JP2003270920A - Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the condition of toner with which a toner tank is filled with sufficient accuracy and to transmit the detected condition of the toner to an apparatus main body. <P>SOLUTION: The toner cartridges 36 to 42 are provided with a thermistor 202 integrally with a radio communication tag 72 so as to detect the temperature of the toner with which the toner tank 44 is filled and transmit the temperature of the toner from the tag 72 to the radio communication device of a laser printer by radio wave. The laser printer transmits the temperature of the toner received by the radio communication device to a central control part, which corrects the process control data of every color toner in accordance with the temperature of the toner in the cartridges 36 to 42 so as to perform optimum process control. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge which is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus in which an image is formed based on an electrophotographic process, and an image is formed based on the electrophotographic process. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic process, such as copying machines and laser printers, have a container for storing toner as a toner cartridge which can be attached to and detached from a main body of the apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, when all the toner is discharged from the toner cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body, the user replaces the toner cartridge with a new toner cartridge to replenish the toner. In this type of image forming apparatus, it is known that the toner state such as temperature, humidity and electric resistance of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge to the apparatus main body during image formation affects the image quality. Therefore, in order to determine the toner temperature, which has a particularly large influence on the image quality, the image forming apparatus is provided with a temperature sensor at a position near the toner cartridge in the apparatus body, and the temperature detected by this temperature sensor is used as the toner temperature. Therefore, various image forming conditions in the image forming process are controlled (process control) according to the detected temperature.

It is also known that when the toner cartridge is placed in a high temperature environment (for example, 45 ° C. or higher) before being mounted on the image forming apparatus, the characteristics of the toner filled in the toner cartridge change. . On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, when the toner is placed in a high temperature environment and its characteristics are changed, the image quality is deteriorated even if an image is formed under standard image forming conditions. As a technique for knowing the temperature history of such a toner cartridge, for example, there is an office electronic device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-109214. In the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-109214, a temperature indicator for displaying a temperature history by an irreversible color change of a thermo label (trade name) or the like on a removable toner tank (toner cartridge) for recycling. By attaching a material and observing the color of the temperature indicating material, the maximum value of the environmental temperature in which the toner cartridge is placed is determined.

[0004]

However, in the image forming apparatus as described above, even if the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor arranged in the portion close to the toner cartridge, the temperature inside the apparatus is relatively short. In the case of a sudden change, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor deviates from the temperature of the toner in the toner cartridge, and the accurate toner temperature cannot be obtained in real time.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-109214, the maximum value of the environmental temperature where the toner cartridge is placed is determined by observing the color of the temperature indicator attached to the toner cartridge. However, it is possible to correct various image forming conditions in the image forming process based on the maximum value of the ambient temperature determined in this way, prohibit the use of toner cartridges placed in high temperature environments, etc. The control for preventing the deterioration of image quality cannot be executed.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge capable of detecting the toner state of the toner filled inside with sufficient accuracy and transmitting the detected toner state to the apparatus main body. To do.

In view of the above facts, another object of the present invention is to receive the toner state detected by the toner state sensor in the toner cartridge, and control the image forming condition according to the toner state to obtain the toner. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of effectively suppressing a change in image quality due to a change in state.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the toner cartridge according to claim 1 of the present invention is removably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing toner is attached to the main body. A toner cartridge for supplying the toner to the developing device provided in the toner tank, and at least the temperature, humidity, residual amount and electric resistance of the toner filled in the toner tank. A toner state sensor that detects one or more types of toner state; and a communication / control unit that transmits the toner state detected by the toner state sensor to an information transmission / reception unit provided in the apparatus main body. To do.

In the toner cartridge according to the first aspect, the toner state sensor has at least one of temperature, humidity, residual amount and electric resistance of the toner filled in the toner tank.
The toner status sensor is filled in the toner tank by detecting the toner status of multiple types and sending the toner status detected by this toner status sensor to the information transmission / reception section provided in the main body of the device by the communication / control section. The toner status sensor can directly detect the toner status of the stored toner, or can detect the toner status at a position sufficiently close to the toner in the toner tank. A toner state composed of at least one kind of electric resistance is measured with sufficiently high accuracy without causing a time delay, and the measured toner state is continuously measured at any timing or in real time. It can be transmitted to the information transmission / reception unit on the device body side.

Therefore, for example, as compared with the case where the toner state is detected by a toner state sensor such as a temperature sensor arranged on the side of the apparatus body, the temperature inside the apparatus suddenly changes when the power is turned on. However, the toner state of the toner in the toner tank can be detected with sufficiently high accuracy, and this toner state can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus. As a result, in the image forming apparatus, various image forming conditions in the image forming process are controlled (process control) based on the toner state detected by the toner state sensor with sufficiently high accuracy, so that the image quality due to the change of the toner state is improved. Effectively control change, without being affected by the external environment,
A high quality image can be stably formed.

A toner cartridge according to a third aspect of the present invention is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing toner filled in the inside of the toner cartridge is installed in the developing unit provided in the main body of the apparatus. A toner cartridge for supplying, a communication / control unit that is attached to the cartridge component and that transmits or receives information by radio waves to an information transmission / reception unit provided in the apparatus main body, and the communication / control unit.
A wireless communication tag equipped with an information storage element in which information is read or written by the control unit, a toner tank filled with toner, and the wireless communication tag are integrally provided in the toner tank. A toner state sensor that detects a toner state of at least one of temperature, humidity, remaining amount, and electric resistance of the filled toner, and transmits the toner state to the information transmitting / receiving unit via the communication / control unit. , Are included.

In the toner cartridge according to the third aspect, the toner state sensor is provided integrally with the wireless communication tag equipped with the communication / control unit and the information storage element, and the temperature of the toner filled in the toner tank, The toner status sensor detects the toner status consisting of at least one of humidity, remaining amount, and electric resistance, and sends the toner status to the information transmission / reception section via the communication / control section of the wireless communication tag. The toner status of the toner filled in the tank can be directly detected, or the toner status can be detected at a position sufficiently close to the toner in the toner tank. , A toner state consisting of at least one of the remaining amount and the electric resistance, is sufficiently maintained with almost no time delay. The measured with high accuracy can transmit the measured toner state at any time, or real time via continuous communication and control unit to the apparatus main body of the information transceiver unit.

Therefore, for example, as compared with the case where the toner state is detected by a toner state sensor such as a temperature sensor arranged on the apparatus main body side, a condition that the temperature inside the apparatus suddenly changes when the power is turned on. Even under the condition, the toner state of the toner in the toner tank can be detected with sufficiently high accuracy, and the toner state can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus. As a result,
In the image forming apparatus, various image forming conditions in the image forming process are controlled (process control) based on the toner state detected by the toner state sensor with sufficiently high accuracy, so that the image quality change due to the change in the toner state is effective. It becomes possible to form a high-quality image stably without being affected by the external environment.

Further, in the toner cartridge according to the present invention, the toner status detected by the toner status sensor is transmitted to the information transmitting / receiving section on the apparatus main body side by radio waves via the communication / control section. When the cartridge is attached or detached, the connector for connecting the toner status sensor to the information transmission / reception part of the main body of the device is not required to be connected and separated, and the toner status is transmitted from the toner cartridge side to the main body of the device. Since it is not necessary to additionally provide a communication device to do so, it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge attachment / detachment work from becoming complicated because the toner state detected by the toner state sensor is transmitted to the information transmitting / receiving unit of the apparatus main body. At the same time, it is possible to suppress an increase in device cost.

