JP4522095B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a process cartridge equipped with a nonvolatile memory.

  Technologies related to maintaining the quality of the image forming apparatus itself and maintaining the image quality of the apparatus have been developed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a device for reducing the cost by using a substrate pattern instead of a fuse has been devised, but the purpose is to reduce the cost of manufacturing the substrate. For maintaining the quality of the device itself and maintaining the image quality of the device. Does not contribute.

In order to maintain the quality as described above, it is sufficient if it is possible to determine whether or not the process cartridge can be used without using costly parts such as a fuse.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-038937

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of determining whether or not a process cartridge can be used by eliminating an IC chip control line mounted with a process cartridge, and maintaining the quality of the apparatus itself and the image quality of the apparatus.

Therefore, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a process cartridge having an IC chip therein, a detection unit that detects attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the apparatus, a first energization line that supplies power to the IC chip, and an IC chip. The first energization line from the first energization line to the second energization line for supplying power to the IC chip and the energization line for supplying power to the IC chip when the detection means detects that the process cartridge is detached Switching means for switching to a different second energization line; and an auxiliary power source for energizing the second energization line switched by the switching means to destroy the substrate pattern of the IC chip. When it is detected that it is detached, the energization line for supplying power to the IC chip by the switching means is connected to the first energization line. And switching to a second energization line different from the first energization line, and supplying a current from an auxiliary power source to the switched second energization line to destroy the substrate pattern of the IC chip. .

By adopting such a configuration, because the pattern in the IC chip substrate in the process cartridge, which is an important part of image quality, can be destroyed when the process cartridge is detached, it cannot be used for resetting. It is possible to prevent image defects due to scratches on the process cartridge during the detachment operation, and to prevent malfunctions and image defects caused by a third party or the like when using bad products or the like.

  According to the present invention, whether or not the process cartridge can be used can be determined, and the quality of the apparatus itself and the image quality of the apparatus can be maintained.

  An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge 2 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 in a detachable manner.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an optical system 1a, a paper feed roller 1b, a paper feed cassette 1c that stores recording paper 3, a transfer roller 1d, a fixing roller 1e, and the like. On the other hand, the process cartridge 2 includes a charging roller 2a, a developing unit and toner storage unit 2b, a cleaning unit and waste toner collecting unit 2c, a photoreceptor 2d, and the like. The optical system 1a includes a polygon motor, a polygon mirror, an Fθ lens, a laser diode, a mirror, and the like.

  An outline of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  The recording paper 3 stored in the paper feeding cassette 1c is conveyed to the photosensitive member 2d by the paper feeding roller 1b. The photosensitive member 2d is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction. At that time, the photosensitive member 2d is charged by the charging roller 2a and irradiated with laser light from the optical system 1a to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 2d.

  The electrostatic latent image is visualized by toner when passing through the developing means and the toner storage portion 2b. The visible image is transferred to the recording paper 3 conveyed to the photosensitive member 2d by the transfer roller 1d and conveyed to the fixing roller 1e, and the visible image on the recording paper 3 is fixed, and is external to the image forming apparatus 1. Discharged.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the process cartridge 2 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

  The process cartridge 2 is a unit (AIO) in which a charging roller 2a, a developing unit and a toner storage unit 2b, a cleaning unit and a waste toner collecting unit 2c, and a photoreceptor 2d are integrated.

  A memory tab 22 is mounted on the process cartridge 2 shown in FIG.

  The memory tab 22 is equipped with a non-volatile memory. Information necessary for controlling each photoconductor unit (process cartridge unit), cartridge ID, date of manufacture, date of use start, number of recycles, number of copies, The current date is stored.

  Instead of the memory tab 22, a printed board on which an IC chip is mounted or a printed board on which a non-contact IC chip is mounted may be mounted.

  As a similar configuration, FIG. 3 shows the periphery of the photosensitive member and its unit adopting a tandem imaging system of four drums.

  Each photoconductor unit (process cartridge unit) has a configuration in which a photoconductor, a charging device unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrally coupled.

  Each photoconductor unit (PCU) can be replaced by releasing each stopper.

  They are arranged in the order of paper transport from the lower right to MCYK. Note that each photoconductor unit (PCU) is incompatible with each color and cannot be interchanged between colors.

  Similarly to the PCU, the transfer unit is also laid out in an oblique direction, and transfers the image on the photosensitive member to the sheet while conveying the sheet from the lower right. In addition, the transfer unit is configured to be pulled out by tilting the release lever. Remove the transfer unit when replacing the transfer unit.

