JP2003255647A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out reading and writing of data at a stop position which is sure and reliable. <P>SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus with a memory IC integrated connector carrying out reading and writing of data by being brought into contact with and separated from an apparatus main body side connector installed in the end part of each developing cartridge of a rotary type developing device, both the connectors are brought into contact and separated in a developing position relationship where a developing device and a photoreceptor are facing each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a developing cartridge to which a connector with a built-in memory IC board for reading / writing data such as toner consumption is attached. About. 2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer,
Attach a memory IC to the developing cartridge and connect it to the connector on the main assembly of the device to indicate remaining amount information of each color toner, information on whether the cartridge has been replaced or not, and whether the cartridge has been installed. Information, image forming conditions such as a developing bias, recycling information on how many times the cartridge has been replaced and used, and the like are written so that when the developing cartridge is mounted, the history information can be recognized on the apparatus main body side. In this case, in a cartridge of an ink jet printer or the like, a memory IC substrate on which history information is written is connected to a connector by caulking an electric wire, or the memory IC substrate is soldered to a connector terminal. In a conventional memory IC mounted on a developing cartridge, a mechanical force is directly applied when reading / writing data by directly contacting a connector on the apparatus main body. Since the contact life is short, and high voltage is applied to the developing roller, electric field noise due to the effect is easily picked up by the contact member side, causing malfunctions due to static electricity and toner contamination, etc., protection of memory IC and securing contact stability. This was not always enough. Since the toner contamination is severe near the developing position where the development is performed, it is necessary to take a countermeasure. Also, the memory I
It is necessary to read / write C data stably. In the method of connecting the terminal of the memory IC board to the connector by caulking the electric wire, a contact failure such as the occurrence of a caulking failure or the disconnection of the electric wire occurs. In the method of soldering the memory IC board to the connector terminal, In addition to problems such as poor contact due to poor soldering, the memory IC must be removed by applying heat to reuse the memory IC. In that case, the written information is destroyed by the heat. Problem. In particular, the longer the contact member becomes, the more likely it becomes an antenna to pick up electric field noise. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ground terminal 43G is arranged at a position farthest from the developing roller. of course,
Long terminals other than the ground terminal are preferably arranged outside. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to read / write data at a reliable and reliable stop position. I do. For this purpose, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus in which a connector with a built-in memory IC for reading / writing data by arranging an apparatus body side connector at an end of each developing cartridge of a rotary type developing device comes into contact with the image forming apparatus. The two connectors are separated from each other in a developing position relationship in which the developing device and the photoconductor face each other. [0008] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. After the photoconductor 1 is charged by a charging unit (not shown), an electrostatic latent image is formed by image exposure by the exposure unit 2. The electrostatic latent image is developed by sequentially supplying four color toners one by one from the developing rollers of the developing cartridges 31 to 34 mounted on the rotary frame 30 of the rotary developing unit 3. Photoconductor 1 has
When the transfer belt 4 driven by the transfer belt driving roller 5 is 1
Opposite at the next transfer position, the toner images of each color are primarily transferred to the transfer belt 4 and are superimposed on the belt. On the other hand, the paper taken out of the paper feed cassette 6 passes through the transport path 7 and the four-color toner image on the transfer belt is collectively transferred at a secondary transfer position of the transfer roller 8 facing the transfer belt driving roller 5. You. At this time, the leading edge of the image on the transfer belt 4 is detected by the belt position detection sensor 9,
Control is performed so that the leading edge of the image and the leading edge of the sheet match. The sheet on which the secondary transfer has been performed is fixed by the fixing unit 10, and in the case of double-sided printing, the sheet returns to the transport path 7 again and the image is transferred to the back side. The sheet after the transfer and fixing is discharged out of the apparatus. The four-color developing cartridges 31 to 34 of the rotary developing unit 3 have connectors 40 with built-in memory ICs.