In the toner cartridge according to claim 1 or 3, the toner status detected by the toner status sensor is written in the information storage element before being mounted in the apparatus main body, and the information is recorded when the toner cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body. By transmitting the toner state from the storage element before mounting to the apparatus main body to the information transmitting / receiving unit of the apparatus main body, the toner cartridge is filled in the period from the shipment of the toner cartridge to the mounting of the image forming apparatus. Since the history of the toner state of the toner can be transmitted to the main body of the apparatus, the presence / absence and the degree of the toner characteristic change are determined based on the history of the toner state. The image quality is corrected by correcting the image forming conditions and prohibiting the use of toner cartridges placed in high temperature environments. It is possible to take correspondence to prevent down.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor using toner supplied from the toner cartridge according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect. An image forming apparatus for developing a toner cartridge, wherein the toner cartridge is detachably mounted, and a communication / control unit of the toner cartridge with the toner cartridge mounted in the cartridge The information transmission / reception unit that receives the generated information, and the process control unit that controls the image forming condition based on the toner state received by the information transmission / reception unit.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the information transmitting / receiving unit receives the information transmitted from the communication / control unit in the toner cartridge while the toner cartridge is attached to the cartridge attaching / detaching unit, and the process control unit. By controlling the image forming conditions based on the toner status received by the information transmission / reception unit, for example, compared with the case where the toner status is detected by a toner status sensor such as a temperature sensor arranged on the apparatus main body side, Even under conditions where the temperature inside the device changes abruptly immediately after being charged, various image forming conditions in the image forming process can be controlled (process control) based on the toner state detected with sufficiently high accuracy. , Effectively suppresses the image quality change due to the change of toner state, without being affected by the external environment, It is possible to form stable images quality.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a toner cartridge in the laser printer will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Structure of Laser Printer) FIG.
A laser printer is shown as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The laser printer 10 forms an image (toner image) based on image information input from an external device by a known electrophotographic process, and records the image on a recording paper or the like. Here, the electrophotographic process is performed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor by charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor, forming an electrostatic latent image by laser exposure, and developing the electrostatic latent image with a toner into a toner image. Transfer a toner image onto a recording material and heat-fix the toner image to record an image on the recording material. This electrophotographic process and the electrophotographic photosensitive member directly related to the electrophotographic process Of the various parts (process parts), those not directly related to the essence of the present invention will not be described in detail. The laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment is a magenta (M),
A color image can be formed using yellow (Y), black (K), and cyan (C) toners.

The laser printer 10 is provided with a housing 12 as an outer shell of the apparatus, and in the housing 12, a main frame 14 for supporting various parts constituting the apparatus is provided. There is. The main frame 14 has one end portion (see FIG. 1) along the width direction (arrow W direction) of the device.
The process unit 16 is arranged at the left end portion of the main frame 1
4 is provided with a slide frame 18 slidably supported in the depth direction of the apparatus. The slide frame 18 has predetermined process parts (not shown) such as an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer device, and a cleaning device. Is installed. As a result, during maintenance, the process unit 16 is pulled out from the main frame 14 to the outside, and the process parts mounted on the slide frame 18 can be replaced and the inspection work can be simplified.

The main frame 14 is provided with four photosensitive drums 20 and 2 adjacent to the process unit 16.
2, 24, and 26 are supported, and 4 so that they are in contact with these photoconductor drums 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively.
The developing units 21, 23, 25, 27 of the stand are arranged.
These four developing units 21, 23, 25, and 27 correspond to magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and cyan (C) toners, respectively.
The electrostatic latent images formed on the outer peripheral surface (image bearing surface) of 0, 22, 24, and 26 are developed as toner images with K toner, M toner, Y toner, and C toner, respectively.

Four photosensitive drums 20, 22, 24, 2
The toner image formed on each of the toner images 6 is transferred and superposed on the intermediate transfer belt disposed on the process unit 16 side to form a full-color toner image. This full-color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to a recording material such as recording paper, then heated and fixed, and recorded on the recording material. The laser printer 10 is also capable of recording a monochrome toner image formed of only K toner on a recording material. The recording material on which the toner image is recorded is recorded on the paper discharge tray portion 28 formed on the upper surface of the housing 12 or the housing 12
The paper is discharged onto paper discharge trays 30 and 32 attached to the side surface of the paper so as to extend laterally.

The laser printer 10 is provided with a cartridge holder 34 adjacent to the main frame 14 along the width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge holder 34 includes four toner cartridges 36, 38 and 4 each formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.
0 and 42 are detachably attached. These toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 have different color toners (magenta (M) toner, yellow (Y) toner, black (K) toner, and cyan (C) toner therein.
Toner).

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 has a process unit 1 on one side surface (front side of FIG. 1).
An opening / closing door 13 for maintenance is provided to face the cartridge holder 6 and the cartridge holder 34 so as to be opened and closed. As a result, the user or the like opens the opening / closing door 13 and exposes the process unit 16 and the cartridge holder 34 to the outside, so that the process unit 16 is closed.
The toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 can be attached to and detached from the cartridge holder 34 by pulling it out from the inside.

The toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 mounted on the cartridge holder 34 are configured as containers for temporarily storing toner. That is, in the laser printer 10, the developing devices 21, 23,
Toner cartridges 36 and 3 are activated when 25 and 27 are operated.
When toner is discharged from 8, 40, 42 and is supplied to the developing units 21, 23, 25, 27, and all the toners filled in the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are discharged. , Its toner cartridge 36,
38, 40, 42 are replaced with new ones. At this time, the toner is in
Laser printer 1 because it is sealed in 2
It is possible to replenish toner to 0 by a simple operation, and it is possible to effectively prevent the inside and outside of the apparatus from being contaminated due to toner scattering during toner replenishment.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 has a toner tank 44 formed of a resin material in a thin cylindrical shape. The toner tank 44 has one end face (rear end face) along the axial direction.
An opening / closing port (not shown) communicating with the inside is provided. A cylindrical blocking plug 46 is attached to the rear end portion of the toner tank 44 by press fitting, adhesion or the like.
The opening / closing port is closed by 6. The closure plug 46 is
The toner tank 44 is formed in a thin-walled cylindrical shape having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the toner tank 44, and its inner peripheral side is closed by a disk-shaped bottom plate portion 45. A plate-shaped grip portion 48 is integrally formed on the outside of the bottom plate portion 47 in the closing plug 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner tank 44
An inner peripheral cylindrical portion 50 having a substantially rectangular cross section is integrally provided on the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion at the tip end portion of the inner peripheral cylindrical portion. A driven connection plate 52 having a shape of a circle is rotatably installed around the axis S of the toner tank 44. On the front surface side of the driven connecting plate 52, a plurality of engaging claws 53 are integrally formed along the circumferential direction. on the other hand,
In the toner tank 44, a screw feeder (not shown) formed in a screw shaft for conveying toner is coaxially arranged, and this screw feeder is driven by the driven connecting plate 5.
2 and is rotated integrally with the driven connecting plate 52.

