JP2003057896A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device quipped with a function for detecting the exchange of an image forming unit at low cost. SOLUTION: This image forming device is equipped with storing elements 41 and 42 respectively provided in at least two image forming units 32 and 40 and storing information (ID) concerning the units 32 and 40, and a control means 52 capable of reading out the stored information in the elements 41 and 42. The elements 41 and 42 store information on another storing element written by the control means 52, and the control means 52 compares the information stored in the storing elements of the respective image forming units with the information stored in the storing element of the image forming unit other than the above image forming units.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with at least two image forming units which are detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a replenishing container (image forming unit) such as a toner cartridge that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body.
When exchanging, the detection of the exchange and the adjustment of the image forming condition of the supply container before and after the exchange are performed by the information stored in the storage means provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and the storage means provided in the supply container. It was realized by collating with the information stored in.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, storage means is required in both the supply container and the apparatus main body. For example, in the image forming apparatus using both the electrophotographic method and the ink jet method, the toner is used. A supply container,
The ink supply container and the main body of the image forming apparatus need to be provided with storage means, respectively, which increases the number of parts and inevitably increases the cost of the entire image forming apparatus.

Further, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the photosensitive drum cartridge is replaceable in addition to the toner replenishing container, the toner replenishing container, the photosensitive drum cartridge, and the image forming apparatus main body are respectively stored. It is necessary to provide a means, and even in this case, the cost of the entire image forming apparatus is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be provided with a function of detecting replacement of an image forming unit at low cost.

[0006]

The present invention has means for solving the above-mentioned problems as follows.

(1) At least two image forming units detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a storage element provided in each of the image forming units and storing information (ID) about the image forming unit. A control unit capable of reading the stored information of each of the storage elements,
The storage element stores information of another storage element written by the control means, and the control means causes the control element to store information stored in the storage element of each of the image forming units and an image forming unit other than the image forming unit. It is characterized by comparing with the information stored in the storage element of the unit.

In this structure, the control means is used to
The information stored in the storage element of each image forming unit itself can be compared with the information stored in the storage element of another image forming unit.

When it is determined that the information stored in the storage element of the image forming unit itself and the information stored in the storage element of another image forming unit do not match with respect to the information about the image forming unit. Can know that the imaging unit has been replaced.

As described above, when it is determined whether or not each image forming unit has been replaced, the determination is made using the information stored in the storage element of each image forming unit. The storage element provided in the image forming apparatus main body for storing information can be eliminated.

(2) The storage element further stores information on the type of image forming unit suitable for the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In this structure, the storage element further stores information regarding the type of the image forming unit suitable for the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, when a certain image forming unit is replaced, the replaced image forming unit is suitable for the image forming apparatus by using the information stored in the storage element of the image forming unit which has not been replaced. It can be determined whether or not.

As a result, when it is determined whether or not the genuine image forming unit has been replaced, the determination is made using the information stored in the storage element of another image forming unit. The storage element provided in the image forming apparatus main body for storing the information can be eliminated.

(3) The storage element further stores information regarding image forming conditions in an image forming process performed by the image forming apparatus.

In this configuration, when a certain image forming unit is replaced, the newly replaced image forming unit is used by using the image forming condition stored in the storage element of the image forming unit other than the replaced image forming unit. The image forming conditions of the unit can be set.

(4) The storage element is a writable non-volatile memory.

In this configuration, it is possible to retain information regarding other image forming units stored in each storage element before and after the power is turned off.

As a result, each storage element stores the determination whether or not each image forming unit has been replaced or whether or not a genuine image forming unit has been replaced, even before and after power-off. This can be done using information about the imaging unit.

Since the image forming conditions are stored in each storage element before and after the power is turned off, the image forming conditions before and after the power is turned off can be maintained.

(5) When the control means determines that the information regarding each image forming unit is not stored in the storage element of any image forming unit other than the image forming unit, the image forming units already exchanged are replaced. It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying a message requesting that at least one of the units is mounted again on the image forming apparatus.

In this configuration, when the control means determines that the information regarding each image forming unit is not stored in the storage element of any image forming unit other than that image forming unit, the image forming unit already exchanged is replaced. Display means is provided for displaying a message requesting that at least one of the image units should be attached to the image forming apparatus again.

