Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, such as a copier or a printer, in which recyclable components to be discarded are recycled in newly producing an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section for forming an image of first type, a control board and a first drive circuit. The first drive circuit drives the first image forming section. The first drive circuit is connected to the control board. The control board has a connection section to be connected to a second board on which a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section is mounted. The second image forming section forms an image of second type.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a control board thereof, both being recyclable, to a method for recycling the image forming apparatus, and to a method for recycling the control board.  
           [0003]    2. Background Art  
           [0004]    In relation to a recent image forming apparatus, such as a copier or a printer, recyclable components constituting an image forming apparatus to be discarded are recycled in newly producing an image forming apparatus, thus addressing environmental issues.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In association with technological development, image forming apparatus have been improved in terms of functions and performance.  
           [0006]    For example, as shown in FIG. 14, a current image forming apparatus is taken as a first generation. An image forming apparatus  301  is assumed to be a monochrome-only machine which can output 60 pages per minute, and an image forming apparatus  302  is assumed to be a color machine which can output 60 monochrome pages per minute and 30 color pages per minute.  
           [0007]    In the future, utilization, as a second generation image forming machine, of an image forming apparatus  303  which is a color machine and can produce 60 monochrome pages per minute and 40 color pages per minute is considered.  
           [0008]    In this way, in a situation where the performance of the image forming apparatus has been improved, if an attempt is made to recycle components constituting the image forming apparatus, the chances of the components being unadaptable will be increased. Even if high-performance components are utilized at the time of designing a current image forming apparatus in anticipation of a future improvement in performance, future production of an image forming apparatus having an expected configuration is not guaranteed, thereby resulting in high possibility of wasting high-performance components.  
           [0009]    Therefore, even when an attempt is made to recycle components constituting an image forming apparatus, future difficulty in recycling the components is assumed to be encountered.  
           [0010]    Accordingly, the invention is aimed at providing an image forming apparatus and a control board thereof, which enable maximum recycling of components even when an improvement has arisen in functions or performance of the image forming apparatus; providing a method for recycling the image forming apparatus; and providing a method for recycling the control board.  
           [0011]    To achieve the object as above, the invention provides an image forming apparatus, including: a first image forming section for forming an image of first type; a control board; and a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section; wherein the first drive circuit is connected to the control board; and the control board has a connection section to be connected to a second board on which a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section is mounted, the second image forming section for forming an image of second type.  
           [0012]    The second board may include a plurality of second boards, each having the second drive circuit mutually different in capability; and the plurality of second boards are selectively connected to the connection section.  
           [0013]    The first drive circuit may be of higher driving capacity than the second drive circuit.  
           [0014]    The image of first type formed by the first image forming section may be a monochrome image, while the image of second type formed by the second image forming section may be a color image.  
           [0015]    The image forming apparatus may further include a common circuit to be commonly used for controlling the first and second image forming sections; wherein the common circuit is provided on the control board.  
           [0016]    Then, the first drive circuit may include the common circuit.  
           [0017]    The connection section maybe connectable to a termination board having a termination function.  
           [0018]    The first drive circuit may be mounted on the control board.  
           [0019]    The image forming apparatus may further include a first board; wherein the first drive circuit is mounted on the first board; and the first board is connected to the control board.  
           [0020]    The image forming apparatus may further include a common circuit to be commonly used for controlling the first and second image forming sections; wherein the common circuit is provided on the first board.  
           [0021]    Further, the invention provides an image forming apparatus, including: a first image forming section for forming an image of first type; a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and a control board having a connection section, the connection section to be connected to a first board on which a first drive circuit are mounted, the first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section and the second image forming section; wherein the connection section is connectable to a second board on which a second drive circuit is mounted, the second drive circuit differing from the first drive circuit in drive capability; and the second drive circuit can drive the first and second image forming sections when the second board is connected to the control board.  
           [0022]    The second drive circuit may be substantially equal to the first drive circuit in terms of capability of driving the first image forming section; and the second drive circuit may differ from the first drive circuit in terms of capability of driving the second image forming section.  
           [0023]    An image of first type formed by the first image forming section may be a monochrome image; while an image of second type formed by the second image forming section may be a color image.  
           [0024]    The invention further provides an image forming apparatus, including: a first image forming section for forming an image of first type; a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and a control board; wherein the control board is connected to a first drive circuit, the first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section; the control board has a connection section to be connected to a second board, the second board having a second drive circuit for driving the second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and the control board is moved from another image forming apparatus to be connected to the second board to thereby recycled.  
