JP2003316227A - Image forming apparatus, consumables, and developer feed container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate service life of consumables by discriminating new products and used products of the consumables of toner cartridges or the like without adding any electric detection device, and cumulating information such as the size, number and image density of printed sheets after the new product is mounted. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with: an encoder 15 for detecting the rotating speed of an agitating shaft 2 of the toner cartridge 1; a transmission type photosensor 16 which is a pulse generating means; a lever member 17 which is a pulse stop means acting only for a constant time T, when the toner cartridge 1 of the new product is mounted; and a consumables recognition means 6 for recognizing the new product from the mounted toner cartridge 1 in the case that a pulse is detected after the elapse of the constant time T, without detecting the pulse from the transmission type photosensor 16 immediately after starting rotation of a motor 14 by action of the lever member 17, and discriminating the used product from the mounted toner cartridge 1 in the case that the pulse is detected immediately after starting the rotation of the motor 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine,
The present invention relates to a consumable item and a developer supply container equipped in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Constitution of a toner cartridge which is a consumable item which can be attached to and detached from a conventional image forming apparatus is shown in FIGS.
Will be explained. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a toner cartridge, FIG. 11 (a) is a configuration diagram of a toner cartridge alone, and FIG. 11 (b) is a configuration diagram in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 11A, 301 is a toner cartridge filled with toner (or developer in which toner and carrier are mixed), and 301a is a toner supply port. 302 is a stirring shaft, and the stirring shaft 302 is provided with a blade-shaped stirring member 302a inside the toner cartridge 301. When the stirring shaft 302 rotates, the toner in the toner cartridge 301 is stirred without being agglomerated. To be done.

At the same time, toner is collected in the vicinity of the toner supply port 301a, and the image forming apparatus 5 is supplied from the toner supply port 301a.
The toner to be supplied to the main body is scraped out, and is conveyed to a developing device in the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 by a toner conveying unit (not shown).

In FIG. 11B, reference numeral 311 denotes a drive gear which is axially supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 coaxially with the stirring shaft 302 of the toner cartridge 301, and which is formed at the end of the stirring shaft 302. By engaging with the engaging portion 302b, the drive gear 31
The rotational driving force is transmitted from 1 to the stirring shaft 302,
To rotate.

Reference numerals 312 and 313 denote transmission gears which mesh with an output gear 314a of a motor 314 serving as a drive source and transmit drive to the drive gear 311, and 315 has a slit formed in a disk and a gear portion 315a has a transmission gear 313a. An encoder 315 that meshes with and rotates.

Further, 316 is a transmissive photosensor which serves as a pulse generating means for generating pulses corresponding to the number of slits of the encoder 315 passing between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion.

Since the motor used for driving the paper feed of the image forming apparatus is required to have a high accuracy in rotation speed, a stepping motor having a variation in rotation speed of 1% or less and a servo-controlled DC (direct current) brushless motor. A motor is typically used.

However, since the toner agitation drive of the toner cartridge 301 can tolerate a speed variation of about 20%, a DC brush motor which is smaller in size, saves power and is cheaper than the above-described high precision motor is often used. However, the rotation amount cannot be guaranteed at all by only the DC brush motor whose rotation speed varies depending on the load condition.

Therefore, when the DC brush motor is used, an encoder 315 is provided at one position in the drive transmission gear train as shown in FIG. The number of pulses that is proportional to the rotation speed of the gear train of the motor 314 and the transmission gears 312, 313, etc. is generated by passing between the light receiving unit and the light receiving unit, and the current rotation speed can be detected. Is common.

The developing device in the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 detects the shortage of toner, and when the toner needs to be supplied, a control circuit (not shown) applies a voltage to the motor 314. Motor 3
When 14 rotates, the drive is transmitted to the gear train and the transmission gear 31
By rotating the agitation shaft 302 via the 2, 313 and the drive gear 311, a proper amount of toner is supplied from the toner supply port 301a and is supplied to the developing device via a toner conveying means (not shown).

At this time, the encoder 3 is transmitted via the transmission gear 313.
The current rotation speed is detected by detecting the pulse generated by the transmission photosensor 316 when 15 rotates. This information on the number of revolutions is used for controlling the time for applying the voltage to the motor 314, controlling the voltage applied to the motor 314, setting the pulse width when performing PWM control (pulse width control), predicting the toner consumption amount, and the like. Used.

The consumables used in the image forming apparatus are, for example, when the toner to be supplied in the case of the toner cartridge 301 has run out in the container, or in the case of the process cartridge when the developer has deteriorated in durability. For example, in the case of a waste toner container, when the container is full of waste toner, it reaches the end of its life to be replaced.

The image forming apparatus generally has a function of detecting that these consumables have reached the end of their life and prompting the user to replace them. As a method of detecting the end of the life, a method of providing an electric sensor for detecting the presence or absence of toner and a powder surface of the toner has been put into practical use in various forms. Is complicated and expensive.

