JP2003241462A - Connector, developing cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the safety of the contacts of connectors incorporated in a memory IC and improve reliability. <P>SOLUTION: The connector is provided for a rotary type developing unit and incorporates the memory IC from/into which data is read/written by separation/contact of a connector on the main body device side. In the connector, a memory IC substrate (46) is interspatially disposed on the back of an impact receiving member (41) provided on its surface with first electrical contacts (43a, 44a) which are brought into contact with the connector on the main body device side and separated therefrom. Conductive members extending from the first electrical contacts abut on terminals of the memory IC substrate, thereby composing second electrical contacts (43b, 44b). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector incorporating a memory IC for reading / writing data such as toner consumption, a developing cartridge to which the connector is attached, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a printer,
A memory IC is attached to the developing cartridge and connected to the connector of the main body of the apparatus, the remaining amount information of each color toner, the old and new discrimination information as to whether or not the cartridge has been exchanged, and the mounting for notifying the main body whether or not the cartridge has been mounted. Information, image forming conditions such as developing bias, recycling information about how many times the cartridge has been exchanged and used, etc. are written so that when the developing cartridge is mounted, the history information can be recognized on the apparatus main body side.

[0003]

In the conventional memory IC mounted on the developing cartridge, the contact life of the memory IC is shortened because mechanical force is directly applied to the memory IC by contact with the connector of the apparatus main body when reading / writing data. It is short, and malfunctions due to static electricity, toner contamination, etc. occur, so that it cannot be said that the protection of the memory IC and the stability of the contacts are always sufficient.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems and is intended to secure the stability of the contacts of a connector having a built-in memory IC and improve the reliability. Therefore, in the invention of claim 1, in the connector provided in the rotary developing device unit and having a built-in memory IC for reading / writing data by contacting and separating the main body apparatus side connector, the main body apparatus side connector is separated from the front side. The memory IC substrate is arranged apart from the back side of the impact receiving member provided with the abutting first electrical contact, and the conductive member extending from the first electrical contact abuts the memory IC substrate terminal to cause the second electrical contact. It is characterized in that it constitutes a physical contact point. The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the first electrical contact is a contact where the terminals slide and are electrically connected, and the second electrical contact is a fixed contact. The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the memory IC substrate is detachably arranged. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing cartridge in which the connector described above is fixed to an end portion. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus having the developing cartridge is characterized.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. After the photoconductor 1 is charged by a charging unit (not shown), an electrostatic latent image is formed by image exposure by the exposure unit 2. This electrostatic latent image is developed by sequentially supplying four colors of toner one by one from the developing rollers of the developing cartridges 31 to 34 mounted on the rotary frame 30 of the rotary developing unit 3. The photoconductor 1 has
The transfer belt 4 driven by the transfer belt driving roller 5 is 1
The toner images of the respective colors face each other at the next transfer position and are primarily transferred to the transfer belt 4 so that the colors are superposed on the belt.

On the other hand, the paper taken out from the paper feed cassette 6 passes through the conveying path 7 and the four-color toner images on the transfer belt are collectively transferred at the secondary transfer position of the transfer roller 8 facing the transfer belt driving roller 5. It At this time, the leading edge of the image on the transfer belt 4 is detected by the belt position detection sensor 9,
It is controlled so that the leading edge of the image and the leading edge of the paper match. The sheet that has been secondarily transferred is fixed by the fixing unit 10, and in the case of double-sided printing, returns to the transport path 7 again, and the image is transferred to the back side. The sheet after transfer and fixing is discharged outside the apparatus.

In the four-color developing cartridges 31 to 34 of the rotary type developing unit 3, a memory IC built-in connector 40 is provided.
(Details will be described later) are attached respectively, and data can be read / written from the connector 50 on the apparatus main body side. The device main body side connector 50 is driven by a drive unit 51 with a built-in motor to move forward / backward, and when the cartridge is replaced, moves forward to electrically connect to the connector 40 to read / write data in the memory IC.
It is usually retreating. Each developing cartridge can be removed and replaced at the position of the developing cartridge replacement opening 11 provided in the main body of the apparatus. Further, the image forming apparatus is provided with an exhaust duct 12, which sucks scattered toner and the like from a suction port 14 near a developing nip portion where a developing roller and a photoconductor contact each other, and exhausts the toner through a filter 13. In this case, in order to prevent the connector connection from being affected by the scattered toner, the position where the memory IC built-in connector 40 and the main body apparatus side connector 50 are connected is arranged on the upstream side of the developing nip portion when viewed in the rotating direction of the developing unit. .