  The PCU can be pulled out by releasing the stopper.

  FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the photosensitive unit (process cartridge unit) in which the photosensitive member 3, the charging unit 7, the developing unit 9, and the cleaning unit 11 are integrally coupled. The process cartridge is configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer.

  The following is a description of FIG.

  Toner conveyance from the toner cartridge 270 to the developing unit 9 is performed by an air pump (not shown). In addition, an optical sensor (not shown) is incorporated in a conveying nozzle (not shown) to perform toner near-end detection (not shown).

  The toner conveyed from the toner cartridge 270 to the developing unit 9 is stirred with the developer by two screws (conveying screw (left) 9B and conveying screw (right) 9C) and conveyed to the developing roller 31. The amount of the agent on the roller is regulated by the developing doctor blade 90 and supplied onto the drum.

  Further, a T sensor (toner density sensor) 9E is provided on the front side of the developing unit, and the toner density in the agent is detected to control the toner density.

  Charging of the photosensitive drum 3 is performed by the charging roller 7. The charging roller 7 rotates in the opposite direction to the drum, and enables uniform charge on the drum surface. On the upper side of the charging roller 7, a charging cleaning roller 7 </ b> A is attached in a state of being permanently installed with the charging roller 7, and the charging roller 7 is cleaned.

  Untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum is collected by the cleaning unit 11 by the cleaning blade 11B and the cleaning brush 11A.

  The cleaning blade 11B is attached in the counter direction with respect to the drum rotation direction, and is permanently installed with the drum.

  The cleaning brush 11A rotates in the opposite direction to the drum, collects untransferred toner together with the blade, and sends it to the waste toner transport coil 11C side. The waste toner is transported from the waste toner transport coil 11C to the waste toner discharge port and collected by a waste toner bottle (not shown).

  The memory tab 12 is equipped with a non-volatile memory. Information necessary for controlling each photoconductor unit (process cartridge unit), cartridge ID, date of manufacture, date of use, number of recycles, number of copies, The current date is stored.

  Instead of the non-volatile memory tab, a contact type tab mounted with an IC chip, a tab mounted with a non-contact type IC chip, or a non-contact type IC card may be mounted.

  The schematic operation of FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described below.

  The photoreceptor 3 is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed.

  In the rotating process, the photosensitive member 3 is uniformly charged with a predetermined positive or negative potential on the peripheral surface thereof by the charging unit 7, and then from the image exposure unit such as slit exposure or laser beam scanning exposure of the writing system 1-1. Upon receiving the image exposure light, electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 3. The formed electrostatic latent image is then developed with toner by the developing unit 9, and the developed toner image is synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive member 3 between the photosensitive member 3 and the transfer unit 1-2 from the paper feeding unit. The transfer means 1-2 sequentially transfers the transferred transfer material.

  The transfer material that has received the image transfer is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member, introduced into the image fixing means, and fixed on the image, and printed out as a copy (copy). The surface of the photoconductor after the image transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 11 after the transfer residual toner is removed, and after being further neutralized, it is repeatedly used for image formation.

  A control block showing an embodiment having a nonvolatile memory will be described with reference to FIG.

  The CPU 1 is a ROM (program) stored therein, and communicates with the outside or reads / writes data from / from the EEPROM by an external command. The I / O Port 2 is an actuator operation and sensor input circuit. The System Control Logic 3 Is a circuit for controlling peripheral ICs, ROM 4 is a program memory, RAM 5 is a working memory for executing a program, EEPROM 6 is a non-volatile memory for storing information necessary to control the process cartridge, E- The EEPROM 7 is a memory that stores a dedicated command for writing to the EEPROM.

  The EEPROM 6 is provided in the process cartridge. Image forming conditions such as exposure amount, charge amount, development bias, cartridge lot, date of manufacture, type, lifetime identification number, start date of use, number of copies, number of recycles, recycle The upper limit of the number of times, the replacement time of the cartridge components, the toner lot, the date of manufacture, the filling amount, the type, the storage period, the number of times of recycling, the number of times of recycling, etc. are stored.

  The operation according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the IC chip in the process cartridge and the main body control unit are connected by lines such as IC1, E point, F point, and G point, and the control line is connected to the control board of the main body control unit and the control board. IC board pattern is used. Further, by controlling only point A during normal control, it is possible to control the IC chip (the curve line represents current conduction). With regard to the control lines of these IC chips, there is no problem with a current capacity of several mmA although there are some differences depending on the IC chip used.