A toner supply port 54 and a toner filling port 55 are formed on the front end side of the peripheral wall of the toner tank 44, respectively, and the outer peripheral side of the toner supply port 54 is slidable along the circumferential direction. Shutter member 56
(See FIG. 4) are arranged. Shutter member 56
Is slidable between a closed position for closing the toner supply port 54 and an open position for opening the toner supply port 54, and is always biased to the closed position by a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring. Has been done. As a result, the shutter member 56 causes the toner cartridges 36, 38, 4
When 0 and 42 are not attached to the cartridge holder 34, they are held at the closed position. Toner tank 4
A cap member 58 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the toner filling port 55 on the peripheral wall portion 4 to close the toner filling port 55.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner tank 44
At the rear end portion, the peripheral wall portion and the inner peripheral cylindrical portion 50 are provided in a space formed between the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral cylindrical portion 50.
4 partition plates 60, 61, 62, 6 to connect with
3 is formed in a rib shape. These partition plates 60, 6
1, 62 and 63 divide an annular space formed between the peripheral wall portion of the toner tank 44 and the inner peripheral cylindrical portion 50 into small spaces along the circumferential direction. These small spaces open at the front end surface of the toner tank 44, and the rear end side is closed by the bottom plate portion 45 of the toner tank 44 as shown in FIG.

Here, the small space between the partition plate 60 and the partition plate 61 and the small space between the partition plate 61 and the partition plate 62 in the toner tank 44 are respectively one wireless communication tag described later. It is configured as storage chambers 64 and 66 for storing 72 (see FIG. 4). Further, the small space between the partition plate 60 and the partition plate 63 is also configured as a storage chamber 68 for storing one wireless communication tag 72. This storage chamber 68 is, as shown in FIG. The inner cylindrical portion 50 is functionally divided into a storage portion 68A and a storage portion 68B near the edge portion 50A. In the storage chamber 68, either of the two storage portions 68A and 68B can be selectively used. The wireless communication tag 72 can be stored in the. Therefore, one wireless communication tag 72 includes a storage room 64, a storage room 66, and a storage room 68.
In either of the two storage portions 68A, 68B, the storage positions 64, 66 and the storage portions 68A, 68B have their mounting positions changed along the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless communication tag 72
Has a substantially fan shape corresponding to the storage chambers 64 and 66 when viewed from the axial direction, and is to be inserted into any of the storage chambers 64, 66 and 68A, 68B. Then, the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage portion 68
It is stored and held inside either A or 68B. The wireless communication tag 72 is formed with a pair of latching claws 74 projecting to the outer peripheral side at the end of the outer peripheral surface on the insertion side, and further has an engaging projection 76 projecting to the axial center S side on the end surface of the inlet side. Has been formed. Further, the wireless communication tag 72 is integrally formed with a support stay 200 in the shape of a square rod that projects along the axial direction on the front end surface on the insertion side. The support stay 200 has a front end portion shown in FIG. As described above, the thermistor 202, which is a temperature detection sensor, is arranged.

On the other hand, in the peripheral wall portion of the toner tank 44, the locking hole 7 corresponding to the locking claw 74 in the wireless communication tag 72.
8 is formed in each of the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage units 68A and 68B, and an engagement recess 80 corresponding to the engagement protrusion 76 of the wireless communication tag 72 is formed in the storage chamber at the rear end surface of the inner peripheral tubular portion 50. It is formed for each of 64, 66 and the storage portions 68A, 68B. Further, the bottom plate portion 45 of the toner tank 44 is provided with an insertion opening 204 corresponding to the support stay 200 of the wireless communication tag 72 so as to communicate with the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage portions 68A and 68B, respectively.

When the wireless communication tag 72 is inserted into any of the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage portions 68A and 68B, the outer peripheral surface of the wireless communication tag 72 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the toner tank 44 to form a pair. The hooking claws 74 of the
And the engaging projection 76 is engaged with the engaging recess 80. Accordingly, the movement along the axial direction is surely restrained, and the engagement protrusion 76 is engaged with the engagement recess 80, so that the rattling along the circumferential direction is reliably prevented.
At this time, the latch claw 74 inserted into the latch hole 78 cannot be removed from the latch hole 78 unless the wireless communication tag 72 itself is elastically deformed inward. For this reason, the wireless communication tag 72 fitted in any of the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage portions 68A and 68B cannot be easily removed from the toner tank 44 unless a dedicated jig or the like is used. There is.

Further, the wireless communication tag 72 has the storage chambers 64, 6
6 and one of the storage parts 68A, 68B,
The support stay 200 is inserted into the toner tank 44 through the insertion port 204 of the bottom plate portion 45, as shown in FIG. As a result, the thermistor 202 disposed at the tip of the support stay 200 contacts the toner in the state immediately after the mounting in which the toner is completely filled in the toner tank 44, and the toner is discharged from the toner tank 44. Even if there is a gap, the toner is supported at a position sufficiently close to the remaining toner. At this time, the storage chambers 64 and 66 and the storage portions 68A and 68B in which the wireless communication tag 72 is not inserted are inserted.
The insertion port 204 communicating with is sealed by inserting a sealing member 206 formed of an elastic material such as resin.
A locking member 206, whose cross-sectional area increases in a taper shape from the distal end portion toward the proximal end side, is integrally formed at the distal end portion of the sealing member 206. When the sealing member 206 is fitted into the insertion opening 204, the locking member 206 locks the peripheral edge of the insertion opening 204 from the inside to prevent the sealing member 206 from falling off.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless communication tag 72
Inside, a tag-side antenna 82 formed by winding a conductive wire material such as a copper wire in a coil shape is provided. The tag-side antenna 82 is provided such that the coil axis TC, which is the winding center of the conductive wire, is parallel to the thickness direction of the wireless communication tag 72, and the shape of the coil surface along the axis orthogonal direction is wireless communication. It is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the tag 72. Specifically, in the wireless communication tag 72, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer wall portion 8 curved so as to be parallel to each other.
4 and the inner wall portion 86 are provided, and the winding core portion 88 connects between the outer wall portion 84 and the inner wall portion 86. By winding a conductive wire on the outer peripheral side of the winding core portion 88, the flat tag-side antenna 82 is configured to curve along the outer peripheral surface of the wireless communication tag 72 along the axial direction.