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining each position of the rotary type developing unit for replacing the developing cartridge, reading / writing data in the memory IC, and waiting for developing. The home position of the rotary developing unit is detected by detecting the notch position of the position detection plate 37 with the position detection sensor 36.

FIG. 2A is a view for explaining the developing device replacement position (position). As described above, the developing device exchange port 11 is provided on the apparatus main body side, and each of the developing rollers of the rotary developing unit 3 is connected to the developing device exchange port 1.
It is replaceable in position 1. In this position, the connector 40 of each developing cartridge does not face the main assembly side connector 50, and the photoconductor 1 also does not face the developing roller.

FIG. 2B shows a position (position) where the developing roller faces the photoconductor and develops, as well as reading / writing to the memory IC. When a read / write command is issued from the apparatus body side, the apparatus body side connector 50 operates in a positional relationship, and the apparatus body side connector 50 is connected to read / write data.

FIG. 2C shows a position (position) in the middle when the development by the rotary developing device unit is switched from one color to another color, and the photosensitive member and the developing roller are not opposed to each other.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the time of connecting the connector and the time of separating. As shown in FIG. 3A, at the time of connection, the device main body side connector 50 is driven forward by a motor, and is guided and fitted by a guide member on the side of the memory IC built-in connector 40 as described later, and the terminals slide with each other. And connect electrically,
At the time of separation, the connector 50 retreats toward the main body of the apparatus and the two are separated. The connector 40 has a connector fixing screw 48.
The connector 50 is fixed to the developing device unit, and the connector 50 is fixed to the apparatus main body by connector fixing pins 53.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the rotary developing unit. The rotary developing unit 3 is attached to the side plates 20 and 21 made of sheet metal, and the memory IC built-in connector 40 is fixed to the ends of the developing cartridges 31 to 34 attached to the rotary frame 30. In the present embodiment, the side plate 21 is gear-driven, the side plate 20 is the non-driving side, and the connector provided in the housing 22 formed by squeezing the side plate 20 on the non-driving side so as not to be affected by the heat of the driving unit. The memory IC built-in connector 40 is fixed to the cover 39. The accommodating portion 20 surrounds the connector 40 except the surface on which the apparatus main body side 50 separates and abuts, and shields the connector 40 from the influence of the voltage applied to the developing roller. The memory IC built-in connector 40 itself is covered with a connector cover 39, and an IC protection member 38 made of a resin ring is provided on the inner surface of the storage unit so that static electricity does not affect the memory IC from the storage unit where the sheet metal is squeezed. .

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining the memory IC built-in connector of this embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a view of FIG. 5A. It is an AA sectional view. In the connector 40 with a built-in memory IC, two guide members 42 are provided upright on both side portions near the outer edge of one surface of the substrate 41 (a surface to be connected to the main body apparatus side connector) which is a member for receiving an impact at the time of connection. On the other surface (rear surface) of the board 41, a contact protection member 45 including a memory IC board 46 is provided, and these are integrally formed as a housing 47. Further, the contact members 43 and 44 are provided inside the guide member 42 integrally with the guide member 42, respectively.
It is installed upright in parallel with 2. The guide member 42 is arranged outside the contact member in order to stabilize the contact state of the contact by surrounding the guide member and ensuring insertion stability when the main body side connector is fitted.

In this embodiment, four contact members 43 are provided on the front side of the housing 47 (the side far from the developing roller) and three contact members 44 are provided on the back side (the side close to the developing roller) in two rows. We are trying to make it compact as a whole. of course,
The contact members are not limited to two rows and may be one row or three rows. As shown in FIG. 6, for each terminal of these contact members, four terminals on the front side are a data terminal, a mounting detection terminal, a ground (GND) terminal, a data read / write terminal, and three terminals on the back side are clock terminals. These are terminals, power supply terminals, and chip select (CS) terminals.

