Patent Application
20240255882
The present disclosure relates to a charge-eliminating apparatus configured to eliminate charge of a recording medium output from an image forming apparatus, and to an image forming system.
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, printer, or facsimile machine using an electrophotographic process or an electrostatic recording method, a sheet (recording medium) becomes electrically charged during image formation, and ejected sheets stick to each other by electrostatic force generated between the ejected sheets, so that an improper stack of sheet may occur. Therefore, an image forming apparatus provided with a charge-eliminating apparatus configured to eliminate electrostatic charge of sheets has been proposed. The charge-eliminating apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-167169 has a contact charge eliminating unit configured to eliminate charge of a sheet being conveyed in contact with the sheet, and a non-contact charge eliminating unit configured to eliminate charge of a sheet being conveyed in a non-contact state. As the contact charge eliminating unit, a charge-eliminating roller pair configured to eliminate charge of a sheet by nipping the sheet is known. As the non-contact charge eliminating unit, a charge-eliminating wire or a needle-like electrode that generates an ion is known.
When the non-contact charge eliminating unit is continuously used, a foreign matter adheres to an electrode portion, and the charge-eliminating performance of the non-contact charge eliminating unit may deteriorate. Therefore, it is desirable that the non-contact charge eliminating unit is cleaned as necessary. However, in the charge-eliminating apparatus, since the non-contact charge eliminating unit is accommodated inside a housing, it is difficult for the user to determine whether maintenance of the non-contact charge eliminating unit is required.
Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a charge-eliminating apparatus in which a user can easily check whether maintenance of a non-contact charge eliminating unit is required.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a charge-eliminating apparatus is configured to eliminate charge of a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus, the charge-eliminating apparatus comprising: a conveying member configured to convey the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus; a non-contact charge eliminating unit configured to eliminate charge of the sheet in a non-contact state with respect to the sheet conveyed by the conveying member; a frame configured to accommodate the conveying member and the non-contact charge eliminating unit; and an indicating portion configured to indicate indication contents indicating that maintenance is required for the non-contact charge eliminating unit based on a predetermined signal output from the non-contact charge eliminating unit.
Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
The embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that dimensions, materials, and relative positions of components of an image forming apparatus 100 and a charge-eliminating apparatus 200 are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure to them only, unless specifically stated. In addition, those with the same reference numerals in each figure have the same structure or function, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted accordingly.
In the embodiment, the development devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K use a reversal developing system in which toner is attached to the exposed portions of the electrostatic latent image so that the electrostatic latent image is developed.
An intermediate transfer belt 6 is arranged so as to abut on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K. The intermediate transfer belt 6 is stretched around a plurality of stretching rollers 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and rotates at a rotational speed of 150 to 470 mm/sec in a direction indicated by the arrow G.
In the embodiment, the stretching roller 20 is a tension roller that maintains the tension of the intermediate transfer belt 6 constant. The stretching roller 22 is a driving roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 6.
The stretching roller 21 is an inner roller for secondary transfer. An outer roller 9 for secondary transfer is arranged opposite to the stretching roller 21 through the intermediate transfer belt 6. The outer roller 9 for secondary transfer nips the sheet S at a secondary transfer nip (secondary transfer portion) between the outer roller 9 for secondary transfer and the intermediate transfer belt 6 and conveys the sheet.
Primary transfer rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K are arranged opposite to the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K through the intermediate transfer belt 6 to form a primary transfer nip (primary transfer portion) between the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K. In synchronization with the toner images of respective colors on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1K being conveyed to respective primary transfer nips, a constant voltage controlled transfer bias of reverse polarity to the toner images is applied to the primary transfer rollers 5Y, 5M, 5C and 5K. Thus, the toner images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 (primary transfer).
