Image-forming device capable of performing self-diagnosis using inspection cartridge in place of process cartridge
First Claim
1. An image-forming device comprising:
- a main casing;
a photosensitive member having a surface;
a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive member;
an exposing unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member after the photosensitive member has been charged by the charging unit;
a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member into a visible image using a developer;
a transferring unit that transfers the visible image developed by the developer onto a recording medium;
an inspection member receiving section in which an inspection member is detachably mountable;
a driving unit that selectively drives the charging unit, the developing unit, and the transferring unit as a target unit to be driven;
a switching unit that switches an operating mode between a normal mode for forming images on the recording medium and a self-diagnostic mode for performing a self-diagnosis, the switching unit switching from the normal mode to the self-diagnostic mode when the inspection member is mounted in the inspection member receiving section;
a drive commanding unit that outputs a self-diagnostic drive command to the driving unit to command the driving unit to drive the target unit when the switching unit has switched to the self-diagnostic mode; and
a diagnosing unit that determines whether an operating state of the driving unit is normal based on drive commands received from the drive commanding unit,wherein the inspection member receiving section is further configured to couple the inspection member to the driving unit when the inspection member is mounted in the inspection member receiving section.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laser printer having a self-diagnostic function includes a first sensing unit that changes in detection status when one of a process cartridge and an inspection cartridge is mounted therein, and a second sensing unit that changes in detection status when at least the other of the process cartridge and inspection cartridge is mounted therein. A control unit of the laser printer identifies the type of cartridge mounted in the laser printer based on detection results from the first and second sensing units and switches the operating mode of the laser printer from a normal mode for performing image-forming operations to a self-diagnostic mode for diagnosing the status of its components when the control unit determines that the inspection cartridge is mounted in the laser printer.
11 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An image-forming device comprising:
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a main casing; a photosensitive member having a surface; a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive member; an exposing unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member after the photosensitive member has been charged by the charging unit; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member into a visible image using a developer; a transferring unit that transfers the visible image developed by the developer onto a recording medium; an inspection member receiving section in which an inspection member is detachably mountable; a driving unit that selectively drives the charging unit, the developing unit, and the transferring unit as a target unit to be driven; a switching unit that switches an operating mode between a normal mode for forming images on the recording medium and a self-diagnostic mode for performing a self-diagnosis, the switching unit switching from the normal mode to the self-diagnostic mode when the inspection member is mounted in the inspection member receiving section; a drive commanding unit that outputs a self-diagnostic drive command to the driving unit to command the driving unit to drive the target unit when the switching unit has switched to the self-diagnostic mode; and a diagnosing unit that determines whether an operating state of the driving unit is normal based on drive commands received from the drive commanding unit, wherein the inspection member receiving section is further configured to couple the inspection member to the driving unit when the inspection member is mounted in the inspection member receiving section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An image-forming device comprising:
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a main casing; a photosensitive member having a surface; a charging unit that charges the surface of the photosensitive member; an exposing unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member after the photosensitive member has been charged by the charging unit; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member into a visible image using a developer; a transferring unit that transfers the visible image developed by the developer onto a recording medium; an inspection member receiving section in which an inspection member is detachably mountable; a driving unit that selectively drives the charging unit, the developing unit, and the transferring unit as a target unit to be driven; a switching unit that switches an operating mode between a normal mode for forming images on the recording medium and a self-diagnostic mode for performing a self-diagnosis based on whether the inspection member is mounted in the inspection member receiving section; a drive commanding unit that outputs a self-diagnostic drive command to the driving unit to command the driving unit to drive the target unit when the switching unit has switched to the self-diagnostic mode; a diagnosing unit that determines whether an operating state of the driving unit is normal based on drive commands received from the drive commanding unit; and an image-forming cartridge including at least the target unit to be driven by the driving unit, the image-forming cartridge being detachably mounted in a predetermined position, wherein the driving unit is disposed on the main casing so as to be capable of connecting electrically to the target unit provided in the image-forming cartridge when the image-forming cartridge is mounted in the predetermined position, wherein the inspection member comprises an inspection cartridge that is mountable in place of the image-forming cartridge.
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Specification