Therefore, as a method of detecting the life of a consumable item without providing an electric sensor, it is possible to recognize that a new consumable item has been installed, and then the size and number of sheets of paper printed by the image forming apparatus. There is a method of estimating the life of a consumable item by accumulating information such as image density and the number of jam occurrences, which is also put into practical use in various forms.

For example, it is conceivable to provide an electric memory on the side of the consumables and write information into it, but since the semiconductor memory is very expensive, the consumables become expensive and the running cost becomes high. There's a problem.

Therefore, various methods have been put into practical use as a method of recognizing that a new consumable item has been attached without using an electric memory, and an example thereof is shown in FIG. Figure 12 (a)
Is a diagram showing a process in which a new consumable item 401 is first attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5, and FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a state in which a new consumable item 401 is first attached to the image forming apparatus 5 main body.
FIG. 12C is a diagram showing a process in which the consumable item 401 in use is first extracted from the main body of the image forming apparatus 5, and FIG. 12D is a diagram showing the consumable item 401 in use and once extracted, and the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 is again extracted. It is a figure which shows the state mounted | worn with.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 401 is a consumable item which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus 5, and 402 is a rotating member which is rotatable about a rotary shaft 402a provided in the main body of the consumable item 401. is there. Further, 403 is a fixed claw capable of locking and fixing the rotating member 402 provided on the main body of the consumable item 401, and 404 is a micro switch provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), a new consumable item 40
In FIG. 1, the rotating member 402 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 in a state where the rotating member 402 is arranged on the right side of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12 (b), the rotating member 402 pushes the micro switch 404. As a result, the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 recognizes that a new consumable item 401 has been attached, and uses that time as the starting point for counting the life of the consumable item 401.

If the consumable item 401 is once taken out before reaching the end of its life, as shown in FIG. 12C, the rotary member 402 is rotated by the rotary shaft 402a in the recess 5a of the main body of the image forming apparatus 5. Rotate in the clockwise direction of Fig. 12 (c) around
The rotating member 402 is pressed by the protruding portion 5b provided on the right side of the recess 5a and locked by the fixed claw 403.
The 402 is arranged on the left side of the rotating shaft 402a in FIG. 12 (c) and fixed, and even if the consumable item 401 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 again in this state, FIG. Since the rotating member 402 does not press the micro switch 404 as shown in d), it is determined that the old consumable product 401 is installed instead of the new consumable product 401, and the count value of the life of the consumable product 401 is reset. Add continuously without.

In this way, the consumable item 401 is replaced by the image forming apparatus 5
By changing the shape of the consumable item 401 by attaching / detaching it to / from the main body once, if the shape is detected by a detection device such as an electric sensor or switch, it is consumed without using an electric memory. It becomes possible to distinguish the new product and the old product of the product 401, and the image forming apparatus 5 is provided with the consumable product 401.
It can be equipped with a life expectancy function.

[0022]

However, the old and new detection mechanism of the consumable item 401 shown in FIG. 12 described above is a method of detecting the presence or absence of toner or a powder surface by an electric sensor, or an electric memory for the consumable item 401. Although it is simpler and cheaper than the method of providing a sensor, it still requires a detection device such as an electric sensor or a switch, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated and expensive accordingly. Particularly, in the case of the toner cartridge of the color image forming apparatus, the detection device for four colors is required, and the problem becomes more serious.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, a consumable item, and a developer cartridge, which can simplify the old and new detection mechanism of the consumable item which is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus.

[0024]

A typical structure according to the present invention for attaining the above object is to replace a consumable item with a new one according to its life and to attach and detach a consumable item having at least one rotary drive shaft. An image forming apparatus comprising: a drive source capable of rotationally driving a rotary drive shaft of the consumable item; an encoder rotatable at a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of the drive source; and a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of the encoder. A pulse generating means capable of generating a number of pulses, a pulse stopping means capable of preventing the pulse generating means from generating a pulse even if the drive source rotates, and a pulse generated by the pulse generating means. If it is possible to detect and the pulse is not detected immediately after the rotation of the drive source is started and the pulse is detected after a certain period of time, it is recognized that the consumable item attached is a new one. An image forming device, comprising: a consumable item recognizing unit that recognizes that the consumable item mounted is an old item in use when a pulse is detected immediately after the rotation of the drive source is started. It is a device.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, even if the drive source is rotated by the pulse stopping means, the pulse generating means does not generate a pulse for a fixed time. No pulse is generated immediately after the rotation starts, and in the case of an old consumable item, old and new consumable items can be detected by the difference that the rotation of the drive source starts and an immediate pulse is generated.

