JP2001125354A - Developing device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device for an image forming device capable of correctly loading the prescribed type of a toner container to the prescribed type of a developing device for an image forming device. SOLUTION: As for the developing device 12 provided with a toner container 14 for storing various kinds of toner and a developing device main body 22 to which the toner container 14 is loaded, projecting parts 16 to 18 are arranged on one of the toner container 14 and the developing device main body 22, besides, recessed parts 26 to 28 which are engaged with the projecting parts 16 to 18 are arranged on the other of them, a switch driving part 20 is arranged in the toner container 14, and also, a switch 30 which is turned on by the switch driving part 20 is arranged in the developing device main body 22, and then, by distinguishing whether or not the projecting parts are engaged with the recessed parts, and whether or not the switch 30 is turned on by the switch driving part 20, the prescribed type of the toner container 14 is loaded to the developing device main body 22 of the prescribed type of the developing device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer, for example,
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus used in a copying machine or the like, and more particularly, to a developing device of the image forming device and a toner container of the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus includes a mica toner printer which prints a numerical value of a check or the like by using a so-called mica toner containing expensive magnetic powder, in addition to being used for a normal printer or a copying machine. For example, there are image forming apparatuses that are used in various ways. The size and shape of the toner container used in the developing device of such various image forming apparatuses are basically the same so that the cost can be reduced by sharing the toner container among various image forming apparatuses. Things are used.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional developing device of an image forming apparatus, the toner containers used in the developing devices of the various image forming apparatuses have basically the same size and shape. If no countermeasures are taken because the product is used, expensive mica toner can be used for ordinary printers, or mica toner printers can be used for regular checks without magnetic powder to pay for checks, etc. For example, there is a problem in that it is not possible to magnetically detect a numeral or the like, and that an error occurs when a predetermined type of toner container is loaded in a developing device such as a printer or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a developing device for an image forming apparatus capable of surely loading a predetermined type of toner container into a developing device for a predetermined type of image forming apparatus. The task is to do so.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus, wherein a toner container containing various kinds of toner and a toner container are loaded. In a developing device including a developing device main body, a convex portion is provided on one of the toner container and the developing device main body, a concave portion for fitting the convex portion is provided on the other, and a switch driving unit is provided on the toner container. Along with
A switch that is turned on by the switch driving unit is provided in the developing device main body, and a determination is made as to whether or not the projection and the recess can be fitted and whether the switch is turned on by the switch driving unit. In this case, a predetermined type of toner container can be loaded into a developing device of an image forming apparatus of the type described above.

According to the developing device of the image forming apparatus having such a configuration, a convex portion is provided in one of the toner container and the developing device main body, and a concave portion in which the convex portion is fitted is provided in the other. A drive unit is provided, and a switch that is turned on by the switch drive unit is provided in the developing device main body,
By determining whether or not the protrusion and the recess can be fitted and whether or not the switch is turned on by the switch driving unit, the loaded toner container is of a predetermined type in a predetermined type of developing device of the image forming apparatus. It can be definitely determined at the user level whether the container is a toner container.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5
FIG. 1 is a diagram referred to for describing a first embodiment of a developing device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which a toner container 14 (toner container) is taken in and out of a developing device 12 of a mica toner printer 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the toner container 14 as viewed obliquely from below. As shown in the figure, three projections 16, 1
As shown in FIG. 3, a column-shaped switch drive section 20 having a cross-shaped cross section is formed to protrude downward in the vicinity of the projection 18 in addition to the projections 7 and 18 (projections).

FIG. 4 is a view of the developing device main body 22 of the developing device 12 into which the toner container 14 is loaded, as viewed obliquely from below. The developing device main body 22 is formed with holes 26, 27, and 28 (recesses) into which the projections 16, 17, and 18 of the toner container 14 are fitted, and the switch drive unit 20 of the toner container 14 is formed. Is pressed and turned on
There is provided a switch 30 for turning on.