(Details will be described later) are attached, and data can be read / written from the connector 50 on the apparatus main body side. The device body side connector 50 is driven by a drive unit 51 with a built-in motor to move forward / backward, and when the cartridge is replaced, moves forward and electrically connects to the connector 40 to read / write data in the memory IC.
It is usually retreating. Each developing cartridge can be removed and replaced at the position of the developing cartridge replacement opening 11 provided in the apparatus main body. An exhaust duct 12 is provided in the image forming apparatus. The exhaust duct 12 sucks scattered toner and the like from a suction port 14 near a developing position where a developing roller and a photoconductor face each other, and exhausts the toner through a filter 13. In this case, make sure that the connector connection is not affected by the scattering toner.
Memory IC built-in connector 40 and main unit connector 50
The position where is connected is viewed in the rotation direction of the developing unit,
It is located upstream from the developing position. Since the airflow is generated by the rotation of the developing unit, the data is read / written from / to the memory IC built-in connector 40 on the upstream side of the airflow near the developing unit by being arranged upstream of the developing position in the rotation direction. A stable connection can be made with less influence of scattered toner. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining positions of replacement of the developing cartridge, reading / writing of data in the memory IC, and standby for development in the rotary developing unit. The home position of the rotary developing unit is detected by detecting a cutout position of the position detection plate 37 with the position detection sensor 36. FIG. 2A is a view for explaining a developing device replacement position (position). As described above, the developing device replacement port 11 is provided on the apparatus main body side, and each of the developing rollers of the rotary developing unit 3 is connected to the developing device replacement port 1.
1 can be exchanged. In this position, the connector 40 of each developing cartridge does not face the main body side connector 50, and the photosensitive member 1 does not face the developing roller. FIG. 2B shows a position where the developing roller faces the photosensitive member and develops, together with reading / writing to the memory IC (position). When a read / write command is issued from the apparatus main body side, the apparatus main body side connector 50 operates in a positional relationship, and the data is read / written by connecting to the connector 40. In this case, the data read / write position is, as described above, the upstream of the developing roller in the rotational direction, that is, the airflow direction, from the developing position where the developing roller faces the photoconductor. FIG. 2C shows a position (position) in the course of switching from one color to another color by the rotary developing unit, and the photosensitive member and the developing roller are not opposed to each other. As described above, the developing unit rotary unit has a developing unit replacing position, a developing position, and a position, which is a standby position when development is changed from one color to another color. Although the data can be read / written by connecting the connectors 40 and 50 in the position, if the data read / write is set to the position, there is a possibility that the developing device is pulled out by the user during the reading. . Also,
Since the developing unit is rotating while waiting for the position, it is not suitable for reading / writing data. As described above, in the rotary type developing unit 3, one notch is provided in the position detection plate, and the home position is determined. However, since only one home position is provided in the rotary type unit, To read / write data for each developing cartridge at the home position, a stop position must be newly provided for each developing cartridge. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the connectors 40 and 50 come into contact with each other in a developing positional relationship (position) where the developing roller and the photosensitive member face each other, and the data reading / reading is performed. Make writing possible. At this position, there is no risk that the developing device will be replaced by the user during reading, and there is no need to provide a new stop position such as a home position. Since the stop position is a development position, the stop position is reliable, and the reading and writing of the memory IC can be reliably performed. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining when the connector is connected and when it is separated. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), at the time of connection, the device body side connector 50 advances by motor drive, and is fitted and guided by the guide member of the memory IC built-in connector 40 side as described later, and the terminals slide. And make an electrical connection,
At the time of separation, the connector 50 retreats to the apparatus main body side and both are separated. The connector 40 has a connector fixing screw 48.
And the connector 50 is fixed to the apparatus main body by a connector fixing pin 53. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a rotary developing unit. The rotary developing unit 3 is attached to side plates 20 and 21 made of sheet metal, and a connector 40 with a built-in memory IC is fixed to an end of the developing cartridges 31 to 34 attached to the rotary frame 30. In the present embodiment, the side plate 21 on which the position sensor 36 is attached is gear-driven, and the side plate 20 is a non-drive side. The non-drive side (developing unit replacement port side) so as not to be affected by the heat of the drive unit. The storage portion 22 formed by squeezing the side plate 20 and guarding the inner surface thereof with an IC protection member 38 made of a resin ring.