If it is determined that the information about each image forming unit is not stored in the storage element of any image forming unit other than the image forming unit, the image forming unit provided in the image forming apparatus is This is the case when they are all replaced at the same time.

That is, the display means displays a message requesting that at least one of the image forming units that has already been exchanged be mounted again in the image forming apparatus when all the image forming units have been exchanged at the same time. .

In response to the message, the control means reads the information about the other image forming unit stored before the replacement from the storage element of the image forming unit remounted by the user, and the information is exchanged for the new image forming unit. Can be stored in the storage element. Therefore, the information that each image forming unit had before the replacement can be easily restored after the replacement.

[0026]

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

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus 1, which is composed of a scanner optical system 3 and an image forming section 4.
The scanner optical system 3 arranged on the back side of the document table 2 reads an image of the document placed on the document table 2 made of transparent glass or the like, and forms an image corresponding to the read image data. The section 4 forms an image on the sheet 5.

The scanner optical system 3 includes an exposure light source 11 for irradiating a document with light, reflecting mirrors 12 to 14 for guiding the reflected light from the document so as to maintain a constant optical path length, and an imaging lens 1.
5 and a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 16, and a first scanning unit including an exposure light source 11 and a reflecting mirror 12 scans from one end of the document table 2 to the other end at a speed V, and in response thereto. The second scanning unit including the reflecting mirrors 13 and 14 scans from one end to the center at a speed of V / 2, and the optical path length from each scanning portion of the document to the CCD 16 is maintained constant during that period.

The original image data read by the CCD 16 is subjected to image processing and then given to a laser scanning unit (not shown) of the image forming section 4, whereby the photosensitive member is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow 22. The body drum 21 is irradiated with laser light corresponding to an original image, and an electrostatic latent image is formed.

A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by exposure from the laser irradiation point in the rotation direction 22 around the photosensitive drum 21 into a visible image with toner. 23 and the toner image on paper 5
A transfer charger 24 for transferring the toner to the photosensitive drum 21, a cleaning device (not shown) for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, a main charger 25 for charging the photosensitive drum 21 to a predetermined potential, and the like are sequentially provided. In this image forming section 4, a toner image is formed on the sheet 5 by electrophotography.

A paper feed cassette 26, a manual feed tray 27, and the paper feed cassette 2 are provided below the image forming section 4.
6 or pick-up rollers 28, 28 for taking out the paper 5 one by one from the manual feed tray 27, the taken-out paper 5
Is fed to the transfer portion at a predetermined timing, and the photosensitive drum 21
A registration roller 29 for aligning the upper toner image with the sheet 5 and a fixing device 30 for heating and fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet 5 are provided.

A print head 31 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 21, and an ink cartridge (image forming unit) 32 is detachably attached to the print head 31. Conveying rollers 33 and 34 are provided, and a discharge roller 35 and a discharge tray 36 are arranged on the downstream side.

With such a structure, after the sheet 5 having the toner image transferred by the electrophotographic system passes through the fixing device 30 and the toner image is fixed, printing by the ink jet system is further performed by the print head 31. Then, the paper 5 which has been printed by both methods is discharged to the paper discharge tray 34.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the structure in the vicinity of the print head 31 and the photosensitive drum 21 in the image forming section 4. As is apparent from the configuration shown in the figure, the sheet 5 on which the toner image has been fixed by passing through the fixing device 30 has a switching claw 39 provided at a branch point between the main conveyance path 37 and the sub-conveyance path 38. In the case of the position "A", the sheet is conveyed by the sheet discharge roller 35 toward the print head 31 and printing by the inkjet method is performed.

By the way, in electrophotographic printing, the printing speed is high, but it is difficult to produce colors and it is expensive. On the other hand, in inkjet printing, colorization can be easily performed, but the printing speed is slow. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by combining the both, the advantages of both are utilized, and the monochrome is printed by the electrophotographic method, and the color is printed by the inkjet method.

The electrophotographic developing device 23 includes a toner box (image forming unit) 40 for accommodating toner as a developer and an IC chip (storage element) 41. The developing device 23 is formed in a unit structure,
It can be replaced by pulling it out in the front direction of the paper surface of FIG.

Further, in the developing device 23, the toner box 40 is replaceable in the pulled-out state,
By replacing the developer, the developer is replenished. The IC chip 41 attached to the toner box 40 will be described later.