When the toner container 14 is loaded on such a developing device main body 22, as shown in FIG.
Each of the projections 16, 17, 18 of the toner container 14 fits into each of the holes 26, 27, 28 of the developing device main body 22, and the switch drive unit 20 of the toner container 14
Presses the switch 30 of the developing device main body 22 to
N.

For this reason, the mica toner printer 10 determines that the toner container 14 loaded on the developing device main body 22 of the developing device 12 is a mica toner container having mica toner stored therein, and checks it. It is allowed to start the operation of printing the number of money or the like on the like.

If the switch drive unit 20 is not attached to the toner container loaded in the developing device main body 22 of the mica toner printer 10, the switch 30 is turned on.
This does not affect the mica toner printer 10
Determines that the toner container is not a mica toner container in which mica toner is stored, displays the fact on the display of the mica toner printer 10 and notifies a user or the like who handles the mica toner printer 10 And prohibits the mica toner printer 10 from starting the operation of printing the amount of money or the like on a check or the like (specifically, prohibits the use of a mica-specific font).

Therefore, it is possible to start an operation for printing after a predetermined type of toner container is definitely loaded into a predetermined type of printer or the like. In this case, it is possible to prohibit the operation of displaying and printing the content only when a print command including the mica-specific font is issued, and to enable printing of other fonts.

By the way, the projection 16 of the toner container 14
To 18 are formed with a small thickness, and the toner powder is also filled in the interior of the cartridge, when the container is forcibly folded to make the toner container compatible, The toner powder is spilled and hinders the use of the toner container. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a malicious use of trying to have compatibility even though the compatibility is not really true.

FIG. 6 shows a toner container 15 according to a modification of the toner container 14 according to the first embodiment. The toner container 15 is configured such that the projection 18 and the switch driving unit 20 of the toner container 14 are
An L-shaped projection 21 integrally formed as a letter-shaped stepped projection is provided.

The L-shaped projection 21 of the toner container 15 is integrally formed with a switch driving portion 21a for turning on the switch 30 of the developing device main body 22, and a flat portion on the switch driving portion 21a has It is possible to display a model number ABC or the like representing a use or a model. Then, the L-shaped projection 21 is filled with L
By forming the U-shaped protrusion 21 with a small thickness,
Again, such malicious use as described above can be prevented.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams referred to for describing a second embodiment of the present invention. The toner container 34 (toner container) shown in FIG. 7 is a toner container used not in the mica toner printer 10 but in a developing device of a printer using ordinary toner. Since the toner container 34 does not include the switch drive unit 20 of the toner container 14 according to the first embodiment, the toner container 34 is loaded into the developing device main body 22 of the mica toner printer 10 according to the first embodiment. Even if the switch 30 is not turned on, the mica toner printer 10 is prohibited from starting the operation of printing the amount of money or the like on a check or the like as described above.

The toner container 34 has a projection 3
6, 37 (convex portion).
Is a hole 4 formed in the developing device main body 42 shown in FIG.
6, 47 (recess), so that the toner container 34 is loaded on the developing device main body 42.

In the printer using ordinary toner according to the second embodiment, since the switch 30 is not provided on the developing device main body 42 as in the first embodiment, the protrusions 36 and 37 are formed as holes. The operation of printing characters and the like on ordinary transfer paper can be started only by fitting the toner containers 34 onto the developing device main body 42 by fitting them into the portions 46 and 47.