           [0025]    The invention further provides an image forming apparatus, including: a first image forming section for forming an image of first type; a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and a control board; wherein the control board is connected to a first drive circuit, the first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section; the control board has a connection section to be connected to a second board, the second board having a second drive circuit for driving the second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and the control board is moved from another image forming apparatus and recycled while being newly connected to the second board which differs in drive capability from that connected in the other image forming apparatus.  
           [0026]    The invention further provides a control board of an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section for forming an image of first type, the control board including: a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section; and a connection section; wherein the connection section is connectable to a second board on which a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section is mounted, the second image forming section for forming an image of second type.  
           [0027]    The second board may include a plurality of second boards, each having the second drive circuit mutually different in capability; and the plurality of second boards are selectively connected to the connection section.  
           [0028]    The first drive circuit may be of higher driving capacity than the second drive circuit.  
           [0029]    The image of first type formed by the first image forming section may be a monochrome image; while the image of second type formed by the second image forming section may be a color image.  
           [0030]    The control board of an image forming apparatus may further include a common circuit to be commonly used for controlling the first and second image forming sections.  
           [0031]    The first drive circuit may include the common circuit.  
           [0032]    The connection section maybe connectable to a termination board having a termination function.  
           [0033]    The second board may be newly connected to the connection section; and the second board may be utilized in an image forming apparatus differing from the image forming apparatus.  
           [0034]    The control board may be utilized in another image forming apparatus differing from the image forming apparatus in a state that the second board connected to the connection section is replaced with another second board which differs in capability from the second board.  
           [0035]    The invention further provides a control board of an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section for forming an image of first type, a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section, and a first board on which the first drive circuit is mounted, the control board including: a connection section; wherein the connection section is connectable to a second board on which a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section is mounted, the second image forming section for forming an image of second type; the control board is connected to the first board.  
           [0036]    The invention further provides a control board of an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a first image forming section for forming an image of first type, and a second image forming section for forming an image of second type, the control board including: a connection section connected to a first board, the first board includes a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section and the second image forming section; wherein the connection section is connected to a second board, the second board includes a second drive circuit differing in drive capability from the first drive circuit; and the control board can drive the first and second image forming sections.  
           [0037]    The invention further provides a method for recycling an image forming apparatus, including: removing, from a first image forming apparatus, a control board on which is mounted a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section for forming an image of first type or which has a connection section to be connected to a first board having the first drive circuit mounted thereon and to a second board having mounted thereon a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; connecting the control board to the second board; and providing the control board connected to the second board in a second image forming apparatus having the first image forming section for forming an image of first type and the second image forming section for forming an image of second type.  
           [0038]    The invention further provides a method for recycling an image forming apparatus including: removing a control board from a first image forming apparatus, the apparatus having a first image forming section for forming an image of first type, a second image forming section for forming an image of second type, and a control board on which is mounted a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section or which has a connection section to be connected to a first board having the first drive circuit mounted thereon and to a second board having mounted thereon a second drive circuit for driving the second image forming section for forming an image of second type; and placing, on a second image forming apparatus having the first and second image forming sections, a control board to which is newly connected a second board differing in driving capability from the second board connected to the control board.  
           [0039]    The invention further provides a method for recycling a control board, including: removing, from a first image forming apparatus having the first image forming section, a control board on which is mounted a first drive circuit for driving a first image forming section for forming an image of first type or which has a connection section to be connected to a first board having the first drive circuit mounted thereon and to a second board having mounted thereon a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; connecting the control board to the second board; and utilizing the control board to which the second board is connected in a second image forming apparatus having the first and second image forming sections.  