  On the other hand, by controlling point B, it is possible to energize a current that is not comparable to that during normal control (the curve line represents current energization). As a rough guide, a conductor width of about 0.8 mm for a current of 1 A is generally required for a conductor thickness of 18 μm.

  In other words, for example, if a current of 2 A is applied to a conductor pattern having a thickness of 18 μm and a thickness of 0.8 mm, pattern burnout is predicted. Since the control line of this IC chip is satisfied with a current of about several mmA as described above, the pattern width can be set to 0.1 mm, for example.

Therefore, by performing the control at point B in FIG. 6 , the pattern can be easily burned out by applying a current of several A.

  Also, during this control, the pattern of the current-carrying part of the main body control board and the connection member between the control board and the IC chip, for example, direct connector connection between the boards, connection by electric wire, connection form does not matter, but the IC By setting the conductive part other than the pattern on the chip substrate to an appropriate pattern width and component rating that can withstand large current energization by B-point control, burnout due to pattern disappearance during this control can be limited to the IC chip substrate.

  Since the control line of the IC chip can be burned out in this way, the main body control unit cannot acquire information on the IC chip mounted on the process cartridge, so the use of the process cartridge and the use of the main body in that state are not possible. It becomes impossible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the removal of the cartridge is detected by a switch or the like. For example, a combination switch of a normally closed contact and a normally open contact such as SW1 in FIG. It is also possible to switch the power supply, and to turn ON / OFF of Tr2 and Tr3, that is, point B can be automatically turned on by the pattern burnout power supply as shown in the figure.

  By doing so, the pattern can be burned automatically and reliably when the process cartridge is detached.

  Furthermore, by using an auxiliary power source such as a power source battery for pattern burning, the above operation can be reliably performed regardless of the power supply of the main body.

  By doing so, it can be prevented that the process cartridge is misused again after replacing the process cartridge that has reached the end of its life. In addition, the process cartridge is an important part for maintaining the image of the main body and the product operation quality, and is a part that does not want to be removed before the life of the cartridge itself.

  Therefore, the quality of the product can be maintained by making the detachable cartridge by such an operation unusable.

  Further, in recent years, there is a concern that a bad cartridge by a person other than the device manufacturer may be used. However, by adopting such control, it is possible to prevent the use of bad products.

  In addition, erasing the board pattern of the control line of the control board in this manner is the same as the pattern cutting by a fuse or the like in principle, but the cost is increased by mounting a fuse and the use by a third party is prevented by replacing the fuse. I can expect.

  By doing so, the machine quality can be maintained at a low cost.

  In addition, the said form is an example which concerns on this invention, Comprising: In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change variously.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 3 is a perspective view of a process cartridge 2. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of a photoconductor and a unit thereof that employs a tandem image forming method of a four-drum. It is a detailed view of a photoreceptor unit (process cartridge unit). It is a control block which shows one Example with a non-volatile memory. It is a figure showing the connection between the IC chip in the process cartridge and the main body control unit. It is a figure showing the connection between the IC chip in the process cartridge and the main body control unit.

Explanation of symbols

270 Toner cartridge 3 Photosensitive drum 31 Developing roller 7 Charging roller 7A Charging cleaning roller 90 Developing doctor blade 9 Developing unit 9B Conveying screw (left)
9C Conveying screw (right)
9E T sensor (toner density sensor)
11 Cleaning Unit 11A Cleaning Brush 11B Cleaning Blade 11C Waste Toner Transfer Coil 12 Memory Tab

Claims (1)

A process cartridge having an IC chip inside;
Detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from its own apparatus;
A first energization line for supplying power to the IC chip;
A second energization line for supplying power to the IC chip;
When the detection means detects that the process cartridge is detached, the second energization line that is different from the first energization line from the first energization line is used as an energization line for supplying power to the IC chip. Switching means for switching to
An auxiliary power source for current that energizes the second energization line switched by the switching means to destroy the substrate pattern of the IC chip,
Sometimes the process cartridge is detected to be desorbed by said detecting means, different said power supply current line before Symbol I C chip from the first power supply line and the first power supply line by said switching means An image forming apparatus characterized by switching to a second energization line and energizing a current from the auxiliary power source to the switched second energization line to destroy the substrate pattern of the IC chip.

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