Further, the radio communication tag 72 is provided with a compartment 90 which is sealed from the outside on the inner peripheral side of the tag side antenna 82. A circuit board 92 is housed in the compartment 90, and an IC chip 94 in which a control circuit of the wireless communication tag 72 is integrated as one chip is mounted on the circuit board 92. The IC chip 94 is electrically connected to the tag antenna 82 and the thermistor 202 via the circuit board 92 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cartridge holder 34 provided on the apparatus main body side, two attaching / detaching portions 96, 9 are provided in the upper portion along the height direction of the apparatus (direction of arrow H).
8 is a detachable part 10 for each of the middle part and the lower part
0 and 102 are provided, and these detachable parts 96 and 9 are provided.
One toner cartridge 36, 38, 40, 42 is detachably attached to each of 8, 100, 102. Here, the four toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 mounted on the cartridge holder 34 are arranged in an inverted L-shape when viewed from the outside in the axial direction thereof, whereby the four toner cartridges are arranged. 36, 38, 40,
Compared with the case where 42 is linearly arranged along the height direction, the increase in size of the device in the height direction is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cartridge holder 34, four toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 are provided at the end portion on the inner side of the apparatus so as to correspond to the respective mounting positions (see FIG. 2). Is shown, only the upper two of them are shown). The outer shape of each of these drive plates 108 is a thick plate shape, and they are supported so that the thickness direction thereof coincides with the depth direction of the apparatus. The drive plate 108 has toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, and 40 on its surface portion facing the tip surfaces of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42.
A drive connecting plate (not shown) corresponding to the driven connecting plate 52 (see FIG. 4) of 42 is rotatably arranged. The drive connecting plate is basically symmetrical with the driven connecting plate 52 and can be engaged with the driven connecting plate 52.
A drive motor (not shown) is incorporated in each drive plate 108, and this drive motor rotates when the developing devices 21, 23, 25 and 27 are operated to rotate the drive connecting plate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge holder 34 has a support plate extending in an inverted L shape so as to surround the four toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 at the end portion on the front side of the apparatus. The support plate 104 is provided with four toner cartridges 36,
Four support brackets 106 are connected and fixed so as to correspond to the mounting positions of 38, 40, and 42, respectively. The four toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 mounted on the cartridge holder 34 are suspended between the drive plate 108 and the support bracket 106 in the state mounted on the cartridge holder 34, and these drive plates The front end and the rear end are supported by 108 and the support bracket 106. Further, the support bracket 106 is provided with a shutter engaging portion (not shown) that can be engaged with the shutter member 56 of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, two attaching / detaching portions 96, 98, 100 and 102 of the cartridge holder 34 are provided with two guide members 110 and 112 between the drive plate 108 and the support bracket 106 in the depth direction. The toner cartridges 36, 38, 4
0 and 42 are guided by the guide members 110 and 112 so as to move linearly along the depth direction when the cartridge holder 34 is inserted and removed.

In the laser printer 10, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are attached to and detached from the corresponding cartridge holders 34, 98, 100, 100.
When the toner cartridge 3 is attached to the toner cartridge 102,
6, 38, 40, 42 are inserted in the depth direction of the apparatus, and the leading ends of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are abutted against the drive plate 108. This allows
The leading ends of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 are connected to and supported by the drive plate 108, and the shutter engagement portion of the support bracket 106 engages the shutter member 56 of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42. .

Next, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle by using the grip portion 48, whereby the toner cartridges 36, 38,
40 and 42 are completely attached to the attachment / detachment portions 96, 98, 100 and 102. At this time, the drive connecting plate disposed on the drive plate 108 is attached to the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 4.
The drive motor, which is engaged with the driven connection plate 52 of No. 2 and is built in the drive plate 108, drives the connection plate 5 and the driven connection plate 5.
2 through the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42
It is connected to the internal screw feeder so that torque can be transmitted. In addition, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are interlocked with the rotations of the attachment / detachment portions 96, 98, 100, 102,
The shutter engagement portion of the support bracket 106 slides the shutter member 56 of the toner cartridge 36, 38, 40, 42 from the closed position to the open position, and the toner supply port 54 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the laser printer 10, each attachment / detachment portion 96, 98, 100, 102 of the cartridge holder 34 and the developing devices 21, 23, 2 are attached.
A toner feeding pipe 114 is provided between the toner feeding pipes 5 and 27. One end of the toner feeding pipe 114 is connected to the support bracket 106, and the toner cartridges 36, 3
When 8, 40, 42 are attached to the attachment / detachment portions 96, 98, 100, 102, the toner supply ports 54 of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are inserted through the support bracket 106.
Connected to. A toner feeder (not shown) for toner transportation is arranged in the toner feeding pipe 114, and the torque transmission shaft 11 is provided in the screw feeder.
The torque from the drive motor in the drive plate 108 is transmitted via 6 and the like.

In the laser printer 10, the developing device 2
The drive plates 108 corresponding to the developing devices 21, 23, 25, 27 that are operating when the 1, 23, 25, 27 are operating.
Rotate the drive motor built into the. As a result, in the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42, the toner is discharged from the toner supply port 54 at a predetermined speed by the action of the screw feeder, and the toner is supplied to the toner feed pipe 114.
Through the developing devices 21, 23, 25, 27
Is supplied to. At this time, the developing devices 21, 23, 25, 2
The amount of toner supplied to No. 7 is set to be substantially equal to the amount of toner consumed for development.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the cartridge holder 34, plate-shaped antenna units 118 and 120 are installed on the rear side of the apparatus between the attaching / detaching sections 96 and 98 and on the rear side of the apparatus between the attaching / detaching sections 100 and 102, respectively. Has been done. These two antenna units 118, 120
Is provided with a casing portion 122 formed of resin into a thin plate shape, and a coil-shaped main body side antenna 124 in which a conductive wire material such as a copper wire is wound is disposed in the casing portion 122. There is. In the antenna units 118 and 120, the coil axis BC is parallel to the thickness direction of the casing portion 122, and the front and back surfaces (coil surfaces) along the direction perpendicular to the axis are parallel to the surface direction of the casing portion 122. Here, the antenna unit 1 arranged in the upper part of the cartridge holder 34
18 is supported so that its surface direction is orthogonal to the width direction (arrow W direction) of the device, and the antenna unit 120 arranged between the middle part and the lower part has its surface direction in the device height direction. It is supported so as to be orthogonal to (the direction of arrow H).

As shown in FIG. 3, when the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 are mounted in the cartridge holder 34, the upper antenna unit 118 is installed.
The toner cartridges 36, 3 along the width direction of the apparatus.
The antenna unit 120 on the lower side is supported so as to be inserted into the gap formed between the toner cartridges 40 and 42, and is inserted in the gap formed between the toner cartridges 40 and 42 along the height direction of the apparatus. Supported.

On the other hand, the toner cartridge 36 attached to the attachment / detachment portion 96 of the cartridge holder 34 has the wireless communication tag 72 inserted into the accommodation portion 68A of the accommodation chamber 68 and attached to the attachment / detachment portion 98. A wireless communication tag 72 is inserted into the storage room 64 of the. As a result, the tag-side antenna 82 of the toner cartridge 36 has the coil surface of the tag-side antenna 82.
4 is made to face one coil surface sufficiently close to one coil surface along the thickness direction, and the tag side antenna 82 in the toner cartridge 38 has the coil surface thereof on the main body side antenna 1.
The other coil surface along the thickness direction of 24 is made to sufficiently face and face it.

Further, in the toner cartridge 40 attached to the attachment / detachment portion 100 of the cartridge holder 34,
The wireless communication tag 72 is inserted into the storage chamber 66, and the detachable unit 1
The toner cartridge 42 mounted on the No. 02 has a storage chamber 6
The wireless communication tag 72 is inserted into the storage portion 68B of the storage box 8. As a result, the tag-side antenna 82 in the toner cartridge 40 faces the coil surface sufficiently close to the coil surface on the upper surface side of the main-body-side antenna 124, and the tag-side antenna 82 in the toner cartridge 42 has its coil surface. The surface is made to face the coil surface on the lower surface side of the main body side antenna 124 while being sufficiently close thereto.