The connector 40 with a built-in memory IC is fixed to the connector cover 39 provided in the connector. The storage section 22 is a connector 5 on the apparatus body side.
The surface other than the surface where 0 contacts and separates surrounds the connector 40, makes it difficult for floating toner to enter, and plays a role of shielding so as not to be affected by the voltage applied to the developing roller. Further, the memory IC built-in connector 40 is covered with a box-shaped resin connector cover 39 and disposed on the back side facing the opening so that the memory IC is not affected by the sheet metal forming the storage section 22 to the memory IC. ing. As described above, by covering the connector with a built-in memory IC with the connector cover made of resin, the insulation distance can be increased, and the effect of electric field noise can be reduced even when a high-voltage bias is applied to the developing roller. . The connector cover may be made of metal instead of resin. In this case, even if a high voltage bias is applied to the developing roller, the developing roller is shielded by the cover, so that the influence of noise can be further reduced. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the connector with a built-in memory IC according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. It is AA sectional drawing. The memory IC built-in connector 40 is provided with two guide members 42 upright on both sides close to the outer edge of one surface (the surface connected to the main unit side connector) of the substrate 41 which is a member for receiving a shock at the time of connection. A contact protection member 45 including a memory IC substrate 46 is provided on the other surface (back surface) of the substrate 41, and these are integrally formed as a housing 47. Further, the contact members 43 and 44 are integrally formed with the guide
2 and upright. The reason why the guide member 42 is arranged outside the contact member is to surround the guide member, to ensure insertion stability when the main body side connector is fitted, and to stabilize the contact state of the contact. In the present embodiment, four contact members 43 are provided on the front side (far side from the end of the developing roller) of the housing 47, and three contact members 44 are provided in two rows on the back side (closer to the end of the developing roller). , And is compact as a whole. Of course, the contact members are not limited to two rows,
It may be a line. As shown in FIG. 6, the four terminals on the front side are a data terminal, a mounting detection terminal, a ground (GND) terminal, and a data read / write terminal, and the three terminals on the back side are clocks. Terminal, power supply terminal, and chip select (CS) terminal. These contact members 43 and 44 are shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), contact terminals 43a and 44a are formed so that the main body side connector terminal slides and comes into contact at the time of connection. The contact members 43 and 44 extend to the back side through the through holes of the substrate 41 and have spring contact terminals 43b and 44b that elastically contact the terminals of the memory IC substrate 46. When the memory IC board 46 is attached to the contact protection member 45, the spring contact terminals 43b and 44b
The terminal of the memory IC substrate 4
6 is pressed against the mounting surface of the contact protection member 45 by the spring force from the contact terminals 43b and 44b, and is held in a floating state separated from the substrate 41. Therefore, even if the main body side connector 50 moves forward and comes into contact with the connector 40 by the motor drive, the terminals 43a and 44a of the contact members 43 and 44 only slide and come into contact with the main body side connector terminals, and the impact of the contact is reduced. Is received by the substrate 41, and the memory IC substrate 46 is
1, the memory IC substrate 4
No impact is directly transmitted to the contact portion between the terminal 6 and the contacts 43b, 44b. As described above, the connector 40 has a sliding contact with the main body side connector on one surface of the board 41 which is an impact receiving member, and is connected to the memory IC board supported on the back side of the board 41 by floating from the board. Since the fixed contacts are provided, the impact at the time of connection with the connector on the main body side is received by the board 41 and is not transmitted to the memory IC board side, so that the contact with the memory IC board is formed stably. Further, in order to protect the memory IC substrate attached to the connector from defective contacts due to toner contamination, data destruction due to static electricity, and the like, it is desirable to provide contacts where they are not directly exposed to the front side. In the present embodiment, the IC memory substrate is covered with the contact protection member 45, and the portion is supported by a spring contact. Of the seven contact members shown in FIG. 5, four contact members provided in one row with the guide members 42 on both sides are:
As can be seen from FIG. 4, the remaining three contact members are located outside the developing roller and the remaining three contact members are arranged on the developing roller side. Of the four contact members on the front side, the ground terminal 43G is formed to be the longest so as to make the first contact when connecting to the main body side connector. By the way, at the timing of developing, a voltage of 2 KVp-p is applied to the developing roller, and electric field noise due to the effect is easily picked up by the contact member side. In particular, the longer the longest contact member becomes, the easier it is to pick up an electric field noise as an antenna. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ground terminal 4
3G is arranged at a position farthest from the developing roller. Of course, long terminals other than the ground terminal are preferably arranged outside. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the mounting of the memory IC board on the connector body. FIG. 7A is a view showing a state in which the memory IC board is mounted as viewed from the back side of the connector. A notch 46a is provided in the memory IC board 46 at a position deviated from the center thereof. The lengths are different. A positioning mounting portion 60 having a recess on the connector body side in conformity with the front end of the substrate.
Is formed, and the depth of the depression is different on both sides of the notch. For this reason, even if an attempt is made to insert the front end of the substrate into the positioning attachment portion 60 with the left and right reversed, it does not work, and erroneous insertion can be prevented. On the other hand, the rear end of the board is configured to be engaged with the hook 61 of the connector body. FIG. 7B is a sectional view for explaining the mounting of the memory IC substrate. The memory IC board 46 of the present embodiment is made of an elastic (spring) resin, and the front end of the board is inserted into the positioning mounting portion 60 and the rear end of the board is pressed against the connector body while being rotated. The hook is inserted into the hook 61 and locked to the hook 61. At this time, the terminals of the memory IC substrate are spring contact terminals 43b, 4
4b is resiliently contacted with the memory IC by the spring force of the contact.
The substrate is pressed against the positioning attachment portion 60 and the hook 61, so that the mounting is stabilized and the contact state is stabilized. When the memory IC substrate is reused, if the memory IC substrate is fixed by soldering or the like as in the case of an ink-jet printer, the IC itself needs to be heated in order to remove it. As a result, information in the memory may be destroyed. On the other hand, memory I
If an attempt is made to read information in the memory with the C attached, an electrophotographic apparatus having a device larger than that of an ink jet printer or the like has to read the contents by applying a terminal to a memory IC attached to a part of a large device. Therefore, the operation alone is extremely complicated. Therefore, by taking the contact of the terminal with the memory IC board by the spring contact member as in the present embodiment, the memory IC becomes detachable, and even if the connector body itself is fixed, it can be broken. Memory I
C itself can be easily removed and collected, and its contents can be read and reused. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a connector for mounting a memory IC board. The contact members 43 and 44 provided on both sides of the housing 47 of the connector 40 extend to the back surface side of the connector main body, and are bent to provide a spring property.
b, 44b. As described above, the connector main body is formed with the positioning attachment portion 60 and the hook 61, and the memory IC board 46 having the notch in the positioning attachment portion 60 enters the recess of the positioning attachment portion, and pushes down the substrate to attach the hook 61 to the hook 61. The structure is such that the mounting is performed by utilizing the spring property of the board while the terminals 63 and 64 of the memory IC board are connected to the contacts 43b and 42b on the connector side.