A registration roller 8 conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer nip in synchronization with the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 6 being transferred to the secondary transfer nip. A pre-secondary-transfer conveyance guide 11 improves the conveyance accuracy when the sheet S is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip. A high-voltage application unit 10 applies a constant-voltage-controlled transfer bias of reverse polarity to the toner image to the outer roller 9 for secondary transfer. Thus, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is transferred onto the sheet S (secondary transfer). The sheet S on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 40 by a pre-fixing conveyance device 41. In the pre-fixing conveyance device 41, a belt body is rotated, and the sheet S is placed on the belt body and conveyed. The fixing device 40 fixes the toner image to the sheet S by heating and pressurizing the sheet S. A belt cleaning device 12 electrostatically recovers secondary transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 6 and cleans the intermediate transfer belt 6. The cleaned intermediate transfer belt 6 is repeatedly used for image formation.
The charge-eliminating apparatus 200 has a frame (housing) 57. The frame 57 accommodates a charge-eliminating roller pair 45, an ionizer 46, a conveyance guide 53, a high-voltage circuit board 55, and a controller 58 which controls the entire charge-eliminating apparatus 200. The frame 57 is provided with an LED (light emitting diode) 56 as an indicating portion indicating a state of the ionizer 46. The LED 56 is arranged on an exterior surface of the frame 57 so that a user can check indication contents of the LED 56 from the outside of the frame 57.
The charge-eliminating roller pair 45 is a contact charge eliminating unit configured to contact the sheet S to eliminate charge of the sheet S.
The charge-eliminating roller pair 45 is a conveying member configured to receive a sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 100 and convey the sheet. The charge-eliminating roller pair 45 includes a charge-eliminating roller 50 and a charge-eliminating opposed roller 51 disposed opposite to the charge-eliminating roller 50. The charge-eliminating roller 50 and the charge-eliminating opposed roller 51 are brought into pressure contact with each other to form a charge-eliminating nip. The high-voltage circuit board 55 generates high voltage and applies the high voltage to the charge-eliminating roller 50. The charge-eliminating roller 50 and the charge-eliminating opposed roller 51 sandwich the sheet S at the charge-eliminating nip and eliminate charge of the sheet S while conveying the sheet S. The charge-eliminating apparatus 200 may have an inlet roller pair as a conveying member disposed upstream of the charge-eliminating roller pair 45 and configured to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 100 and convey the sheet. In the embodiment, the charge-eliminating roller pair 45 is disposed upstream of the ionizer 46 in the conveyance direction CD.
The ionizer 46 is disposed downstream of the charge-eliminating roller pair 45 in the conveyance direction CD of the sheet S. The ionizer 46 has electrode needles (charge-eliminating needles) 52a and 52b disposed vertically across the conveyance guide 53 forming a conveyance path. The electrode needle 52a (first charge-eliminating member) is disposed facing an upper surface (first surface) of the sheet S to be conveyed. The electrode needle 52b (second charge-eliminating member) is disposed facing a lower surface (second surface) opposite to the upper surface of the sheet S to be conveyed. The ionizer 46 is a non-contact charge eliminating unit configured to eliminate charge of the sheet S without contacting the sheet S passing through the conveyance guide 53. The ionizer 46 of the embodiment uses a corona charge-eliminating system in which an AC high voltage (AC voltage) is applied to the electrode needles 52a and 52b to alternately generate +ion (cation) and −ion (anion). By alternately irradiating the front and back surfaces of the sheet S with +ion and −ion from the electrode needles 52a and 52b of the ionizer 46 disposed above and below the sheet S, the front and back surfaces of the sheet S are simultaneously performed charge elimination regardless of the polarity of the charge of the sheet S. That is, in the embodiment, the electrode needles 52a and 52b are disposed at the same position in the conveyance direction CD.
The LED 56 turns on, blinks, and turns off according to the state of the ionizer 46. The LED 56 is mounted on an upper surface 57a of an exterior surface of the frame 57 so that the user can check the state of the LED 56 turning on, blinking, and turning off from the outside of the frame 57. The LED 56 may be mounted on a front surface 57b of the exterior surface of the frame 57. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 57a is an upward-facing surface in the vertical direction of the exterior surface of the frame 57. In addition, the front surface 57b is a surface in the exterior surface of the frame 57 that faces toward the front side of the charge-eliminating apparatus 200. That is, the front surface 57b includes an inclined surface so as to intersect in the vertical direction.