Similarly, the print head 31 and the ink cartridge 32 have a unit structure, so that they can be pulled out and replaced as a whole in the front direction of the paper surface of FIG. The IC chip (storage element) 42 attached to the ink cartridge 32 will be described later.

The IC chip 41 attached to the toner box 40 has a memory 41 as shown in FIG.
a (ROM) is provided, and ID information of the toner box 40, information about image forming conditions, and information about the ink cartridge 32 are stored corresponding to each address.

As "ID information", the address 0001 is the device name and model number of the toner box 40 that can be used, and the address 0002 is the lot number of the developer stored in the toner box 40. At the address 0003, the life of the developer (remaining life of the developer, remaining amount of toner, life of the cartridge itself, etc.), and at address 0004, a random number generated by the main CPU for writing in the memory 41a of the IC chip 41. , The number of times the container of the toner box 40 is recycled at the address 0005, the initial state of the developer in the toner box 40 at the address 0006 (initial), and whether the toner box is initially used at the address 0007. Information on the determination result of whether or not it is stored.

Further, as information regarding image forming conditions,
At the address 0008, the adjustment value of the image forming apparatus 1 in the electrophotographic printing (the output correction value of the toner sensor,
Information on the developing conditions of the developer (developing bias voltage, etc.), charging high voltage value, correction value of sheet feeding tip of image forming apparatus main body, etc. is stored. Information about the ink cartridge 32 is stored at the address 0009.

Similarly, the IC chip (storage element) 42 of the ink cartridge 32 is also provided with a memory 42a (ROM), and the ID information of the ink cartridge 32 and the image forming conditions are provided corresponding to each address. Information regarding the toner box 40 and information regarding the toner box 40 are stored.

As "ID information", the device name and model number of the ink cartridge 32 that can be used at the address 0001, the lot number of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 32 at the address 0002,
At the address 0003, the life of the ink cartridge 32 (ink remaining amount, life of the ink head, etc.), address 0
A random number generated by the CPU for writing in the memory 42a of the IC chip 42 at the address 004, the number of times the container of the ink cartridge 32 is recycled at the address 0005, and the initial ink of the ink cartridge 32 at the address 0006. State (initial),
Ink cartridge 32 at address 0007
Stores information on the determination result of whether or not is the initial use.

As information relating to the image forming conditions, at the address 0008, adjustment values of the image forming apparatus 1 in ink jet printing (ink ejection pressure, carriage home position correction, head feed speed correction value, etc.) The information of is stored. Also, the address 000
Information on the ink cartridge 32 is stored at address 9.

FIG. 4 shows an IC chip 41 and an IC chip 42.
The schematic configuration of As shown, toner is supplied from the toner box 40 to the electrophotographic printing unit 50, and ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 32 to the inkjet printing unit 51. Further, the electrophotographic printing unit 50 and the inkjet printing unit 51 are controlled by the CPU 52a of the control unit 52 for image formation.

Further, the IC chip 4 of the toner box 40
1 and the IC chip 42 of the ink cartridge 32 are C
Mutual information writing / reading can be performed by the PU 52a. That is, the information about the ink cartridge 32 is stored at the address 0009 (FIG. 3) of the IC chip 41, and the information about the toner box 40 is stored at the address 0009 (FIG. 3) of the IC chip 42.

FIG. 5 shows an IC chip 41 of the toner box 40, an IC chip 42 of the ink cartridge 32,
The connection state with the CPU 52a is shown. As shown, when the developing device 23 to which the toner box 40 is attached is attached to the apparatus main body, the substrate 6 on which the IC chip 41 is mounted is mounted.
0 and a substrate 61 on which the IC chip 42 is mounted, and a CPU
The main body control board 63 on which the (main CPU) 52a is mounted is electrically and mechanically connected to each other via the connector 64 and the connector 65.

As a result, the IC chips 41 and 42 are
When the power supply line 66 receives the power supply VCC from the substrate 63 on the apparatus main body side and the GND line 67 grounds the device, it becomes operable. Also, CPU
A clock is supplied from 52a through a line 68,
CPU 52a and IC chips 41, 4 via line 69
2 data transmission / reception with IC chip 41.4
It becomes possible to send and receive data between the two.

Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 determines that the CPU 52a does not store the ID information regarding the ink cartridge 32 in the IC chip of the toner box,
On the contrary, the CPU 52a causes the I
The D information is the IC chips 41 and 4 of the ink cartridge 32.
When it is determined that the toner box or the ink cartridge 32 has not been stored in No.
And a display unit (not shown) for displaying a message requesting that at least one of the above is mounted again in the image forming apparatus.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, the toner box 40 and the ink cartridge 32 which can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, and the information (ID) relating to the image forming unit are provided corresponding to these. Information) and the CPU 5 capable of reading the stored information of each IC chip 41, 42.
2a, and the IC chips 41 and 42 are C
The CPU 52a stores the information of the other IC chip read from the PU 52a, and the CPU 52a stores the ID information stored in the addresses 0001 to 0008 of each IC chip and the address of the other IC chip stored in the address 0009. Compare with the ID information about the image forming unit.

For example, the CPU 52a uses each IC chip 4
The information about the toner box 40 itself stored in No. 1 is compared with the information about the toner box 40 stored at the address 0009 of the IC chip 42 of the ink cartridge 32.

Therefore, by using the CPU 52a, the IC
Information stored in any one of the addresses 0001 to 0009 of the chip 41, and the ink cartridge 3
If it is determined that the information on the toner box 40 stored at the address 0009 of the second IC chip 42 does not match, it can be known that the toner box 40 has been replaced.

As described above, when determining whether the toner box 40 or the ink cartridge 32 has been replaced, the determination is made using the information stored in the other IC chip. In order to store the information at the address 0009 of the ink cartridge 32, it is possible to eliminate the need for the IC chip provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
As a result, the cost of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced.

Further, the IC chip 42 of the ink cartridge 32 of the present embodiment stores information on the type of toner box suitable for the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 at the address 0009 of the memory 42a. Therefore, when the toner box 40 is replaced, the replaced toner box 4 is used by using the information (address 0009) stored in the IC chip 42 of the ink cartridge 32.
It is possible to determine whether 0 is suitable for the image forming apparatus.

On the contrary, the IC chip 41 of the toner box 40 stores information on the type of ink cartridge suitable for the image forming apparatus, and the ink cartridge 32 exchanged using this information is suitable for the image forming apparatus. It can be judged whether it is a thing or not. As a result, the storage element conventionally provided in the image forming apparatus main body for storing information of each image forming unit can be eliminated, and the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Further, one of the IC chips 41 and 42 further stores information regarding image forming conditions in the image forming process performed by the image forming apparatus. This allows
When the toner box or the ink cartridge is replaced, the image forming condition of the newly replaced one can be set by using the image forming condition stored in the IC chip of the other not replaced. Thereby, the image forming conditions before and after the replacement can be maintained.

The IC chips 41 and 42 are writable non-volatile memories (ROM). Therefore, before and after the power is turned off, each IC chip 41, 42
The information about the toner box 40 or the ink cartridge 32 stored by the printer can be held.

As a result, the IC chips 41 and 42 store the judgment whether the toner box 40 or the ink cartridge 32 has been replaced or whether a genuine product has been replaced before and after the power is turned off. It can be done using information. Further, since the image forming conditions are stored in each of the IC chips 41 and 42 before and after the power is turned off, the image forming conditions before and after the power is turned off can be maintained.

Then, the CPU 52a uses the IC chip 4 of the ink cartridge 32 for information regarding the toner box.
1 and 42, and information about the ink cartridge 32 is displayed in the toner box 4
When it is determined that the ink cartridge 32 is not stored in 0, a display unit that displays a message requesting that the ink cartridge 32 or the toner box 40 that has already been replaced be mounted in the image forming apparatus again is provided.

Therefore, according to the message, the CPU 52a reads the information stored before the replacement from the IC chip of the ink cartridge or the toner box remounted by the user, and the I of the one who has exchanged the information.
It can be stored in the C chip. Therefore, the information that each image forming unit had before the replacement can be easily restored after the replacement.

In the present embodiment, the case has been described in which the toner box and the ink cartridge as the image forming unit are provided with the IC chip as the storage element, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. The image forming unit may be appropriately selected and set,
For example, when a photoconductor drum cartridge (not shown) is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the photoconductor drum cartridge is used as an image forming unit, and an IC chip as a storage element is provided on the photoconductor drum cartridge. It is also possible to

In this case, the ID information of the ink cartridge and the ID information of the toner box are stored in the memory of the IC chip of the photosensitive drum cartridge. In addition, the ID information of the photosensitive drum cartridge is stored in the IC chip of the ink cartridge and the IC chip of the toner box.