Here, the radio wave transmission / reception between the tag side antenna 82 and the main body side antenna 124 is generally more efficient as the distance between the antennas is shorter, and the tag side antenna 82 and the main body side antenna 124 are coaxial. The closer to the positional relationship, the better the efficiency. In the laser printer 10, the tag-side antenna 82 attached to the toner cartridges 38, 40, 42 is coaxially supported with the main-body-side antenna 124, and under the condition that the distance between the antennas is constant, the efficiency is substantially the highest. It is possible to transmit and receive radio waves with the main body side antenna 124. In addition, the toner cartridge 36
The tag-side antenna 82 attached to the main body-side antenna 124 is supported by the main-body-side antenna 124 at a certain angle (about 20 °), but the distance from the main-body-side antenna 124 is sufficiently small that the efficiency is sufficiently high. Radio waves can be sent and received. In other words, if the radio wave output used between the wireless communication tag 72 and the wireless communication device 130 (see FIG. 7) on the main body side is sufficiently small, the main body can be maintained while maintaining a good wireless communication state. Interference between the side antenna 124 and the wireless communication tag 72 for which the communication relationship is not set can be reliably prevented.

Toner cartridges 36, 38, 4
When any one of 0 and 42 is not mounted at a predetermined mounting position in the cartridge holder 34, the distance and the positional relationship between the tag side antenna 82 and the main body side antenna 124 of the toner cartridge 36, 38, 40 and 42. Change and the radio communication between the radio communication tag 72 and the radio communication device 130 is not normally performed. Therefore, by detecting the abnormal state of the radio communication, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42 are detected. It is also possible to detect that one of them is not mounted at the predetermined mounting position in the cartridge holder 34.

(Structure and Operation of Wireless Communication System) Next, the structure and operation of the wireless communication system in the laser printer according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication system 128 includes a wireless communication tag 72 attached to each of the four toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 and a wireless communication device 130 arranged on the apparatus main body side. This wireless communication device 13
Reference numeral 0 includes two antenna units 118 and 120 arranged in the cartridge holder 34, and a main body portion 132 connected to the main body side antenna 124 incorporated in each of the antenna units 118 and 120.

As described above, each toner cartridge 3
Wireless communication tag 7 attached to 6, 38, 40, 42
2 is a tag-side antenna 82 on the coil and a circuit board 92.
It has an IC chip 94 mounted on it. As shown in FIG. 7, the IC chip 94 includes a CPU 134, a transmission / reception circuit 136, a power supply circuit 138, a ROM 140 and an E.
The EPROM 142 is configured as a single integrated element. The CPU 134 controls the entire wireless communication tag 72 according to the control program stored in the ROM 140. In addition, in the ROM 140, in addition to the control program,
A multi ID, a password, and a system ID are stored as unique information corresponding to the types of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42. Here, the multi-ID is
Basically, the data is predetermined for each type (M, Y, K, C) of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42, and the password and the system ID are exchanged with the wireless communication device 130. This is data for confirming that the wireless communication tag 72 is permitted.

The CPU 134 is electrically connected to the thermistor via the circuit board 92 or the like, applies a predetermined measurement voltage to the thermistor 202 at the time of temperature measurement, and detects the voltage drop between the contacts to measure by the thermistor 202. Calculate the temperature. Here, as the thermistor 202,
For example, NT that has good responsiveness from room temperature to 100 ° C or less
A C type thermistor is used. In addition, by connecting an electric resistance element to the CPU 134 in parallel with the thermistor 202 as needed, it is possible to adjust the change (gain) in the voltage drop per unit temperature by the thermistor 202.

On the other hand, the EEPROM 142 is a non-volatile information storage element that does not require electric power for maintaining information storage, and writes arbitrary information by the CPU 134 and reads arbitrary information from the written information. Is possible. Specifically, the EEPROM 14
For example, the following information items 1 to 3 are written in 2 by the CPU 134, and the contents of the written information are updated as necessary.

Photoreceptor drums 20, 22, 24, 26
Process information such as exposure amount, charge amount, development bias, etc. for the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 lot number, manufacturing date, type, storage period, identification number,
Number of recycles, upper limit of number of recycles, replacement time of cartridge component parts Lot number of toner, manufacturing date, filling amount, type, storage period, number of recycles, upper limit of number of recycles CPU 134 performed predetermined arithmetic processing Temperature measurement data by the thermistor 202 The above information is basically the CPU 13
4 is written in the EEPROM 142 at regular intervals, and in addition to this, when a rapid temperature change occurs, and
When the measured temperature exceeds the upper limit value of the management temperature for the toner (for example, it is set within the range of 40 to 45 ° C.), the temperature at that time is written in every cycle shorter than usual.

The transmitting / receiving circuit 13 in the wireless communication tag 72
At the time of information transmission, 6 converts the parallel information signal sent from the CPU 134 into a serial information signal, and then outputs the electric signal modulated by this information signal to the tag side antenna 82. As a result, the tag-side antenna 8
From 2, a radio signal corresponding to the information signal from the CPU 134 is output (radiated). The transmitter / receiver circuit 136 is
At the time of information reception, after demodulating an electric signal obtained by the radio wave signal received by the tag antenna 82 into a serial information signal, this information signal is converted into a parallel information signal and output to the CPU 134.

Power supply circuit 138 in the wireless communication tag 72
Separates an alternating current of a predetermined frequency generated by electromagnetic induction in the tag-side antenna 82 from an information signal during transmission / reception with the wireless communication device 130, converts this alternating current into a direct current, and then sends it to the CPU 134 and the transmission / reception circuit 136. Supply.
As a result, the CPU 134 and the transmission / reception circuit 136 are provided with
Electric power required for transmission / reception with the wireless communication device 130 is supplied.

The power supply circuit 138 has a built-in battery 138A, and toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 4
In the wireless communication tag 72, it is possible to measure the temperature by the thermistor 202 and write the temperature measurement data to the EEPROM 142 using the electric power stored in the battery 138A even when the cartridge 2 is not attached to the cartridge holder 34. Specifically, C of the wireless communication tag 72
The PU 134 includes toner cartridges 36, 38, 40,
While the cartridge 42 is not attached to the cartridge holder 34, the temperature stored in the battery 138A is measured by the thermistor 202 at regular intervals, and the temperature measurement data is written to the EEPROM 142. Therefore, when the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are mounted on the laser printer 10, the EEPROM 142 of the wireless communication tag 72 mounted on the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 has the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 attached thereto. The temperature measurement data of the toner at the time of transportation and storage of 38, 40, 42 is written.

As shown in FIG. 7, the wireless communication device 13
A CPU 144, a transmission / reception circuit 146, a power supply circuit 148, a ROM 150, a RAM 152, and an interface circuit 154 are provided in the main body of 0. Here, the transmission / reception circuit 146 has two input / output terminals 1 for the antenna.
46A, 146B, one input / output terminal 14
6A includes a main body side antenna 12 of the antenna unit 118.
4 is connected, and the main body side antenna 124 of the antenna unit 120 is connected to the other input / output terminal 146B. The transmission / reception circuit 146, when transmitting / receiving information to / from the wireless communication tag 72, receives the input / output terminal 146 according to the input / output destination of the information.
Only one of A and 146B is turned on and the other is turned off.