44b to form a fixed contact. In this embodiment, the terminals of the memory IC board are arranged in two rows 63 and 64 so that they are closer to the positioning and mounting portion 60 than the center, and the spring fulcrums P1 and P2 are hooked in order to be as far away from the terminals 63 and 64 as possible. So that it is closer to the 61 side. With such a configuration,
When the memory IC board is mounted, the terminals 63 and 64 and the contacts 43b and 44b are softly contacted by the spring force, and a stable contact force is obtained. Since the positions of the spring fulcrums P1 and P2 are substantially the same, the length from the spring fulcrum to the contact 43b is longer than the spring fulcrum and the contact 44b, and since the same spring material is used, the contact 43b Is smaller than the contact force of the contact 44b. As shown in the figure, when mounting the memory IC board, the front end close to the terminals 63 and 64 is inserted into the recess of the positioning attachment portion 60 to push down the board, and the other end is pushed into the hook member and locked. The contacting terminal can be easily mounted as a low spring load contact 43b having a small contact force, and the mounting can be stabilized. In addition, since the mounting can be performed with a small force, the memory IC substrate is hardly damaged, which can contribute to reuse. . As described with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a four-contact side, and contact member 44 denotes a three-contact side. As described above, in the case of a plurality of rows of contacts (two rows in the present embodiment), if the number of contacts in each row is not the same, the number of contacts (low spring load contacts 43b) are set to the positioning mounting part side. This prevents the force required for mounting from increasing,
In addition to facilitating the mounting, the mounting is stabilized, and the mounting can be performed with a weak force. Similarly, the memory IC substrate is hardly damaged, which can contribute to reuse. If the number of low spring load contacts and the number of high spring load contacts are not the same, the number of low spring load contacts is increased as described above. Since the load of the spring is low, there is no problem even if the number of contacts is large, and the force of the contact portion is determined by the spring pressure. Also, a number of contacts (low spring load contacts 43)
When the high spring load contact 44b having a relatively large contact force is located at the center of the memory IC substrate when b) is located on the positioning mounting portion side, the spring at the center of the memory IC substrate is mounted when the memory IC substrate is mounted. The contact pressure can be increased.
By increasing the spring contact pressure at the center, after mounting the memory IC board, the board is pushed up from the center, and pressure is uniformly applied to both the positioning mounting section side and the hook section side, and stable mounting is possible. . The mounting state of the substrate is stabilized. As described above, according to the present invention, a new stop position is not provided, and the developing cartridge is not pulled out during reading / writing of data. Data can be read / written at the stop position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating each position of replacement of a developing cartridge, reading and writing of data in a memory IC, and standby for development. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating connection and separation of a connector to a memory IC. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rotary developing unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connector with a built-in memory IC. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a connector terminal. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating mounting of a memory IC substrate on a connector main body. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of a connector to which a memory IC board is mounted. [Description of Signs] 1 ... Photoconductor, 2 ... Exposure unit, 3 ... Rotary developing unit, 4 ... Transfer belt, 5 ... Transfer belt drive roller,
6 paper feed cassette, 7 paper feed path, 8 transfer roller,
9 position detection sensor, 10 fixing unit, 11 opening for developing cartridge replacement, 12 exhaust duct, 13 filter, 14 suction port, 20, 21 side plate, 30 rotary frame, 31-34 developing cartridge , 36 ...
Position detecting sensor, 37 ... Position detecting plate, 38
... IC protection member, 39 ... Connector cover, 40, 50 ...
Connector, 41: substrate, 42: guide member, 43, 44
... contact member, 45 ... contact protection member, 46 ... memory IC board, 46a ... notch, 60 ... positioning mounting part, 6
1 ... hook, 63, 64 ... terminal.

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Katsumi Okamoto             3-5-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko             ー Epson Corporation F term (reference) 2H030 AA06 AD17 BB02 BB24 BB42                 2H071 BA03 BA17 BA20 BA22 BA33                       BA34 DA08 EA18                 2H077 AD06 BA01 BA08 BA09 DA24                       DA42 DB25 GA13                 5E021 FA05 FA14 FB30 FC30 FC34                       MA08 MA31

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An image forming apparatus in which a connector with a built-in memory IC for reading / writing data by placing / disconnecting a main body side connector at an end of each developing cartridge of a rotary developing device is provided. An image forming apparatus, wherein the two connectors come into contact with each other in a developing position in which a developing device and a photoconductor face each other.