As a result, it is possible to detect replacement of another image forming unit (toner box, ink cartridge) or mounting of a non-genuine product by using the IC chip of the photosensitive drum cartridge. On the contrary, the IC chip of another image forming unit (toner box, ink cartridge) can be used to detect replacement of the photoconductor drum cartridge and mounting of a non-genuine product.

Alternatively, when a plurality of toner boxes are provided in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to provide an IC chip in each toner box. In that case, the ID information of each toner box may be stored in the IC chip of another toner box.

When a plurality of ink cartridges are provided in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to provide an IC chip for each ink cartridge. In that case, the ID information of each ink cartridge may be stored in the IC chip of another ink cartridge.

[0066]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

According to the first aspect, the control means compares the information stored in the storage element of each image forming unit with the information stored in the storage element of another image forming unit, and performs a certain image formation. If it is determined that the information stored in the memory element of the image forming unit itself does not match the information stored in the memory element of another image forming unit, the image forming unit is replaced. You can know what was done.

As described above, since the information stored in the storage element of each image forming unit is used to determine whether or not each image forming unit has been replaced, it is necessary to store the information of each image forming unit in the related art. The storage element provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus can be eliminated, and thus the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage element further stores the information regarding the type of the image forming unit suitable for the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, when a certain image forming unit is replaced, the image forming unit which has not been replaced is formed. The information stored in the storage element of the unit can be used to determine whether the replaced image forming unit is suitable for the image forming apparatus.

As a result, when determining whether or not the genuine image forming unit has been replaced, the determination is made using the information stored in the storage element of another image forming unit. The storage element provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus for storing the information can be eliminated, and thus the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the storage element further stores the information on the image forming conditions in the image forming process performed by the image forming apparatus. Therefore, when a certain image forming unit is replaced, the replaced image forming unit is replaced. The image forming conditions of the newly replaced image forming unit can be set by using the image forming conditions stored in the storage elements of the image forming units other than the unit, thereby maintaining the image forming conditions before and after the replacement. can do.

According to the fourth aspect, since the storage element is a writable non-volatile memory, it is possible to retain information about other image forming units stored in each storage element before and after the power is turned off. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not each image forming unit has been replaced or whether a genuine product image forming unit has been replaced before and after the power is turned off. This can be done using information about the imaging unit.

Since the image forming conditions are stored in each storage element before and after the power is turned off, the image forming conditions before and after the power is turned off can be maintained.

According to the fifth aspect, when all the image forming units are replaced at the same time, the display means requests to mount again at least one of the image forming units which has already been replaced on the image forming apparatus. In order to display the message, the control means reads the information about the other image forming unit stored before the replacement from the storage element of the image forming unit reattached by the user by the message, and the information is replaced by the new information. Information can be stored in the storage element of the image forming unit, and the information held by each image forming unit before the replacement can be easily restored even after the replacement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the main part of the same.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of stored contents of the storage element.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the same control system.

FIG. 5 is a connection wiring diagram of the storage element and control means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-image forming apparatus 32, 40-imaging unit 41, 42-storage element 52-Control means

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yusuke Nagano             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside the company (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takatani             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside the company F-term (reference) 2C056 EA24 EA30 EB20 EB44 EB45                       EC26 KC30                 2C061 AP04 AQ05 AQ06 HJ10 HK05                       HK08 HN15 HV32                 2H027 EE08 HB01 HB05 HB13 HB15                       HB17                 2H071 BA03 BA13 BA33 BA34 DA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. At least two image forming units that are attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, and storage elements that are provided in each of the image forming units and that store information (ID) regarding the image forming units. Control means capable of reading the storage information of each of the storage elements, wherein the storage element stores information of another storage element written by the control means, and the control means controls each of the operations. An image forming apparatus characterized by comparing information stored in a storage element of an image unit with information stored in a storage element of an image forming unit other than the image forming unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage element further stores information regarding a type of an image forming unit suitable for the main body of the image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage element further stores information regarding image forming conditions in an image forming process performed by the image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage element is a writable non-volatile memory. 5. The image forming unit that has already been replaced when the control unit determines that the information regarding each image forming unit is not stored in the storage element of any image forming unit other than the image forming unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a message requesting that at least one of the above is mounted again in the image forming apparatus main body.