatus may be a multifunction device or a copying machine.

[0100] Each element of the above-described embodiments and each modification example can be implemented in any combination.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0101] 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Apparatus main body 43 Photosensitive drum 50 Transfer belt unit 53 Transfer belt 58 Belt memory 58A First storage area 58B Second storage area 60 Belt cleaner 61 Cleaning roller 70 Fixing device 100 Control section 104 EEPROM 104A 1st storage area 104B 2nd storage area 110 Main memory CR1 Clutch CR2 One-way clutch G1 1st gear G2 2nd gear Medium motor V1 First rotation speed V2 Second rotation speed W consumption amount X 1st rotation time Y 2nd rotation time a First coefficient b Second coefficient

Claims

1. A transfer belt unit for use in an image forming apparatus including a photosensitive drum and a cleaning roller that rotates at a first rotation speed or a second rotation speed faster than the first rotation speed, a transfer belt that transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt, the transfer belt being in contact with the cleaning roller and being cleaned by the cleaning roller; a belt memory having a first storage area for storing a first rotation time, which is a total time during which the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and a second storage area for storing a second rotation time, which is a total time during which the cleaning roller rotates at the second rotation speed; A transfer belt unit comprising:

2. 2. The transfer belt unit according to claim 1, wherein the amount of wear of the transfer belt caused by the rotation of the cleaning roller is calculated based on the first rotation time and the second rotation time.

3. 3. The transfer belt unit according to claim 2, wherein the wear amount is calculated by adding a number obtained by multiplying the first rotation time by a first coefficient and a number obtained by multiplying the second rotation time by a second coefficient that is greater than the first coefficient.

4. 4. The transfer belt unit according to claim 1, wherein the second rotation speed is 1.5 to 2.0 times the first rotation speed.

5. The transfer belt unit is used together with a fixing device, 5. The transfer belt unit according to claim 1, wherein the transfer belt transports the sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt to the fixing device.

6. 6. The transfer belt unit according to claim 1, wherein the transfer belt unit is attachable to or detachable from the image forming apparatus.

7. An image forming apparatus, A device body, A photoconductor drum; a transfer belt unit having a transfer belt for transferring the toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt; a cleaning roller that comes into contact with the transfer belt to clean the transfer belt, the cleaning roller being rotatable at a first rotation speed or a second rotation speed that is faster than the first rotation speed; The internal memory and A control unit, The control unit is An image forming apparatus characterized in that the amount of wear of the transfer belt is calculated based on a first rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at the first rotation speed, and a second rotation time, which is the total time that the cleaning roller rotates at a second rotation speed faster than the second rotation speed, both of which are stored in the main body memory.

8. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit calculates the consumption amount by adding a number obtained by multiplying the first rotation time by a first coefficient and a number obtained by multiplying the second rotation time by a second coefficient greater than the first coefficient.

9. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second rotation speed is 1.5 to 2.0 times the first rotation speed.

10. the image forming apparatus is capable of mounting or dismounting the transfer belt unit; the transfer belt unit further includes a belt memory; 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit stores the wear amount of the transfer belt in the belt memory.

11. The control unit is a determination process for determining whether the consumption amount is equal to or greater than a threshold value; a notification process for notifying that the transfer belt has reached the end of its life when it is determined in the determination process that the amount of wear is equal to or greater than the threshold value; 11. The image forming method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of: Device.

12. The control unit is 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the remaining life of the transfer belt is calculated by subtracting the amount of wear from the life of the transfer belt.

13. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing device.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transfer belt transports the sheet transported between the photosensitive drum and the transfer belt to the fixing device.

14. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transfer belt unit is attachable to or detachable from a main body of the apparatus.

Images