The CPU 144 controls the entire radio communication device 130 according to the control program stored in the ROM 150. In addition to the control program, the ROM 150 stores all toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42.
The multi-ID, password, and system ID are stored. The CPU 144 compares the multi ID and the password input from the wireless communication tag 72 with the multi ID and the password stored in the ROM 150, and thereby the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 to which the wireless communication tag 72 during radio wave communication is attached. , 42, and confirms that the wireless communication tag 72 is permitted to exchange information with the wireless communication device 130.

The CPU 144 uses the interface circuit 1
Central control unit 20 of laser printer 10 through 54
8 toner cartridges 36, 38,
The RAM 152 temporarily stores process information such as the exposure amount, the charge amount, and the developing bias for the photosensitive drums 20, 22, 24, and 26 for each of the 40 and 42, and the writing information such as the toner consumption amount calculated based on the process information. After that, the transmission information is read from the RAM 152 at a predetermined timing and transmitted to the wireless communication tag 72. As a result, the CPU 134 of the wireless communication tag 72 causes the wireless communication device 130 to operate.
The writing information received from the EEPROM 142 is written into the EEPROM 142, and the remaining toner amount obtained by subtracting the consumption amount from the toner filling amount is recorded in the EEPROM 142.

At the time of information transmission, the transmission / reception circuit 146 in the main body converts the parallel information signal sent from the CPU 144 into a serial information signal, and then converts the electrical signal modulated by this information signal into two main body sides. It outputs to either of the antennas 124. As a result, the radio wave signal corresponding to the information signal from the CPU 144 is output (radiated) from the main body side antenna 124. In addition, the transmitter / receiver circuit 14
When receiving information, the demodulator 6 demodulates an electric signal obtained by a radio wave received by the main body side antenna 124 into a serial information signal, converts the information signal into a parallel information signal, and outputs the parallel information signal to the CPU 144.

The power supply circuit 148 in the main body 132 is
During communication with the wireless communication tag 72, an alternating current having a predetermined frequency is supplied to the main body side antenna 124. As a result, electromagnetic induction occurs in the tag-side antenna 82 that faces the main body-side antenna 124, and as described above, power is supplied to the wireless communication tag 72. Here, the frequency of the alternating current supplied to the main body side antenna 124 by the power supply circuit 148 is in a band (for example, a high frequency range) different from the frequency of the electric signal used for information transmission by the transmission / reception circuits 136 and 146.
Is selected.

The CPU 144 of the main body 132 is attached to the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 when it is determined that all the toner has been discharged from the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42. A count-up signal is transmitted to the wireless communication tag 72. CPU of the wireless communication tag 72 that receives this count-up signal
Reference numeral 134 adds “1” to the number of recycles for the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 and the number of recycles for toner written in the EEPROM 142.

FIG. 8 shows a series of operations of communication start processing in the wireless communication system 128 according to this embodiment. In the laser printer 10, when the power is turned on, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are replaced, and the reset process is performed after an abnormality such as a jam occurs, the CPU 144 of the wireless communication device 130 causes the wireless printer shown in FIG. Communication start processing of the communication system 128 is performed.

In the wireless communication system 128,
To be precise, the communication destination with which the wireless communication device 130 is communicated is the wireless communication tag 72 attached to each of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42. However, in the description relating to the flowchart of FIG. When it is not necessary to accurately distinguish the communication destination, the communication destination of the wireless communication device 130 is simply referred to as "toner cartridge 36, 3" in order to simplify the description.
8, 40, 42 ”.

In the communication start process, in step 300,
It is determined whether or not the multi ID (M) on the wireless communication device 130 side and the multi ID (M) on the toner cartridge 36 side match. In step 300, the wireless communication device 130.
If the multi-side ID (M) on the side and the multi-sided ID (M) on the side of the toner cartridge 36 match, it is determined that the proper toner cartridge 36 is attached to the attachment / detachment portion 96 of the cartridge holder 34, and the routine proceeds to step 304. Then, the wireless communication device 130 starts communication with the toner cartridge 36. Further, the multi ID (M) on the wireless communication device 130 side and the multi ID on the toner cartridge 36 side
If (M) does not match, the routine proceeds to step 30.
2 and it is determined that the wrong type of toner cartridge 38, 40, 42 is attached to the attachment / detachment portion 96 of the cartridge holder 34, or the toner cartridge attached to the attachment / detachment portion 96 is improper. Then, a predetermined error process is executed.

In steps 304 to 306, password verification and system ID verification are sequentially performed between the wireless communication device 130 and the toner cartridge 36. At this time, the password and system ID of the toner cartridge 36 side
If any of the above is determined to be inappropriate, the attachment / detachment unit 9
It is determined that the toner cartridge attached to No. 6 is improper, and the routine proceeds to step 308,
Perform predetermined error handling. If it is determined that both the password and the system ID on the toner cartridge 36 side are correct, the routine proceeds to 310,
The CPU 144 of the wireless communication device 130 controls the wireless communication tag 72 in the toner cartridge 36, and the EEPR
Process information such as the exposure amount, the charge amount, the developing bias, etc. from the OM 142 to the photoconductor drums 20, 22, 24, 26, the toner amount such as the filling amount of toner, the type and the storage period, and the past temperature measured by the thermistor 202. Read the temperature measurement data of.

In step 312, the wireless communication device 130
The CPU 144 in the CPU executes a read check with the CPU 134 in the toner cartridge 36 to determine whether or not the information read from the EEPROM 142 is written in the EEPROM 142, and both the information match. If so, the routine proceeds to step 314, and if the two information do not match, the routine returns to step 310 and the information read from the EEPROM 142 is EE.
E until it matches the information written in the PROM 142.
The process of reading information from the EPROM 142 is repeated.

In step 314, the wireless communication device 130
The CPU 144 includes an identification number unique to the laser printer 10, an identification number unique to the user, and the toner cartridge 36.
Information such as the start time of use of the toner cartridge 36
To the wireless communication tag 72 and write this initial information in the EEPROM 142 of the wireless communication tag 72. In step 316, the CPU 1 in the wireless communication device 130
Reference numeral 44 denotes the CPU 134 of the toner cartridge 36.
And a read check to determine whether the transmitted initial information is written in the EEPROM 142 without error, and if the both information match, the communication start processing with the toner cartridge 36 ends. Let If the two pieces of initial information do not match, the routine returns to step 314, and the initial information transmitted to the wireless communication tag 72 is the same as the information written in the EEPROM 142,
The process of writing information to the EEPROM 142 is repeated.

In the wireless communication system 128, the above M
When the communication start process for the toner cartridge 36 containing toner is completed, the series of communication shown in FIG. 8 is performed with the toner cartridges 38, 40, 42 containing other Y, K, and C toners. Basically, the same processing as the start processing is executed in order. The central control of the laser printer 10 releases the interlock so that the image forming operation can be started after the communication start processing between the wireless communication device 130 and all the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 is completed. To do.

