JP2005165110A - Image forming apparatus and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a main body and a process cartridge such that even a compatible main body of a process cartridge, specially, a main body of different specifications of a process cartridge can use contents of a memory stored with various information regarding process cartridges. <P>SOLUTION: A cartridge for image formation which is equipped with a memory can be loaded in an image forming apparatus and the memory of the cartridge has information regarding the cartridge equipped with it; and the image forming apparatus is equipped with a means of reading in data from the memory of the cartridge when the cartridge is loaded in the image forming apparatus, a data converting means of converting data of the cartridge memory read by the data read-in means into values suitable to the image forming apparatus, and a means of controlling the image forming apparatus with the data converted by the data converting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, and a process cartridge that can be mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a memory (or storage means) provided in the process cartridge stores information related to the process cartridge. In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge that recognize information related to the process cartridge from the memory.

  Here, examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile apparatus, and the like. The cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing unit that supplies a developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning device for the electrophotographic photosensitive member. This means that at least one of the cleaning means is configured to be easily detachable from the main body. In particular, a process cartridge (or simply a cartridge) is an integral construction of at least one or all of charging means, developing means, and cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is possible.

  2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer forms a latent image by irradiating a photoconductor with light corresponding to image information, and a developer (recording material) is developed on the latent image by developing means. The toner is supplied to make a visible image, and the image is further transferred from the photosensitive member to the recording paper to form an image on the recording paper. A toner container which is a toner storage unit is connected to the developing means, and toner is consumed by forming an image. In many cases, the toner container, the developing unit, the photosensitive member, the charging unit, and the like are integrally formed as a process cartridge. When the toner runs out, the user can form an image again by replacing the process cartridge. .

  In recent years, in laser beam printers and the like, new products have been made to share parts with the previous model as much as possible, and some specifications have been revised, such as increasing the printing speed, to provide better specifications at a lower price. In this case, the process cartridge is often compatible so that it can be used in both the previous model and the new model.

  In some cases, the process cartridge is provided with a memory such as NVRAM, and information relating to the process cartridge is stored in the memory. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-117425, when this process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body, the memory contents are transmitted to the main body by the memory content reading device provided in the main body, and the setting values and conditions of the image forming means are changed. Used as a threshold. This is because, when parts used in a process cartridge are purchased from multiple vendors, image formation can be performed under optimum conditions for the process cartridge by setting image formation conditions for each vendor. The occurrence of image defects is reduced.

In addition, as memory information, the manufacturing date of the process cartridge can be stored as in JP-A-2001-117469,
In some cases, a serial number or the like is used to recognize genuine process cartridges or individual recognition.

  When using a process cartridge with a main body with different specifications, especially with a main body with a different print speed and a different process speed of the process cartridge (or rotation speed of the photosensitive member), set the image forming conditions acting on the process cartridge to different set values, It has been usual to form an image under each optimum condition. This is because the image forming conditions acting on the process cartridge are set on the main body side.

  However, when the image forming conditions are stored in the memory provided in the process cartridge, the value is inappropriate for image formation in a main body having a different specification. On the other hand, if the image is formed with the image forming conditions stored in the main body instead of the memory value, the main body having different specifications cannot use a part of a certain vendor or cannot form an image under the optimum conditions. There was a risk of occurrence.

  A main object of the present invention is to provide a main body and a process that can use the contents of a memory storing various information related to the process cartridge in the same manner, even with a main body having a compatible process cartridge, in particular, a main body with different specifications such as process speed. It is to provide a cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention according to the present application is an image forming apparatus in which an image forming cartridge including a memory is detachable, and the memory of the cartridge relates to a cartridge including the cartridge. Have information,
Means for reading data from the memory of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus;
Data conversion means for converting the cartridge memory data read by the data reading means into a value suitable for the image forming apparatus, means for controlling the image forming apparatus with the data converted by the data conversion means,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  In the above configuration, the data in the memory of the cartridge can be converted into data optimal for the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus can be controlled.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the data conversion unit of the cartridge memory includes a unit that stores a data conversion method for each data address. The image forming apparatus.
In the above configuration, since the conversion method is associated with all data, it can be set even when the conversion method for all data is different.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the data conversion means of the cartridge memory includes means for storing the conversion method for each data conversion method. The image forming apparatus.

  In the above configuration, when the conversion methods are the same, the conversion methods can be stored together.

  As described above, according to the invention of the present application, data in the memory of the process cartridge can be converted into data suitable for the image forming apparatus by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to apparatus bodies having different specifications, and the memory information can be used without any leakage.