The sheet S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 is first subjected to the coarse elimination of the electrostatic charge of the sheet S at the charge-eliminating nip between the charge-eliminating roller 50 and the charge-eliminating opposed roller 51. The high voltage applied to the charge-eliminating roller 50 has a polarity opposite to the voltage applied to the outer roller 9 for secondary transfer. Next, the ionizer 46 removes the charge from the sheet S that cannot be eliminated by the charge-eliminating roller pair 45. The sheet S performed charge elimination by the charge-eliminating roller pair 45 and the ionizer 46 is ejected to the outside of the charge-eliminating apparatus 200.
When a maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 output from the controller 58 is switched from an L-level to an H-level as a trigger, the ionizer 46 shifts to the maintenance detection mode in which maintenance detection is performed to determine whether maintenance is required or not. The ionizer 46 determines whether maintenance is required or not during the maintenance detection mode. The necessity (required or not) of maintenance is reflected in a maintenance detection signal (alarm signal) 103 as a predetermined signal.
The maintenance detection signal 103 of an L-level indicates that maintenance of the ionizer 46 is not required. The maintenance detection signal 103 of an H-level indicates that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. The ionizer 46 outputs the maintenance detection signal 103 to the controller 58.
The controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level at a predetermined timing to shift the ionizer 46 to the maintenance detection mode. In a case in which the controller 58 receives the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level from the ionizer 46, the controller 58 determines that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. In a case in which the controller 58 determines that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46, the controller 58 alternately switches an LED control signal 105 between an H-level and an L-level to blink the LED 56.
The ionizer 46 can detect abnormalities such as an abnormal charge elimination that occurs when a conductor approaches the vicinity of the electrode needles 52a and 52b. In a case in which the ionizer 46 is operating normally, the ionizer 46 outputs an abnormal detection signal (alarm signal) 104 of an L-level to the controller 58. In a case in which the ionizer 46 detects an abnormality, the ionizer 46 outputs the abnormal detection signal 104 of an H-level to the controller 58. In a case in which the controller 58 receives the abnormal detection signal 104 of the H-level when the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 is at the H-level, the controller 58 determines that the ionizer 46 is in an abnormal state. When the controller 58 detects the abnormality of the ionizer 46, the controller 58 switches the LED control signal 105 to the H-level to turn the LED 56 on.
In a case in which the controller 58 determines that the maintenance is required for either of the electrode needles 52a and 52b of the ionizer 46 arranged vertically on the upside and downside, the controller 58 blinks the LED 56. In a case in which the controller 58 determines that either of the electrode needles 52a and 52b is in the abnormal state, the controller 58 turns the LED 56 on. Since the ionizer 46 is disposed inside the frame 57, it is difficult for the user to visually inspect the ionizer 46 to determine the necessity of maintenance for the ionizer 46 or abnormality of the ionizer 46. Therefore, by providing the LED 56 (indicating portion) on the frame 57 so that the user can visually see the indication contents from the outside of the frame 57, it is possible to indicate to the user that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 at an appropriate timing. As a result, since the user can recognize the necessity of maintenance at the appropriate timing, it is possible to prevent early deterioration of the electrode needles 52a and 52b due to excessive maintenance and insufficient charge elimination ability due to insufficient maintenance. According to the embodiment, the user can easily confirm the necessity of maintenance of the ionizer 46. The abnormal state of the ionizer 46 is, for example, a state in which the ionizer 46 has failed so as not to eliminate charge of a sheet. In the embodiment, the LED 56 provided on the charge-eliminating apparatus 200 functions as an indicating portion configured to indicate to the user whether maintenance is required or not for the ionizer 46. However, the indicating portion is not limited to this, for example, information (message) indicating whether maintenance is required or not for the ionizer 46 may be displayed on a display of an operation unit 150 (see
In the embodiment, in the case in which the ionizer 46 is abnormal, the indication contents are indicated by the LED 56 in a pattern (second indication pattern) for turning the LED 56 on. However, in the case in which maintenance is required for the ionizer 46, the indication contents may be indicated by the LED 56 in the pattern for blinking the LED 56. The LED 56 may indicate the indication contents corresponding to the abnormal detection signal 104 output from the ionizer 46 in a predetermined pattern.