Conversely, when the toner container 14 according to the first embodiment is loaded into the developing device main body 42 according to the second embodiment, the position 49 where the projection 18 of the toner container 14 is fitted is closed. Therefore, the toner container 14 cannot be loaded on the developing device main body 42. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a normal printer from printing a numeral or the like of a check or the like on ordinary transfer paper using mica toner.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are views referred to for describing a third embodiment of the present invention. Even for ordinary printers that use ordinary toner, the temperature and humidity vary widely depending on the country or region where the printer is used, so use a toner that is appropriate for the temperature or humidity in those countries or regions. There is a need to. In this case, the toner storing toner adjusted to be different from the normal toner stored in the toner container 34 used in the second embodiment and suitable for the temperature and humidity of the destination country or region. Container 54 (FIG. 9)
The toner container 54 (toner container) is the developing device main body 4 according to the second embodiment.
I don't want to be able to load 2

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the projection 37 (projection) at the lower part of the toner container 54 is provided at the same position as that of the toner container 34 according to the second embodiment. The protrusion 38 is provided in the toner container 3.
4 are provided at positions slightly shifted.

Such a toner container 54 is shown in FIG.
And a hole 47 of the developing device main body 62 is provided at the same position as that of the developing device main body 42 according to the second embodiment, but another hole 48 is provided. The hole 46 of the developing device main body 42 is provided at a slightly shifted position.

For this reason, the toner container 54 is
Can not be loaded in the developing device main body 42 according to the embodiment,
Conversely, since the toner container 34 according to the second embodiment cannot be loaded into the developing device main body 62 according to the third embodiment, a predetermined type of a developing device such as a printer is used. The printing operation can be started after the toner container is definitely loaded. For this reason, different types of toner containers, such as those that are limited in area or in use, can be produced.

The projection 38 of the toner container 54 can be replaced with a part of the mold that forms the projection 36 of the toner container 34 by using a nesting method, and can be replaced with a part of the mold that forms the projection 38 of the toner container 54. It can be formed by changing. The hole 48 of the developing device main body 62
May be formed by nesting a part of the mold in the same manner as the projections 38 so that the mold can be replaced. And the hole 48 may be formed by drilling a hole at a position shifted therefrom.

In the third embodiment, the type of the toner container is determined by shifting the positions of the protrusions 38 and the holes 48. Instead of shifting the positions of the protrusions and the holes,
The size (diameter), cross-sectional shape, and number of the protrusions and holes may be changed, or in addition thereto, the color of the toner container may be changed, or each of the toner containers may be different. The type of the toner container may be complementarily determined by attaching a display label.

FIGS. 11 to 14 are diagrams referred to for describing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The toner container 64 (toner container) shown in FIG.
The drive pins 66 and 67 (switch drive units) are provided. A developing device main body 72 (see FIG. 12) into which the toner container 64 is loaded has two switches 69 and 70.
Is provided.

Before the switches 69 and 70 are pressed by the drive pins 66 and 67, the movable terminal M is separated from the fixed terminal F. However, when the toner container 64 is loaded on the developing device main body 72 and the drive pins 66 and 67 are pressed. 12, the movable terminal M comes into contact with the fixed terminal F to turn on the switches 69 and 70, as shown in FIG.

For such a toner container 64,
One drive pin 6 is provided in the toner container 74 shown in FIG.
6 and the toner container 84 shown in FIG. 14 has only one drive pin 67. That is, the toner container 74 has only one driving pin 66 of the toner container 64, and the toner container 84 has only the other driving pin 67 of the toner container 64.

Therefore, when the toner container 74 is loaded in the developing device main body 72, only the switch 69 is turned on,
When the toner container 84 is loaded in the developing device main body 72, only the switch 70 is turned on.

Therefore, in the developing device main body 72, when both the switches 69 and 70 are turned on, the toner container 6
It is determined that the toner container 74 has been loaded when only the switch 69 is turned on, and it is determined that the toner container 84 has been loaded when only the switch 70 is turned on.

The image forming apparatus having such a developing device main body 72 is provided only when either of the switches 69 and 70 is turned on, when only the switch 69 is turned on, or when only the switch 70 is turned on. If the setting is made such that the image forming operation is permitted, three types of image forming apparatuses corresponding to each of the three types of toner containers 64, 74, and 84 can be set. For this reason, different types of toner containers, such as those that are limited in area or in use, can be produced.