           [0040]    The invention further provides a method for recycling a control board, including: removing, from a first image forming apparatus having the first and second image forming sections, a control board on which is mounted a first drive circuit for driving the first image forming section for forming an image of first type or which has a connection section to be connected to a first board having the first drive circuit mounted thereon and to a second board having mounted thereon a second drive circuit for driving a second image forming section for forming an image of second type; connecting to the control board a second board differing in driving capacity from that connected to the control board in place of the second board; and utilizing the control board to which the second board is connected in a second image forming apparatus having the first and second image forming sections. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]    The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings:  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a control board which is one of components constituting a control section  1 ;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of a control board  10  when a second drive circuit  14  is connected thereto;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4 is a view showing several example combinations of a first drive circuit  12  and a second drive circuit  14 ;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 is a view showing an example configuration of an image forming section  4  of a color machine;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a view showing another example configuration of a control board;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing another example configuration of a control board;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 is a view showing a detailed configuration of a control board;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 is a view showing the configuration of a control board when a connector and an I/O interface are not mounted on the board;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 10 is a view showing the configuration of the control board equipped with a buffer;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIGS. 11A and 11B are views showing the configuration of the control board when an I/O interface is connected to a second drive circuit;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 12A and 12B are views showing an example in which a board is cut;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIGS. 13A, 13B,  13 C,  13 D,  13 E and  13 F are views for describing an example of utilization of a waste board at the time of recycling of the control board; and  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 14 is a view for describing flow of transformation of an image forming apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0056]    An embodiment of an image forming apparatus and a control board thereof, that of a method for recycling the image forming apparatus, and that of a method for recycling the control board according to the invention will be described hereinbelow in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. As illustrated, the image forming apparatus comprises a control section  1 , an image input section  2 , an image processing section  3 , an image forming section  4 , an operation display section  5 , a paper feeding section  6 , and a paper transport section  7 .  
         [0058]    The control section  1  controls the other individual sections. The image input section  2  acquires received image data or image data obtained by means of reading an original. The image processing section  3  subjects image data to predetermined processing. The image forming section  4  forms an image on a medium such as paper or the like. The operation display section  5  displays acceptance of an operation instruction entered by a user and information to be offered to the user. The paper feeding section  6  feeds a medium such as paper or the like. The paper transport section  7  transports a medium supplied from the paper feeding section  6  to the image forming section  4 .  
         [0059]    Such a configuration enables recycling of components constituting the individual sections. Particularly, components constituting the control section  1  are immovable and suitable for recycling.  
         [0060]    Therefore, the following explanations particularly describe a configuration for controlling the image forming section  4  among those employed for recycling the control section  1 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a control board, which is one of the components constituting the control section  1 . As illustrated, the control board, denoted by reference numeral  10 , is equipped with a CPU  11 , a first drive circuit  12 , and a connector  13 .  
         [0062]    The CPU  11  activates the control board  10  by execution of various programs. Although omitted from FIG. 2, ROM storing a program to be executed by the CPU  11  and RAM serving as a work area when the CPU  11  executes a program are actually provided on the control board  10 .  
         [0063]    The first drive circuit  12  is for driving the image forming section  4  and performs processing, such as control of a motor, receipt of outputs from various sensors, or the like.  
         [0064]    The connector  13  is to be used for connecting an additional circuit at the time of recycling of the control board  10 . For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a second drive circuit  14  is connected to the connector  13 . Like the first drive circuit  12 , the second drive circuit  14  is for driving the image forming section  4 . The second drive circuit  14  differs in function and performance from the first drive circuit  12 . The second drive circuit  14  is not always to be connected at the time of recycling of the control board  10 ; there may be a case where another second drive circuit is to be connected to the connector  13  beforehand from the outset.  
         [0065]    The first and second drive circuits  12 ,  14  will next be described. The first and second drive circuits  12 ,  14  are both for driving the image forming section  4 ; however, they differ in function or performance. A plurality of combinations of them are conceivable.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 4 is an illustration for showing several example combinations of the first and second drive circuits  12 ,  14 .  
         [0067]    First, an example combination denoted by A in the drawing shows that the first drive circuit  12  is equipped with all elements required to form a monochrome image; e.g., a black (K) color, (depicted as K[all] in the drawing), and that the second drive circuit  14  is equipped with all elements required to form a color image from images of colors (Y, M, C) (denoted as YMC [all] in the drawing). In this example, at the outset, the control board  10  is mounted in the control section of a monochrome-only machine. Subsequently, when the control board  10  is recycled in a color machine, the second drive circuit  14  is added to the control board  10 . As a result, at the outset the control board  10  activates the image forming section  4  so as to form a monochrome image. Subsequently, the control board  10  activates the image forming section  4  to form both a monochrome image and a color image.  
         [0068]    Naturally, the image forming section  4  employed in a monochrome-only machine differs in configuration from that employed in a color machine. The image forming section  4  of the color machine is constructed in such a manner as shown in, e.g., FIG. 5. As illustrated, the image forming section  4  of the color machine has, for respective colors, photosensitive members  41 K,  41 C,  41 M,  41 Y; charging sections  42 K,  42 C,  42 M,  42 Y; exposure sections  43 K,  43 C,  43 M,  43 Y; developing sections  44 K,  44 C,  44 M,  44 Y; transfer rollers  45 K,  45 C,  45 M,  45 Y; and cleaning sections  46 K,  46 C,  46 M,  46 Y. In addition, the image forming section  4  is equipped with an intermediate transfer member  47 , and rollers  48 - 1 ,  48 - 2 ,  48 - 3  and  48 - 4 .  