In a case in which the abnormal detection signal 104 is at the L-level (NO in S102), the controller 58 determines whether or not to shift the mode to the maintenance detection mode (S103). In a case in which the mode is not shifted to the maintenance detection mode (NO in S103), the controller 58 advances the process to S104. On the other hand, in a case in which the mode is shifted to the maintenance detection mode (YES in S103), the controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start maintenance detection (maintenance required determination control) (S106). The controller 58 determines whether the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received from the ionizer 46 (S107). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received from the ionizer 46 (YES in S107), since the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46, the controller 58 advances the process to S109. The controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S109), and ends the control operation.
In the embodiment, in a case in which maintenance is required for the ionizer 46, the indication contents are indicated by the LED 56 in a pattern (first indication pattern) for blinking the LED 56. However, in the case in which maintenance is required for the ionizer 46, the indication contents may be indicated by the LED 56 in a pattern for turning the LED 56 on. One of the first indication pattern and the second indication pattern may be the pattern for turning the LED 56 on, and the other may be the pattern for blinking the LED 56. The LED 56 may indicate the indication contents corresponding to the maintenance detection signal 103 output from the ionizer 46 in a predetermined pattern.
In S107, a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the L-level is received from the ionizer 46 (NO in S107), the controller 58 determines whether or not to continue the maintenance detection (S108). In a case in which the maintenance detection is continued (YES in S108), the controller 58 returns the process to S107. In a case in which the maintenance detection is interrupted (NO in S108), the controller 58 advances the process to S104. The controller 58 determines whether or not to stop ion generation by the ionizer 46 (S104). In a case in which the ion generation is not stopped (NO in S104), the controller 58 returns the process to S102. In a case in which the ion generation is stopped (YES in S104), the controller 58 switches the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 from the H-level to the L-level to turn the ionizer 46 off (S105), and ends the control operation.
Referring to
For example, the user can select the maintenance detection full control operation shown in
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S506). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S506), the controller 58 returns the process to S506 and continues the maintenance detection until the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed. In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed without the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level having been received (YES in S506), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S507). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. In a case in which the predetermined time has elapsed while the maintenance detection signal 103 is at the L-level, it indicates that the maintenance detection can be performed for the predetermined time. In this case, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is not required for the ionizer 46.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 is stored in the storage unit 59 based on the maintenance detection result (S508). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S508), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S509), and prompts the user to clean the ionizer 46. The controller 58 advances the process to S510. On the other hand, in a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S508), the controller 58 advances the process to S510.
The controller 58 determines whether a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S510). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S510), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S511) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection full control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S510), the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection full control operation.
Next, the controller 58 determines whether or not the print job has been completed (S605). In a case in which the print job has not been completed (NO in S605), the controller 58 returns the process to S603 and repeats the process of S603 and S604. In a case in which the print job has been completed (YES in S605), the controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start maintenance detection (S606) and advances the process to S607.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S607). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or in a case in which the predetermined time elapses without receiving the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level (YES in S607), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S608).
The controller 58 determines, based on the maintenance detection result, whether or not it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 (S609). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S609), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S610), and prompts the user to clean the ionizer 46. The controller 58 advances the process to S611. On the other hand, in a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S609), the controller 58 advances the process to S611.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the count value of the sheet counter 60 has reached a predetermined number (S611). In a case in which the count value has reached the predetermined number (YES in S611), it is determined that maintenance detection (maintenance detection full control operation) performed at a predetermined number interval has been performed. The controller 58 clears the count value of the sheet counter 60 to 0 (S612), and advances the process to S613. In a case in which the count value of the sheet counter 60 has not reached the predetermined number (NO in S611), the controller 58 advances the process to S613 while maintaining the count value of the sheet counter 60.
The controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S613). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S613), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S614), and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S613), the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
In S607, in a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not passed (that is, during maintenance detection) (NO in S607), the controller 58 advances the process to S615. The controller 58 determines whether or not the count value of the sheet counter 60 has reached the predetermined number (S615). The predetermined number may be set to, for example, the number of sheets requiring maintenance. In a case in which the count value reaches the predetermined number (YES in S615), the controller 58 returns the process to S607 and continues the maintenance detection until the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed (maintenance detection full control operation).
In a case in which the count value of the sheet counter 60 has not reached the predetermined number (NO in S615), the controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S616). In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S616), the controller 58 returns the process to S607 and continues the maintenance detection. In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S616), the controller 58 interrupts the maintenance detection (S617). The image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S618), and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
In the embodiment, in a case in which the number of sheets performed charge elimination by the ionizer 46 has not reached the predetermined number, when the print job is input during the maintenance detection, the maintenance detection is interrupted. However, the maintenance detection interruption control operation is not limited to this. For example, in a case in which an integrated time of a charge-eliminating time for which the ionizer 46 eliminates charge of the sheet has not reached a predetermined time, when a print job is input during the maintenance detection, the maintenance detection may be interrupted.
Referring to
When the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 is switched from the L-level to the H-level, the maintenance detection is started. The maintenance detection full control operation in which the maintenance detection is continued until it is determined that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 within a predetermined time from the start of the maintenance detection or until the predetermined time elapses will be described with reference to
For example, the user can select the maintenance detection full control operation shown in
In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S702), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S703). Next, the controller 58 switches the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 from the L-level to the H-level to put the ionizer 46 into the ON state (S704). The controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start the maintenance detection (S705), and advances the process to S706.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S706). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S706), the controller 58 returns the process to S706 and continues the maintenance detection until the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed. In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed without the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level having been received (YES in S706), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S707). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. In a case in which the predetermined time has elapsed while the maintenance detection signal 103 remains at the L-level, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is not required for the ionizer 46.
The controller 58 determines whether or not it is in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 (S708). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S708), the controller 58 advances the process to S712. On the other hand, in a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S708), it indicates that the maintenance (cleaning) of the ionizer 46 was performed. Therefore, the controller 58 switches the LED control signal 105 to the L-level to turn the LED 56 off (S710), and advances the process to S712.
The controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S712). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S712), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S714) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection full control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S712), the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection full control operation.
In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S802), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S803). Next, the controller 58 switches the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 from the L-level to the H-level to put the ionizer 46 into the ON state (S804). The controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start the maintenance detection (S805), and advances the process to S806.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S806). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed without receiving the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level (YES in S806), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S807).
The controller 58 determines, based on the maintenance detection result, whether or not it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 (S808). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S808), the controller 58 advances the process to S811. In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S808), it indicates that the maintenance (cleaning) of the ionizer 46 was performed. Therefore, the controller 58 switches the LED control signal 105 to the L-level to turn the LED 56 off (S810), and advances the process to S811.
The controller 58 determines whether a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S811). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S811), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S812) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S811), the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
In S806, in a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not elapsed (that is, during maintenance detection) (NO in S806), the controller 58 advances the process to S813. The controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S813). In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S813), the controller 58 returns the process to S806 and continues the maintenance detection. In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S813), the controller 58 interrupts the maintenance detection (S814). The image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S815) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
Referring to
When the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 is switched from the L-level to the H-level, the maintenance detection is started. In the maintenance detection, it is determined whether the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. A maintenance detection full control operation in which the maintenance detection is continued until it is determined that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 within a predetermined time from the start of the maintenance detection or until the predetermined time elapses will be described with reference to
For example, the user can select the maintenance detection full control operation shown in
In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S902), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S903). Next, the controller 58 switches the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 from the L-level to the H-level to put the ionizer 46 into the ON state (S904). The controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start the maintenance detection (S905), and advances the process to S906.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S906). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S906), the controller 58 returns the process to S906 and continues the maintenance detection until the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed. In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed without the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level having been received (YES in S906), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S907). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. In a case in which the predetermined time has elapsed while the maintenance detection signal 103 is at the L-level, the controller 58 stores in the storage unit 59 as the maintenance detection result that the maintenance is not required for the ionizer 46.
