IP Library Granted Patent US 10,234,807
Granted Patent B2
US 10,234,807 · App. 15/623,867 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Image forming apparatus

Inventors: Yuichi Hatanaka (Kashiwa, JP); Masahiro Makino (Tsukubamirai, JP); Ryuta Ai (Tokyo, JP); Takashi Ueno (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G15/55
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,234,807
App. No.
15/623,867
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a toner image forming portion, a transfer member, a cleaning member, and a controller configured to carry out a process for notifying information on a lifetime of the image bearing member on the basis of information on contact pressure of the cleaning member to the image bearing member.

Claims (32)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a cartridge configured to be detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said cartridge including an image bearing member, a cleaning member, and an information holding portion, said image bearing member being configured to bear a toner image, said cleaning member being provided in contact with said image bearing member and being configured to remove toner remaining on a surface of said image bearing member, said information holding portion being configured to hold pressure information regarding contact pressure of said cleaning member against said image bearing member, the contact pressure being measured by using a measuring jig in advance;

a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from said image bearing member onto a toner image receiving member;

an input portion configured to input the pressure information;

a display portion configured to display lifetime information regarding a lifetime of said cartridge; and

a controller configured to carry out a process for displaying the lifetime information on said display portion on the basis of the pressure information.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller carries out, as the process, a process in which an index value indicating timing when said cartridge reaches an end of a lifetime thereof is acquired on the basis of the pressure information, and a process in which the acquired index value is displayed on said display portion.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure information includes the contact pressure divided into a plurality of components of the contact pressure with respect to a longitudinal direction of said cleaning member.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller carries out, as the process, a process in which an index value indicating timing when said cartridge reaches an end of a lifetime thereof is acquired on the basis of the pressure information, a process in which on the basis of the acquired index value and information regarding an amount of use of said cartridge a remaining lifetime of said cartridge is determined, and a process in which prompting of exchange of said cartridge or the remaining lifetime of said cartridge is displayed on said display portion.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the amount of use of said cartridge includes at least one of a cumulative number of images, a cumulative charging time of said image bearing member, a cumulative charging distance of said image bearing member, a cumulative traveling time of said image bearing member, and a cumulative traveling distance of said image bearing member in said cartridge.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lifetime information displayed on said display portion is shorter when the contact pressure is a second contact pressure larger than a first contact pressure as opposed to when the contact pressure is the first contact pressure.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein said information holding portion comprises an indicating portion on which the pressure information is indicated, and

wherein said input portion comprises an operating portion through which the pressure information is inputted by an operator.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the indicating portion comprises a seal applied on said cartridge.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said information holding portion comprises a storing medium in which the pressure information is stored, and

wherein said input portion comprises a reading portion to read the pressure information from the storing medium.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the storing medium is an IC tag mounted to said cartridge.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive member including a base material and a photosensitive layer provided on the base material, and said information holding portion holds the pressure information and thickness information regarding a thickness of the photosensitive layer measured at an initial stage of use of said cartridge in advance, and

wherein said controller carries out the process for displaying the lifetime information on said display portion on the basis of the pressure information and the thickness information.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said controller carries out, as the process, a process in which an index value indicating timing when said photosensitive member reaches an end of a lifetime thereof is acquired on the basis of the pressure information and the thickness information, and a process in which the acquired index value is displayed on said display portion.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said controller carries out, as the process, a process in which an index value indicating timing when said photosensitive member reaches an end of a lifetime thereof is acquired on the basis of the pressure information and the thickness information, a process in which on the basis of the acquired index value and information regarding an amount of use of said cartridge a remaining lifetime of said cartridge is determined, and a process in which prompting of exchange of said cartridge or the remaining lifetime of said cartridge is displayed on said display portion.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the amount of use of said cartridge includes at least one of a cumulative number of images, a cumulative charging time of said image bearing member, a cumulative charging distance of said image bearing member, a cumulative traveling time of said image bearing member, and a cumulative traveling distance of said image bearing member in said cartridge.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the lifetime information on said display portion is shorter when the contact pressure is a second contact pressure larger than a first contact pressure as opposed to when the contact pressure is the first contact pressure in a case that the initial film thickness is the same, and the lifetime information on said display portion is shorter when the initial film thickness is a second film thickness thinner than a first film thickness as opposed to when the initial film thickness is the first film thickness in a case that the contact pressure is the same.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 ,

wherein said information holding portion comprises an indicating portion on which the pressure information and the thickness information are indicated, and

wherein said input portion comprises an operating portion through which the pressure information and the thickness information are inputted by an operator.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the indicating portion comprises a seal applied on said cartridge.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said information holding portion comprises a storing medium in which the pressure information and the thickness information are stored, and

wherein said input portion comprises a reading portion to read the pressure information and the thickness information from the storing medium.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure information includes the contact pressure divided into a plurality of components of the contact pressure with respect to a longitudinal direction of said cleaning member.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cleaning member is a cleaning blade.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2017
From: HATANAKA, YUICHI; MAKINO, MASAHIRO; AI, RYUTA; UENO, TAKASHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 043866/0149 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-126038 · Jun 24, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170371287A1 · Dec 28, 2017