Further, the central control unit 208 corresponds to each toner cartridge 36, 38, 40, 42 through the interface circuit 154 in the wireless communication device 130 each time image formation is performed or image formation is performed a predetermined number of times. CP for process information and information on toner consumption
Output to U144. The CPU 144 uses the central control unit 20.
Toner cartridges 36, 3 corresponding to information from 8
It transmits to the wireless communication tag 72 of 8, 40, 42. As a result, in the wireless communication tag 72, the CPU 134 causes the EE
The information from the central control unit 208 is newly written in the PROM 142, or the already written information is updated to the latest information. Further, the CPU 144 reads temperature measurement data from the EEPROM 142 of the wireless communication tag 72 in the communication state from the time of the completion of the previous communication to the present time, and transmits the temperature measurement data to the central control unit 208.

(Control and Operation of Embodiment) Next, the control and operation of the laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

Laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment
Then, the toner cartridge 3 is placed in the cartridge holder 34.
When the opening / closing door 13 is closed after the 6, 38, 40, 42 are mounted, and when the main power of the device in the off state is turned on to turn on the wireless communication device 13,
8, the wireless communication tag 72 attached to the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 is subjected to the initial communication process shown in FIG. This initial communication process is performed for all the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 one by one according to a predetermined order. At this time,
As described above, the CPU 144 of the wireless communication device 130 reads the temperature measurement data from the EEPROM 142 of the wireless communication tag 72 attached to each of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42, and sends this temperature measurement data to the central control unit 208. Output. At this time, the central control unit 20
The temperature measurement data output to 8 is data corresponding to the past temperature history of the toner when the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are transported and stored.

The central control unit 208 uses the EEPROM 142.
By referring to the temperature history of the toner read from, it is determined whether the toner has deteriorated. In particular,
When the temperature of the toner is kept at a temperature exceeding the upper limit value of the management temperature for a certain period of time or more, or when the toner is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point, the central control unit 208 causes the toner to deteriorate. Message that recommends replacement of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 containing the toner and the toner cartridge 3
A message indicating that the toner filling the toner particles 6, 38, 40, 42 may be deteriorated is displayed on the display unit (not shown) from the liquid crystal panel or the like. in this case,
The user replaces the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 according to a message on the display unit or executes a predetermined reset operation, and then the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42.
It is possible to select one of trying the image formation using the toner without replacing 38, 40 and 42.

The central control unit 208 judges that the toner is held for a long time in a temperature range which does not exceed the upper limit value of the control temperature but slightly exceeds the upper limit value of the control temperature. In this case, the initial value of the image forming condition (process control data) is corrected according to the cumulative time that the toner is kept in such a temperature range. That is, when the toner is held in the temperature range from around the upper limit value of the control temperature to slightly exceeding the upper limit value, the characteristics of the toner such as fluidity, electric resistance, charging characteristics, and particle size distribution change with time. Although a phenomenon occurs, by correcting the initial value of the process control data in consideration of these characteristic changes, it is possible to minimize the image quality deterioration due to the toner characteristic change.

The central control unit 208 sequentially performs the above-mentioned series of control operations on all the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42, and then displays a message indicating that the apparatus is in a recording waiting state for image formation. Is displayed on the display. Further, when the apparatus is in the recording standby state, the central control unit 208 sets the wireless communication apparatus 130 to the toner cartridges 36, 38, 4 according to a predetermined order for each predetermined cycle.
Control is performed so that the communication state is sequentially set to 0 and 42. As a result, the CPU 144 of the wireless communication device 130 causes the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 to be arranged at predetermined intervals.
The temperature measurement data written in each EEPROM 142 is sequentially read and the temperature measurement data is transmitted to the central control unit 208. At this time, the CPU 144 sets the EE
Even if the temperature measurement data read from the PROM 142 is subjected to data processing such as averaging and leveling for each reading cycle by the CPU 134 on the wireless communication tag 72 side,
All of the temperature measurement data (raw data) written in the EEPROM 142 during the reading cycle may be used. However, by performing predetermined data processing on the temperature measurement data by the CPU 134 on the wireless communication tag 72 side and transmitting the processed temperature measurement data to the wireless communication device 130, the temperature measurement data of the central control unit 208 is processed. The processing load can be reduced.

Here, the cycle in which the central control unit 208 sets the wireless communication device 130 in the communication state with the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 is relatively short in a certain period (startup period) immediately after the main power is turned on. The time (for example, about 10 seconds) is set, and the extended time (for example, about 3 minutes) is set after the elapse of the rising period. This is because the internal temperature of the apparatus rapidly rises immediately after the main power is turned on, and the temperature change (rise) of the toner filled in the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 is large. It should be noted that the CPU 134 of the wireless communication tag 72 fetches the temperature measurement data from the thermistor 202 in each of the above cycles,
The toner temperature may be transmitted to the wireless communication device 130 side only when the toner temperature changes by a certain temperature (for example, 3 ° C.) or more as compared with the previous temperature measurement data. Next, the central control unit 208 controls the toner cartridges 36,
A correction process is performed on the process control data for each color (M, Y, K, C) based on the temperature measurement data read for each of 38, 40, and 42.

That is, the toner has the characteristic that the fluidity changes depending on the temperature thereof, and the change amount of the fluidity due to the temperature change is different for each color toner. Further, the fluidity of the toner has a great influence on the image quality of the image formed on the recording material based on the electrophotographic process. From this, the central control unit 208 is
Each color toner has a correction coefficient corresponding to the toner temperature as a data table. Based on the temperature measurement data read from the EEPROM 142, the correction coefficient is extracted from the data table for each color toner, and the correction coefficient for each color toner is extracted according to this correction coefficient. Correct the process control data of. At this time, as the process controller data to be corrected by the central control unit 208, specifically, those shown in the following (a) to (f) can be cited.

(A) Photosensitive drum 20, 22, 22, 2
4, the light amount of the laser beam for performing the exposure scanning on (4) before the exposure scanning, the photosensitive drums 20, 22, 22,
The charging voltage (c) applied to the charger for charging the image bearing surface of 24 to a constant potential is exposed to the photosensitive drums 20, 22, 22,
Bias voltage (d) applied to the primary developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the toner with toner (d). The toner image developed on each photosensitive drum 20, 22, 22, 24 is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt. Transfer voltage applied to the transfer device (e) Toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt (in the case of a full-color image, a toner image in which toner images of respective colors are superimposed)
Transfer voltage applied to a secondary transfer device for secondarily transferring the toner to a recording material such as recording paper (f) Surface temperature of a heating roll in a heater for heating and fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material. By executing the correction process for the process control data for each color toner based on the temperature measured for each toner, the laser printer 10 has the toner cartridges 36, 38,
It is possible to stably form a high-quality image without being affected by the temperature of the toner supplied from 40 and 42.

The laser printer 10 according to this embodiment.
In the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 in FIG. 1, the thermistor 202 is provided integrally with the wireless communication tag 72, the temperature of the toner filled in the toner tank 44 (toner temperature) is detected, and the temperature of the toner is detected. Central control unit 2 via wireless communication tag 72 and wireless communication device 130
08 The thermistor 2 is transmitted by transmitting information.
02 can be arranged so as to directly detect the temperature of the toner filled in the toner tank 44, or to detect the toner temperature at a position sufficiently close to the toner in the toner tank 44. The toner temperature is measured at a sufficiently high accuracy with almost no time delay, and the measured toner temperature is set at an arbitrary timing.
Alternatively, the central control unit 208 on the apparatus main body side continuously in real time via the wireless communication tag 72 and the wireless communication apparatus 130.
Can be sent to.