The controller 58 determines whether or not it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 (S908). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S908), the controller 58 advances the process to S910. On the other hand, in a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S908), it indicates that the maintenance (cleaning) of the ionizer 46 was performed. Therefore, the controller 58 switches the LED control signal 105 to the L-level to turn the LED 56 off (S909), and advances the process to S910.
The controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S910). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S910), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S911) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection full control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S910), the controller 58 shifts the state of the charge-eliminating apparatus 200 to a standby state (S912) and ends the maintenance detection full control operation.
In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S1002), the controller 58 alternately switches the H-level and the L-level of the LED control signal 105 to blink the LED 56 (S1003). Next, the controller 58 switches the ionizer ON/OFF signal 101 from the L-level to the H-level to put the ionizer 46 into the ON state (S1004). The controller 58 switches the maintenance detection mode shift signal 102 from the L-level to the H-level to start the maintenance detection (S1005), and advances the process to S1006.
The controller 58 determines whether or not the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received and whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the maintenance detection was started (S1006). In a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has been received or the predetermined time has elapsed without receiving the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level (YES in S1006), the controller 58 stores the maintenance detection result in the storage unit 59 (S1007).
The controller 58 determines, based on the maintenance detection result, whether or not it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46 (S1008). In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is required (YES in S1008), the controller 58 advances the process to S1010. In a case in which it is stored in the storage unit 59 that the maintenance is not required (NO in S1008), it indicates that the maintenance (cleaning) of the ionizer 46 was performed. Therefore, the controller 58 switches the LED control signal 105 to the L-level to turn the LED 56 off (S1009), and advances the process to S1010.
The controller 58 determines whether a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S1010). In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S1010), the image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S1011) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation. In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S1010), the controller 58 shifts the state of the charge-eliminating apparatus 200 to the standby state (S1012) and ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
In S1006, in a case in which the maintenance detection signal 103 of the H-level has not been received and the predetermined time has not elapsed (that is, during maintenance detection) (NO in S1006), the controller 58 advances the process to S1013. The controller 58 determines whether or not a print job has been input to the image forming apparatus 100 (S1013). In a case in which the print job has not been input (NO in S1013), the controller 58 returns the process to S1006 and continues the maintenance detection. In a case in which the print job has been input (YES in S1013), the controller 58 interrupts the maintenance detection (S1014). The image forming apparatus 100 starts the print job (S1015) and the controller 58 ends the maintenance detection interruption control operation.
As described above, after the print job of the image forming apparatus 100 is completed, the controller 58 performs the maintenance required determination control to determine whether or not the maintenance is required for the ionizer 46. Also, the controller 58 performs the maintenance required determination control when the power is turned on to the charge-eliminating apparatus 200 or when the door 201 of the charge-eliminating apparatus 200 is opened and closed. Also, in the case in which the print job is input in the middle of the maintenance required determination control, the controller 58 interrupts the maintenance required determination control and starts the print job. Thus, the controller 58 performs the maintenance required determination control at an appropriate timing, thereby preventing a decrease in productivity due to the time required for the maintenance required determination control and improving usability.
According to the disclosure, it is possible to provide the charge-eliminating apparatus in which a user can easily check whether or not the maintenance is required for the non-contact charge eliminating unit.
Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and performs computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-011637, filed Jan. 30, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-011637 | Jan 2023 | JP | national |