  For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare different cartridges for the main bodies having different process speeds, so that the number of types of cartridges can be reduced, and the production efficiency at the factory can be improved, and the inventory at the sales can be reduced.

(Example 1)
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a laser beam printer that receives image information from a host computer, a network, and the like, and outputs the image information on a recording sheet. The process cartridge can be detached from the main body and replaced.

  The configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. C. is a process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from a printer main body P. which performs image formation by electrophotography. 2. is a non-volatile memory provided in the process cartridge, for example, using an EEPROM. P. is the main body of the printer and has a faster printing speed than printer Q. Process cartridge C. can be used for both printer P and Q. 4 is a memory content reading means provided in the printer main body P., which reads the contents of the memory 2 of the process cartridge C. mounted on the printer P. Reference numeral 5 denotes a conversion memory, which stores conversion data for converting the read contents of the memory 2. 6. CPU is responsible for various controls such as the operation of the printer P. Here, it is assumed that the CPU 6. incorporates ROM, RAM, I / O, and the like. Reference numeral 7 denotes an interface line connected by a connector or the like when the process cartridge C. is mounted on the printer P.

  The contents of memory 2 are shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, DATA1 to DATA10 are stored at addresses 1 to 10. Among these, data stored at addresses 1 to 5 is data for identifying the individual process cartridge C. For example, a code number for identifying the process cartridge, a manufacturing company name, a manufacturing factory name, a manufacturing date, a serial number, and the like. The data stored in the addresses 6 to 10 are data such as optimum setting values for forming an image with the process cartridge C. For example, the charging applied current value and the photosensitive member sensitivity.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration of the printer P. with the process cartridge C. installed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration of the process cartridge C. As shown in these figures, the process cartridge C is disposed in a non-contact manner in a non-contact manner with the photosensitive member 10. which is a latent image carrier, a charging roller 9. for uniformly charging the photosensitive member, and the photosensitive member 10. The toner container, which is a storage portion of the toner T connected to the developing roller 11 and the toner regulating member 6 as the developing means, the cleaning means 8, and the cleaning means 8. And a waste toner container for storing the waste toner.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the laser printer P. which is an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge C is mounted has a laser scanner 15 which irradiates a laser beam 10. corresponding to image information above the process cartridge C. Further, a transfer means 12. facing the photoreceptor 1 is disposed below. In the above configuration, the photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 9. The surface of the photosensitive member 1 is scanned and exposed by the laser beam 14. The laser latent image of the target image information is formed. . The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the toner T in the toner container attached thereto by the action of a developing bias applied to the developing roller 11. The developing bias overlaps AC and DC. The image on the photoreceptor 1 is transferred onto the recording paper by the transfer means 12. The recording paper passes through the fixing means 13 to fix the image on the recording paper and is discharged outside the main body. In this embodiment, the bias applied to the charging roller 9. is controlled so that the AC current value becomes constant.

  The reading operation of the memory 2 of the cartridge C. is performed when the high-voltage power supply for supplying a bias to the charging roller 9. development bias before the image forming operation is turned off. Data writing to the memory 2 is performed in the manufacturing process of the cartridge C.

  In the conventional printer Q, as shown in FIG. 4, the contents of the memory 2 are taken into the main body by the reading means 4. The data is once stored in the storage means in the main body, and the data is used as it is if necessary. . For example, in order to determine whether the mounted process cartridge is a genuine product, the addresses 1 to 5 are referred to, and the current value applied to the charging roller 9. refers to the data of the address 6.

  In this embodiment, the charging roller 9. is supplied from two vendors A and B, and the prescription is different. Therefore, the optimum current value applied to the charging roller 9 is different when charging the photosensitive member 10. uniformly. Therefore, in order to make the applied current value to the charging roller 9. different between the charging roller of the company A and the charging roller of the company B, it is used for the cartridge C. in the memory 2. An applied current value suitable for the charging roller is stored. The main body Q. reads the value in the memory 2 and sets the current value to be applied to the charging roller 9. according to the value.

  However, when the cartridge C is used also in the printer P having a printing speed faster than the printer Q, that is, the rotational speed of the photosensitive member 10. This charging current value must be changed between the printer Q and the printer P.

  Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the printer P. is provided with the data conversion memory 5. The data 1 to 10 in the memory 2 of the cartridge C. become the optimum data 101 to 110 in the printer P. Such conversion data was stored. First, the data in the memory 2 is taken into the main body by the reading means 4, and once stored in the storage means in the main body, it is converted by the CPU according to the conversion data stored in the conversion memory 5. The converted data is used by the printer P as use data.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, conversion data is prepared for all data in the data conversion memory 5. As for data 1 to 5, data that does not need to be converted is converted into data that is not converted. Therefore, DATA1 = DATA101, DATA2 = DATA102,..., DATA5 = DATA105.