Therefore, for example, the laser printer 10
Compared to the case where the toner temperature is detected by a temperature sensor such as a thermistor on the main body of the apparatus, the toner tank 44 can be sufficiently accurate even under the condition that the temperature inside the apparatus changes rapidly such as when the power is turned on. The toner temperature in the inside can be detected and the toner temperature can be transmitted to the central control unit 208.

Further, the toner cartridges 36, 3
8, 40 and 42, the toner temperature detected by the thermistor 202 is the same as the wireless communication tag 72 and the wireless communication device 1.
Central control unit 208 on the apparatus main body side by radio waves via 30
Is sent to the cartridge holder 34 when the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 are attached or detached,
In order to electrically connect the thermistor 202 of the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 to the central control unit 208 on the apparatus main body side, it is not necessary to connect and separate the connector and the like, and the toner temperature can be adjusted to the toner cartridge 3
Since it is not necessary to additionally provide a dedicated communication device for transmitting from the 6, 38, 40, 42 side to the device main body side,
To send the toner temperature detected by the thermistor 202 to the central control unit 208, the toner cartridge 3
It is possible to prevent the attachment / detachment work of 6, 38, 40, 42 from becoming complicated, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the device cost of the laser printer 10.

As a result, in the laser printer 10 according to the present embodiment, with the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40, 42 mounted in the cartridge holder 34,
The central control unit 208 uses the toner cartridges 36, 38, 4
By receiving the toner temperature transmitted from the wireless communication tag 72 at 0 and 42 and correcting the process control data based on this toner temperature, for example, the temperature inside the apparatus is sharply increased immediately after the main power is turned on. Even under changing conditions, the process control data can be corrected so as to be optimized based on the toner temperature detected with sufficiently high accuracy, so that the image quality change due to the toner temperature change can be effectively suppressed and the external High quality images can be stably formed without being affected by the environment.

In the laser printer 10 according to this embodiment, the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40,
Only the thermistor 202, which is a temperature sensor, is used as a toner state sensor for detecting the toner state of the toner filled in the toner tank 44 of 42. However, in addition to this thermistor 202 or in place of the thermistor 202, One of a humidity sensor that directly or indirectly detects the humidity of the filled toner and an electric resistance sensor that applies a voltage between the electrodes to the toner filled in the toner tank 44 to detect the transmission resistance of the toner, or Both may be provided in the toner tank 44, and the toner state detected by these sensors (toner state detection sensor) may be transmitted to the central control unit 208 via the wireless communication tag 72 and the wireless communication device 130.

Further, in order to detect the remaining amount of toner in the toner tank 44 as a toner state sensor, Hall elements are provided in the wireless communication tags 72 attached to the toner cartridges 36, 38, 40 and 42, respectively. Is also good. That is, since the Hall element normally converts the magnetic field strength into a linearly changing voltage,
If this Hall element is supported in the toner tank 44 at a position facing the magnetic toner or the toner containing the magnetic material, the voltage output from the Hall element decreases as the remaining amount of toner decreases. By determining the magnitude of the voltage output from the CPU 134, the remaining amount of toner in the toner tank 44 can be accurately detected.

On the other hand, in the laser printer 10, in addition to the toner temperature detected by the thermistor 202, or in place of the toner temperature, the toner humidity detected by the humidity sensor and the electric resistance of the toner detected by the electric resistance sensor are measured. The process control data may be corrected to optimize the process control and stabilize the image quality.

Further, the toner state sensor such as the thermistor 202 as described above does not necessarily have to be provided integrally with the wireless communication tag 72, and is separated from the wireless communication tag 72 to detect the toner state in the toner tank 44. It may be provided at an easy position, for example, near the bottom.

[0090]

As described above, according to the toner cartridge of the present invention, the toner state of the toner filled inside can be detected with sufficient accuracy, and the detected toner state can be detected by the information transmitting / receiving unit of the apparatus main body. Can be sent to.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
By receiving the toner state detected by the toner state sensor in the toner cartridge and controlling the image forming condition according to the toner state, it is possible to effectively suppress the image quality change due to the toner state change.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cartridge holder in which the toner cartridge in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1 is detachably mounted.

3 is a perspective view showing configurations of a toner cartridge and an antenna unit of a wireless communication device in the laser printer shown in FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a toner cartridge and a wireless communication tag attached to the toner cartridge in the laser printer shown in FIG.

5 is a front view of the wireless communication tag attached to the toner cartridge and the antenna unit of the wireless communication device attached to the toner cartridge in the laser printer shown in FIG. 1, as viewed from the outside in the axial direction.

6 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a wireless communication tag attached to a toner cartridge and an antenna unit of the wireless communication device in the laser printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication system in the laser printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation during a communication start process by the wireless communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of sign]

10 laser printer (image forming apparatus) 14 main frame (apparatus body) 34 cartridge holder (cartridge attaching / detaching portion) 36, 38, 40, 42, toner cartridge 44 toner tank 72 wireless communication tag 96, 98, 100, 102 attaching / detaching portion ( Cartridge attaching / detaching unit) 128 wireless communication system 130 wireless communication device (information transmitting / receiving unit) 202 thermistor (toner state sensor) 208 central control unit (process control unit)

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge, which is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming apparatus and supplies developing toner to a developing device provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. And the temperature and humidity of the toner filled in the toner tank,
A toner state sensor for detecting a toner state including at least one kind of remaining amount and electric resistance; and a communication / control section for transmitting the toner state detected by the toner state sensor to an information transmitting / receiving section provided in the apparatus main body. A toner cartridge comprising: 2. An information storage element in which a toner state detected by the toner state sensor is written before being attached to the apparatus body, wherein the communication / control unit is configured to detect the toner state from the information storage element when the apparatus is attached to the apparatus body. 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner state before being attached to the apparatus main body is read and the toner state is transmitted to the information transmitting / receiving unit. 3. A toner cartridge, which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and supplies developing toner filled therein to a developing device provided in the apparatus main body, wherein the cartridge component Is attached to the device, and transmits information by radio waves to the information transmission / reception unit provided in the device body,
Alternatively, a communication / control unit for receiving and a wireless communication tag equipped with an information storage element in which information is read or written by the communication / control unit, a toner tank filled with toner, and the wireless communication tag And a toner state of at least one of temperature, humidity, remaining amount, and electric resistance of the toner filled in the toner tank is detected, and the information transmission / reception is performed via the communication / control unit. A toner cartridge, comprising: a toner status sensor for transmitting a toner status to a unit; 4. The communication / control unit writes the toner status detected by the toner status sensor into an information storage element before mounting on the apparatus main body, and transfers the information from the information storage element to the apparatus main body when mounting on the apparatus main body. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner state before the mounting of the toner cartridge is read and the toner state is transmitted to the information transmitting / receiving unit by radio waves. 5. An image forming apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor using toner supplied from the toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is A cartridge attachment / detachment portion that is detachably attached, and communication in the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached to the cartridge attachment / detachment portion.
An image forming apparatus comprising: an information transmitting / receiving unit that receives information transmitted from a control unit; and a process control unit that controls an image forming condition based on the toner state received by the information transmitting / receiving unit.