That is, three types of toner containers 64,
Each of the toner containers 74 and 84 contains a separate toner, for example, mica toner, ordinary toner, or a toner for a specific region or country. The toner container can be made unloadable.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A convex portion is provided on one of the toner container and the developing device main body, a concave portion for fitting the convex portion is provided on the other, a switch driving portion is provided on the toner container, and a switch turned on by the switch driving portion on the developing device main body. The toner container to be loaded is determined in advance in a developing device of a predetermined type of image forming apparatus by determining whether the convex portion and the concave portion can be fitted and whether the switch is turned on by the switch driving portion. The type of toner container can be definitely determined. For this reason, a predetermined type of toner container can be surely loaded into a developing device of a predetermined type of image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a toner container 14 is inserted into and removed from a developing device 12 of a mica toner printer 10. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner container 14 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the inside of a circle A of the toner container 14 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the developing device main body 22 for loading the toner container 14 of the developing device 12 as viewed from below.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state where the toner container 14 is loaded on the developing device main body 22 as viewed from below.

6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a toner container 15 as a modified example of the toner container 14 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a toner container according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

8 is a perspective view of the developing device main body 42 into which the toner container 34 of FIG. 7 is loaded, as viewed from above.

9 is a perspective view of a toner container different from the toner container of FIG. 7 when viewed from below.

10 is a perspective view of a developing device main body 62 in which the toner container 54 of FIG. 9 is loaded, as viewed from above.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a toner container 64 according to a third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

12 is an enlarged sectional view of switches 69 and 70 of the developing device main body 72 into which the toner container 64 of FIG. 11 is loaded.

13 is a perspective view of a different type of toner container 74 from the toner container 64 of FIG. 11 when viewed from above.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the toner containers 64 and 74 of FIGS. 11 and 13 and another type of toner container 84 as viewed from above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mica toner printer 12 Developing device 14, 15 Toner container 16-18 Projection 20 Switch drive part 21 L-shaped projection 22 Developing device main body 26-28 Hole 30 Switch 34 Toner container 36-38 Protrusion 42 Developing device main body 46-48 hole Unit 54 Toner Container 62 Developing Device Main Body 64 Toner Container 66, 67 Drive Pin 69, 70 Switch 72 Developing Device Main Body 74, 84 Toner Container A Circle F Fixed Terminal M Movable Terminal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing device for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner container for storing various toners; and a developing device main body for loading the toner container. A convex portion is provided on one side of the developing device main body, a concave portion in which the convex portion is fitted is provided on the other side, a switch driver is provided on the toner container, and a switch turned on by the switch driver on the developing device main body. By determining whether or not the convex portion and the concave portion can be fitted to each other and whether or not the switch is turned on by the switch driving portion, a predetermined type of the developing device of the predetermined type of image forming apparatus is determined. A developing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner container can be loaded. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said convex portion and said concave portion are fitted or not.
By determining whether or not the switch is turned on by the switch driving unit, when it is determined that the toner container loaded in the developing device of the predetermined type of image forming apparatus is not a predetermined type of toner container, 2. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal is output so as to prohibit an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus. And determining whether or not the projection and the recess can be fitted together.
By determining whether or not the switch is turned on by the switch driving unit, when it is determined that the toner container loaded in the developing device of the predetermined type of image forming apparatus is not a predetermined type of toner container, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal is output to display on the display unit of the image forming apparatus that the loaded toner container is of a different type from the predetermined type. The developing device of the image forming apparatus described in the above. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of kinds of toner containers is increased by changing positions, shapes, sizes, numbers, and the like of the convex portions and the concave portions. Developing device. 5. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is provided with a convex portion, and the convex portion is filled with toner. When the convex portion is intentionally folded or removed, the toner leaks from the removed portion. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The developing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein different colors are assigned to different types of toner containers.