Service life informing device for charged member, informing method thereof, process cartridge and image forming apparatus

• US 5,835,818 A
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Yasuyuki, Shoji, Takeo, Hibi, Takashi, Teshima, Eiichiro, Hoshika, Norihisa, Ogata, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US08/772,876
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 399/24-26, 399/31, 399/42, 399/43
• US Class Current: 399/26
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0283 Arrangements for supplying power to the sensitising device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/751 relating to drum G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00122 using speech synthesis or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/021 by contact, friction or induction
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1663 having lifetime indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

A life informing device for a charge body includes a body to be charged, and a charging member for charging the charge body. The charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with the charge body during the charging operation. Also provided is an informing device for visually or acoustically informing the user whether the charge body reaches the end of the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time of the application time during which the oscillating voltage is applied.

Claims

1. A life informing device for a charge body, comprising:

a body to be charged;

a charging member for charging said charge body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and non-oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t2 of the application time of said non-oscillating voltage.

2. A life informing device according to claim 1, wherein said non-oscillating voltage is a DC voltage without an AC voltage component.

3. A life informing device according to claim 2, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said charge body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

4. A life informing device according to claim 3, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+k3×

t3, wherein k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients satisfying a relation k1 >

k2>

k3.

5. A life informing device according to claim 4, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, and k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+t3).

6. A life informing device according to claim 1, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said charge body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

7. A life informing device according to claim 1, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

8. A life informing device according to claim 7, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+ . . . +tn).

9. A life informing device according to claim 1, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform that said charge body approaches its life time prior to the information that said charge body reaches its life time.

10. A life informing device according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

11. A life informing method for a charge body, comprising:

providing a body to be charged;

a charging step of charging said charge body with a charging member adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and non-oscillating voltage, said charging member is adapted to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

an informing step of informing a user whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied and an accumulated time t2 of the application time of said non-oscillating voltage.

12. A life informing method according to claim 11, wherein said non-oscillating is a DC voltage without an AC voltage component.

13. A life informing method according to claim 12, wherein said informing step is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said charge body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

14. A life informing method according to claim 13, wherein said informing step is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+k3×

t3, wherein k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients satisfying a relation k1>

k2>

k3.

15. A life informing method according to claim 14, wherein said coefficients k1, k2 and k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+t3).

16. A life informing method according to claim 11, wherein said informing step is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said charge body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

17. A life informing method according to claim 11, wherein said informing step is adapted to inform whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1/(t1+t2+ . . . +tn,) are respective accumulated times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

18. A life informing method according to claim 17, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

19. A life informing method according to claim 11, further comprising a second informing step of informing that said charge body approaches its life time prior to the information that said charge body reaches its life time.

20. A life informing method according to claim 11, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

21. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member for charging said image bearing body, said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and non-oscillating voltage, and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied and an accumulated time t2 of the application time of said non-oscillating voltage.

22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said non-oscillating voltage is a DC voltage without an AC voltage component.

23. An image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said image bearing body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

24. An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+k3×

t3, wherein k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients satisfying a relation k1>

k2>

k3.

25. An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said coefficients k1, k2 and k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+t3).

26. An image forming apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated times t1, t2 and t3.

27. An image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said memory means memorizes information for determining said coefficients k1, k2 and k3.

28. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said image bearing body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

29. An image forming apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated times t1 and t3.

30. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

31. An image forming apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+t3).

32. An image forming apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

33. An image forming apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said memory means is adapted to memorize information for determining said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , kn.

34. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform the user that said image bearing body approaches its life time prior to informing the user that said image bearing body reaches its life time.

35. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

36. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said apparatus is adapted to inhibit the image forming operation when said informing means informs the user that said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof.

37. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated time t1.

38. An image forming apparatus according to one of claims 26, 27, 29, 32, 33 and 37, wherein said memory means memorizes in advance information for determining the life of said image bearing body.

39. An image forming apparatus according to one of claims 26, 27, 29, 32, 33 and 37, wherein said process means is said charging member.

40. An image forming apparatus according to one of claims 26, 27, 29, 32, 33 and 37, wherein said memory means is a ROM.

41. A process cartridge detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member for charging said image bearing body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and non-oscillating voltage, and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the charging operation; and

memory means for memorizing information on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t2 of the application time of said non-oscillating voltage.

42. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein said non-oscillating voltage is a DC voltage without an AC voltage component.

43. A process cartridge according to claim 42, wherein said memory means is adapted to memorize information on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said image bearing body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

44. A process cartridge according to claim 43, wherein, the main body of said apparatus informs a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+k3×

t3, wherein k1, k2, and k3 are coefficients satisfying a relation k1>

k2>

k3, and said memory means is adapted to memorize information for determining k1, k2 and k3.

45. A process cartridge according to claim 44, wherein said coefficients k1, k2 and k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+t3).

46. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein said memory means is adapted to memorize information on an accumulated time t3 of the rotation of said image bearing body without application of the AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

47. A process cartridge according to one of claims 41 to 44, wherein, in the main body of said apparatus, informing means is provided to inform a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on said memorized information.

48. A process cartridge according to claim 41, wherein, the main body of said apparatus informs a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and said memory means memorizes information for determining k1, k2, . . . , kn.

49. A process cartridge according to claim 48, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , kn are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1/(t1+t2+ . . . +tn.

50. A process cartridge according to one of claims 41 to 46 and 48-49, wherein said memory means memorizes in advance information determining the life of said image bearing body.

51. A process cartridge according to one of claims 41 to 46 and 48-49, wherein said memory means is a ROM.

52. A life informing device for a charging body, comprising:

a body to be charged;

a charging member for charging said charge body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t3 of the rotation time of said charge body without application of an AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

53. A life informing device according to claim 52, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform the user that said charge body approaches its life time prior to informing the user that said charge body reaches its life time.

54. A life informing device according to claim 52, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

55. A life informing method for a charge body, comprising:

providing a body to be charged;

a charging step of charging said charge body with a charging member adapted to receive an oscillating voltage, wherein said charging member is adapted to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

an informing step of informing whether a user said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t3 of the rotation time of said charge body without application of an AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

56. A life informing method according to claim 55, further comprising a second informing step of informing the user that said charge body approaches its life time prior to informing the user that said charge body reaches its life time.

57. A life informing method according to claim 55, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

58. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member or charging said image bearing body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t3 of the rotation time of said image bearing body without application of an AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

59. An image forming apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said informing means is adapted to inform the user that said image bearing body approaches its life time prior to informing the user that said image bearing body reaches its life time.

60. An image forming apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

61. An image forming apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said apparatus is adapted to inhibit the image forming operation when said informing means informs the user that said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof.

62. An image forming apparatus according to claim 58, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated times t1 and t3.

63. An image forming apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said memory means memorizes in advance information for determining the life of said image bearing body.

64. An image forming apparatus according to one of claims 62 and 63, wherein said process means is said charging member.

65. An image forming apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said memory means is a ROM.

66. A process cartridge detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member for charging said image bearing body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage, and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the operation; and

memory means for memorizing information on an accumulated time t1 of the application time during which said oscillating voltage is applied, and an accumulated time t3 of the rotation time of said image bearing body without application of an AC or DC voltage to said charging member.

67. A process cartridge according to claim 66, wherein, in the main body of said apparatus, informing means is provided to inform a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on said memorized information.

68. A process cartridge according to claim 66, wherein said memory means memorizes in advance information determining the life of said image bearing body.

69. A process cartridge according to claim 66, wherein said memory means is a ROM.

70. A life informing device for a charge body, comprising:

a body to be charged;

a charging member for charging said charge body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

71. A life informing device according to claim 70, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

72. A life informing device according to claim 70, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

73. A life informing method for a charge body, comprising:

providing a body to be charged;

a charging step of charging said charge body with a charging member adapted to receive an oscillating voltage, wherein said charging member is adapted to be in contact with said charge body during the charging operation; and

an informing step of informing a user whether said charge body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulated times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

74. A life informing method according to claim 73, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

75. A life informing method according to claim 73, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

76. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member for charging said image bearing body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the charging operation; and

informing means for informing a user whether said image bearing body reaches the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member, and k1, k2, . . . , kn are coefficients.

77. An image forming apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , k3 are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

78. An image forming apparatus according to claim 76, wherein said oscillating voltage includes an AC voltage.

79. An image forming apparatus according to claim 76, further comprising a detachably mounted process cartridge including said image bearing body and process means functioning on said image bearing body, wherein said process cartridge includes memory means for memorizing information on said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

80. An image forming apparatus according to claim 79, wherein said memory means is adapted to memorize information for determining said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , kn.

81. An image forming apparatus according to claim 79, wherein said process means is said charging member.

82. An image forming apparatus according to claim 79, wherein said memory means is a ROM.

83. A process cartridge detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing body;

a charging member for charging said image bearing body, wherein said charging member is adapted to receive an oscillating voltage and to be in contact with said image bearing body during the charging operation; and

memory means for memorizing information for determining coefficients k1, k2, . . . , kn, wherein the main body of said apparatus informs a user whether said image bearing body reached the life time thereof, based on a value k1×

t1+k2×

t2+ . . . +kn×

tn, wherein t1, t2, . . . , tn are respective accumulation times in n kinds of voltage application conditions for said charging member.

84. A process cartridge according to claim 83, wherein said coefficients k1, k2, . . . , kn are varied according to the ratio of said accumulated times t1, t2, . . . , tn.

85. A process cartridge according to claim 83, wherein said memory means is a ROM.