These contact members 43, 44 are contact terminals 43a with which the main body side connector terminals slide and come into contact during connection.
44a. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the contact members 43 and 44 extend through the through holes of the substrate 41 to the back side thereof and are elastic contact terminals 43b, which elastically contact with the terminals of the memory IC substrate 46. 44b. Then, the contact protection member 45 is attached to the memory IC substrate 46.
, The spring-like contact terminals 43b and 44b elastically contact the terminals of the memory IC substrate 46, and the memory I
The C board 46 is pressed against the mounting surface of the contact protection member 45 by the spring force from the contact terminals 43b and 44b,
It is held in a floating state apart from. Therefore, even if the main body side connector 50 moves forward and contacts the connector 40 by the motor drive, the terminals 43a and 44a of the contact members 43 and 44 are formed.
Is slidably contacted with the main body side connector terminal, the impact of the contact is received by the substrate 41, and the memory IC substrate 46
Is supported away from the substrate 41, the memory I
The impact is not directly transmitted to the contact portions between the terminals of the C board 46 and the contacts 43b and 44b.

As described above, the connector 40 has a sliding contact with the main body side connector on one surface of the substrate 41 which is an impact receiving member, and a memory IC substrate which is supported on the back side of the substrate 41 by floating from the substrate. Since the fixed contact is provided, the impact at the time of connection with the main body side connector is not received by the substrate 41 and transmitted to the memory IC substrate side, and the contact with the memory IC substrate is stably formed.

[0018]

As described above, the connector of the present invention has a structure in which the impact at the time of connection of the connector is not directly transmitted to the memory IC substrate, and the contact of the memory IC substrate and the connector contact portion are provided.
With the contact structure, the contact on the memory IC substrate side is stabilized, and when the terminals slide on the other contact, the reliability can be improved by refreshing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating each position of replacement of a developing cartridge, reading / writing of data from / in a memory IC, and development standby.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating connector connection to and separation from a memory IC.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rotary developing device unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a connector with a built-in memory IC.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a connector terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photosensitive member, 2 ... Exposure unit, 3 ... Rotary developing unit, 4 ... Transfer belt, 5 ... Transfer belt drive roller,
6 ... Paper feed cassette, 7 ... Paper transport path, 8 ... Transfer roller,
9 ... Position detection sensor, 10 ... Fixing unit, 11 ... Development cartridge replacement opening, 12 ... Exhaust duct, 13 ... Filter, 14 ... Suction port, 20, 21 ... Side plate, 30 ... Rotary frame, 31-34 ... Development cartridge , 36 ...
Position detection sensor, 37 ... Position detection plate, 38
... IC protection member, 39 ... Connector cover, 40, 50 ...
Connector, 41 ... Board, 42 ... Guide member, 43, 44
... contact member, 45 ... contact protection member, 46 ... memory IC substrate.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takeshi Aoki             Seiko, 3-3-3 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture             -In Epson Corporation F-term (reference) 2H071 BA14 BA20 BA33 BA34 BA36                       DA08 DA34 EA18                 2H077 AA01 AA35 BA03 BA08 BA09                       BA10 GA04 GA13                 5E021 FA05 FA14 FB14 FC11 MA08                       MA31

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A rotary type developing device unit is provided,
In a connector that has a built-in memory IC that reads and writes data when the main device side connector is separated and abutted,
A memory IC having a first electric contact provided on the front side for contacting with and separating from the main body device side connector and spaced apart from the back side of the impact receiving member.
A connector in which a substrate is disposed, and a conductive member extending from the first electrical contact abuts a memory IC substrate terminal to form a second electrical contact. 2. The first electrical contact is a contact for slidingly connecting terminals to electrically connect to each other, and the second electrical contact is a fixed contact. Connector. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the memory IC board is detachably arranged. 4. A developing cartridge, wherein the connector according to claim 1 is fixed to an end portion. 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing cartridge according to claim 4.