  In this embodiment, the optimum value of the applied current value to the charging roller 9. in the printer P is 1.2 times the applied current value in the printer Q. The conversion data 6 is data that is multiplied by 1.2. DATA6 in which the charging roller applied current value is stored stores a value multiplied by 1.2 as DATA106 via the conversion data 6.

  In the present embodiment, as the data conversion of the memory 2, an example of non-conversion and constant multiplication is shown, but other conversion methods such as four arithmetic operations, conversion by a predetermined function, conversion based on a predetermined conversion table, etc. There is no limit.

  Next, processing in each case of the printer P and the printer Q will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  After the printer power is turned on (201), the printer P determines whether the cover is closed (202). If the cover is closed, the memory P is accessed (203). Next, it is checked whether or not the memory 2 itself exists (204). The presence / absence check of the memory 2 is determined by transmitting a predetermined signal to the memory 2 and whether there is a response signal. If it is determined that the memory 2 exists, the data in the memory 2 is read (205), and the data is converted in accordance with the conversion memory described above (206). The converted data is stored in the storage unit of the main body (207), and image formation is executed (208). After image formation, it is checked whether the power is turned off or the cover is opened (209). If the power is turned off or the cover is opened, the process is terminated (210).

  Further, after the printer power is turned on (301), the printer Q determines whether the cover is closed (302), and if the cover is closed, accesses the memory 2 (303). Next, it is checked whether or not the memory 2 itself exists (304). The presence / absence check of the memory 2 is determined by transmitting a predetermined signal to the memory 2 and whether there is a response signal. If it is determined that the memory 2 is present, the data in the memory 2 is read (305), the read data is stored in the storage unit of the main body (207), and image formation is executed (208). After image formation, it is checked whether the power is turned off or the cover is opened (209). If the power is turned off or the cover is opened, the process is terminated (210).

  As described above, in the case of the printer P, the data read from the memory 2 is converted using the conversion memory, and in the case of the printer Q, the conversion process is not performed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the conversion method is associated with all data, it can be set even when the conversion method for all data is different, so that it is possible to perform strict conversion of data and realize optimal conversion of data. .

(Example 2)
A second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the conversion data for converting the data in the memory 2 is different from that in the first embodiment.

  As can be seen in Example 1, the conversion method is often smaller than the number of data. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, as many conversion data as the number of conversion methods are prepared, and a conversion correspondence table indicating which data is to be converted is newly provided.

  Data A at address A in the conversion memory means unconverted. In addition, the data B at the address B in the conversion memory means that the data is multiplied by 1.2. On the other hand, in the conversion correspondence table, the addresses 1 to 5 of the memory 2 are instructed to refer to the address A of the conversion memory. Similarly, the address 6. indicates the address B of the conversion memory, and the address of the conversion memory to which all data in the memory 2 should refer. In this way, all data is converted into use data according to a predetermined conversion method.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in the above configuration, when the conversion methods are the same, they can be stored together, so that the capacity of the storage means of the main body can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus (printer) according to the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer equipped with a process cartridge according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the process cartridge which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of conversion of memory data concerning the 1st example of the present invention. It is a block diagram of conversion of memory data concerning the 2nd example of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for processing in each case of a printer P and a printer Q.

Explanation of symbols

2. 3. Cartridge memory 4. Memory data reading means Data conversion memory CPU
7). Interface 8. 8. Cleaning blade Charging roller 10. Photoconductor 12. Transfer roller 13. Fixing unit 14. Laser beam Printer of the present invention Q. Printer with different specifications from P
C. Process cartridge
T. Toner

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for image formation including a memory is detachable, and the memory of the cartridge has information on the cartridge including the memory,
Means for reading data from the memory of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus;
Data conversion means for converting the cartridge memory data read by the data reading means into a value suitable for the image forming apparatus;
Means for controlling the image forming apparatus with the data converted by the data conversion means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data conversion means of the cartridge memory includes means for storing a data conversion method for each data address.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data conversion means of the cartridge memory includes means for storing a conversion method for each data conversion method. Means for reading data from the memory of a cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus;
Data conversion means for converting the cartridge memory data read by the data reading means into a value suitable for the image forming apparatus;
Means for controlling the image forming apparatus with the data converted by the data conversion means;
In a process cartridge that can be mounted on an image forming apparatus comprising:
A process cartridge characterized in that a memory provided in the process cartridge has an image forming condition when an image forming operation is performed by an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge.

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