         [0069]    Among the illustrated reference numerals, those having the suffix K designate sections for forming an image with a black recording agent (toner or the like). After the photosensitive member  41 K has been charged by the charging section  42 K, the exposure section  43 K radiates a laser beam onto the photosensitive member  41 K, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member  41 K. The electrostatic latent image is developed with a black recording agent by the developer  44 K. The thus-developed image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member  47  by means of pressing action performed by the transfer roller  45 K. Subsequently, the photosensitive member  41 K is purged by the cleaning section  46 K.  
         [0070]    Similarly, those reference numerals having the suffix C designate sections for forming an image with a cyan recording agent. These operate in the same manner as do the sections for producing a black image. Moreover, those reference numerals having the suffix M designate sections for forming a magenta image, and those reference numerals having the suffix Y designate sections for forming a yellow image. These operate in the same manner as in the case of the sections for producing a black image.  
         [0071]    In this way, the Y, M, C, K images transferred onto the intermediate transfer member  47  are transferred onto paper which is transported in the direction of arrow A in the drawing.  
         [0072]    In a case where the image forming section  4  has such a configuration as that shown in FIG. 5, the first drive circuit  12  controls the photosensitive member  41 K, the charging section  42 K, the exposure section  43 K, the development section  44 K, and the transfer roller  45 K. The second drive circuit  14  controls the photosensitive members  41 C,  41 M,  41 Y, the charging sections  42 C,  42 M,  42 Y, the exposure sections  43 C,  43 M,  43 Y, the development sections  44 C,  44 M,  44 Y, and the transfer rollers  45 C,  45 M,  45 Y.  
         [0073]    In this way, drive circuits are separated for respective image forming sections which form images of different types. As a result, the first drive circuit can also be recycled at the time of recycling of the board, thus curtailing costs.  
         [0074]    The example combination denoted by B in FIG. 4 shows that the first drive circuit  12  is equipped with all elements required to form a monochrome image, such as a black image, the elements including elements which can also be commonly used for forming color images; i.e., Y, M, C images {denoted as K[all] (+YMC [common]) in the drawing}, and that the second drive circuit  14  is equipped with only elements which are not commonly used for forming a monochrome image from among those required to form a color image; that is, elements which are not included in those provided on the first drive circuit  12  (denoted as YMC[others] in the drawing).  
         [0075]    In this case, a portion of the drive circuit included in the second drive circuit  14  can be shared by the first drive circuit, thus curtailing costs.  
         [0076]    The example combination denoted by C in FIG. 4 shows that elements commonly used for forming a monochrome image and a color image are mounted directly on the control board  10  (denoted as YMCK [common] in the drawing), that the first drive circuit  12  is equipped with only uncommon elements from among those employed for forming a monochrome image (denoted as K[others] in the drawing), and that the second drive circuit  14  is equipped with only uncommon elements from among the elements employed for forming a color image (denoted as YMC [others] in the drawing).  
         [0077]    The example combination denoted by D in the FIG. 4 shows that the first drive circuit  12  is equipped with all elements required to form a monochrome image and a color image (denoted as YMCK [all] in the drawing), and that the second drive circuit  14  is equipped with only elements corresponding to a differential between higher performance elements required to form a monochrome image and a color image and those mounted on the first drive circuit  12  (denoted as YMCK [higher-level differential] in the drawing) In this example, the control board  10  is loaded on a color machine and subsequently loaded on a higher performance color machine.  
         [0078]    Here, the combinations of the first and second drive circuits  12 ,  14  described above are mere examples, and various other combinations can be implemented.  
         [0079]    The above descriptions mention that the first drive circuit  12  is mounted on the control board  10  and that the connector  13  to be used for making connection with the second drive circuit  14  is mounted on the control board  10 . However, as in the case of a control board  20  shown in FIG. 6, the control board  20  may be equipped with a CPU  21  and connectors  22 ,  23 . The first drive circuit  24  may be connected to the connector  22 , and the second drive circuit  25  connected to the connector  23 .  
         [0080]    As shown in FIG. 7A, a control board  30  may be equipped with a CPU  31  and a connector  32 . A drive circuit  33  for controlling formation of, e.g., a color image; that is, formation of a yellow (Y) image, a magenta (M) image, a cyan (c) image, and a black (K) image, may be connected to the connector  32 . In this case, a drive circuit  34  shown in FIG. 7B can be connected to the connector  32  in place of the drive circuit  33 . The drive circuit  34  controls formation of Y, M, C, K images in the same manner but is of superior performance to the drive circuit  33 .  
         [0081]    A drive circuit to be connected to the connection section  32  may be arranged such that a drive circuit for a monochrome image is first connected to the connection section  32  and such that a drive circuit for forming a color image is then connected to the connection section  32  at the time of recycling.  
         [0082]    Subsequently, a control board (e.g., the control board  10 ) which is one of components constituting the control section  1  will be described in more detail.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 8 is a view showing the detailed configuration of the control board. As illustrated, in a control board  110 , a bus  111  is connected to a CPU  112 , ROM  113 , RAM  114 , and a plurality of I/O interfaces  115  ( 115 - 1  to  115 - 3 ). A first drive circuit  116  is connected to the bus  111  by way of the I/O interfaces  115 - 1  and  115 - 2 . Further, a connector  117  is connected to the bus  111  by way of the I/O interface  115 - 3 . A second drive circuit  120  is connected to the connector  117 , as required.  
         [0084]    In such a configuration, the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3 , both being required for connecting the second drive circuit  120  to the control board  110 , are mounted on the control board  110  in advance. Even when the second drive circuit is not required, the control board  110  is used in this state.  
         [0085]    More I/O interfaces  115  may be mounted on the control board  110 . In this case, uses of the I/O interfaces  115  are not necessarily determined beforehand when mounted on the control board  110 .  
         [0086]    There has been described a case where the connector  117  and the I/O interface  15 - 3 , both being required for connecting the second drive circuit  120  to the control board  110 , are mounted on the control board  110  beforehand. However, as shown in FIG. 9, it may be the case that initially the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3  are not mounted on the control board  110 .  
         [0087]    In this case, the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3  are mounted at the time of recycling of the control board  110 . However, a printed pattern of the control board  110  may be designed beforehand such that the bus  111  is terminated when the I/O interface  115 - 3  is not mounted.  
         [0088]    When the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3  are not mounted on a control board, a buffer  118  may be mounted as shown in FIG. 10 in place of the bus  111  being terminated with a printed pattern or the like. When the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3  are mounted, the buffer  118  operates so as to connect the bus  111  to the connector  117  and the I/O interface  115 - 3 .  
         [0089]    As shown in FIG. 11A, an I/O interface  122  may be mounted on the second drive circuit  121  without the I/O interface  115 - 3  being mounted on the control board  110 . In such a configuration, when the second drive circuit  121  is not connected to the control board  110 , a terminal circuit  130  such as that shown in FIG. 11B is connected to the connector  117 .  
         [0090]    Subsequently, preparation of the control board will now be described. In general, a board has a recommended size; however, a control board does not necessarily assume a recommended size. In such a case, a control board is prepared by cutting a board of recommended size.  
         [0091]    For example, when a smaller control board is produced from a board  200  of recommended size, such as that shown in FIG. 12A, the board  200  is split into a control board  201  and a waste board  202 , as shown in FIG. 12B.  
         [0092]    The waste board  202  is unwanted. However, a second drive circuit can be formed by utilization of the waste board  202 , or the waste board  202  may be utilized for mounting components at the time of recycling of the control board  201 .  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 13 is a view for describing an example of utilization of a waste board at the time of recycling of a control board. As shown in FIG. 13A, a connector  220  is presumed to be mounted at the time of recycling of the control board  210 . However, there may arise a case where a component extending off a board cannot be mounted, because of restrictions imposed on an automatic machine for mounting components. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 13B, the waste board  211  is connected to the control board  210 , thereby enabling the automatic machine to mount the connector  220 .  
         [0094]    As shown in FIG. 13C, connection holes  230  are drilled in the control board  210 , and connection holes  231  are drilled in the waste board  211 . As shown in FIG. 13D, the control board  210  and the waste board  211  are connected together.  
         [0095]    Various methods maybe employed for connecting the control board  210  and the waste board  211  together; for example, a method utilizing a staple needle  232  as shown in FIG. 13E or a method utilizing plates  233 - 1 ,  233 - 2  and bolts  234 - 1 ,  234 - 2  as shown in FIG. 13F.  
         [0096]    The above descriptions pertain to the board that controls the image forming section  4  as a control board to be recycled. However, a control board for controlling the image input section  2 , a control board for controlling the image processing section  3 , and another control board can be recycled in the same manner.  
         [0097]    As has been described, the invention enables recycling of a control board.