As a result, it is not necessary to add an electrical detection device for detecting old and new consumables, and an image forming apparatus having a consumables life detecting function can be realized with a simple and inexpensive structure.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in the case of being applied to an electrophotographic full-color image forming apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus, a consumable item and a developer cartridge according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are a plan view and a side view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
2 (a) and 2 (b) show the configuration of the first embodiment of the developer cartridge according to the present invention, (a) is a new developer cartridge, and (b) is a perspective view showing an old developer cartridge. FIG. 2C is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are views for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a consumable item old / old recognition in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method, and FIG. 5 is a pulse output diagram illustrating a method of recognizing old and new consumables in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

First, the construction of the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus, the consumable item, and the developer cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a toner replenishment type full-color image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method. In FIG. 1, 5 is an image forming apparatus, and 501 is a transfer material feeding means for separating and feeding the stacked sheets of transfer material.

Reference numeral 502 is a pair of registration rollers that detects the leading edge of the sheet and conveys the sheet in synchronism with the image signal. Reference numeral 503 is a transfer belt that attaches the sheet and conveys the sheet. Reference numeral 1 is a toner cartridge which is a developer cartridge filled with four color toners of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black B (or a developer in which toner and carrier are mixed).

Further, 505 is a carrying screw which is a toner carrying means for carrying a required amount of toner from the toner cartridge 1, and 506 is a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum which serves as an image carrier and a developing device.

Further, 507 is an exposing means for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum, and 508 is a transferring means for transferring a toner image onto a sheet by applying a reverse bias voltage. Further, 510 is a fixing device that permanently fixes the toner image on the sheet by heating and pressing.

As described above, in the electrophotographic system, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum is visualized by the developing device, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer means 508 provided on the back of the paper stuck on the transfer belt 503. A toner image is formed on the surface of the paper by applying a reverse bias voltage and transferring the paper onto the paper.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the toner cartridge as the developer cartridge according to the present invention and the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus. FIGS. 2A and 2B are views of the toner cartridge 1 alone. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a state in which the toner cartridge 1 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a toner cartridge filled with toner (or a developer in which toner and carrier are mixed) as an example of a consumable product detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus 5. 1 is used after being replaced with a new one according to the service life.

Reference numeral 1a is a toner supply port for supplying the toner serving as the developer contained in the toner cartridge 1 to the developing device of the image forming apparatus 5, and the toner agitated and conveyed by the agitating member 2a is the toner supply port. 1a to FIG. 1 (b)
It is fed by the feeding screw 505 shown in FIG. 2 and supplied to the developing device of the image forming apparatus 5.

Reference numeral 2 is a stirring shaft provided as a rotary drive shaft provided in the toner cartridge 1 which is a consumable item, and 2a is a stirring member provided in the stirring shaft 2. 11 is the image forming apparatus 5
Drive gears are supported on the main body side coaxially with the stirring shaft 2, and reference numerals 12 and 13 are transmission gears for transmitting drive to the drive gear 11.

The drive gear 11 meshes with the engaging portion 2b formed at the end of the stirring shaft 2 so that the rotational driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 11 to the stirring shaft 2 to rotate the stirring shaft 302.

Further, 14 is a motor that serves as a drive source for the drive gear 11 and the transmission gears 12 and 13. In this embodiment, the motor is a motor.
A DC (direct current) brush motor is adopted as 14. The transmission gear 13 is meshed with the output gear 14a of the motor 14,
When the motor 14 is driven to rotate, the output gear 14a, the transmission gear
The stirring shaft 2 serving as a rotation driving shaft of the toner cartridge 1 which is a consumable item is rotationally driven via 13, 12 and the driving gear 11, and the toner contained in the toner cartridge 1 is conveyed and stirred by the stirring member 2a. .

Reference numeral 15 is an encoder having a disk-shaped member in which a slit is formed in the radial direction of a circular thin plate, and the gear portion 15a meshes with the drive gear 11 to rotate.
Is configured to be rotatable at a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of the motor 14 serving as a drive source.

Reference numeral 16 is a pulse generation means for generating as many pulses as the number of slits of the encoder 15 passing between a light emitting portion having a light emitting element and a light receiving portion having a light receiving element. The transmission type photo sensor 16 is a sensor and can generate a number of pulses proportional to the rotation speed of the encoder 15.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a substantially fan-shaped rotating member provided in the toner cartridge 1, which can be rotated from the rotation start position A to the rotation end position B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 around the rotation center 3a. The gear portion 3b is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the fan shape, and the claw portion 3c is formed at the end of the rotating member 3 in the rotation direction.

An external force, such as a frictional force, is applied to the rotating member 3 such that even if the toner cartridge 1 is dropped or vibrated, the rotating member 3 cannot rotate due to the inertial force due to its own weight. Therefore, it is configured not to rotate unless another external force against the external force further acts. The rotating member 3 is configured to be rotatable from the rotation start position A to the rotation end position B when another external force such as a frictional force acts against the external force.

Further, the toner cartridge 1 is provided with a locking claw 4 which serves as a rotation member locking means for locking the rotation member 3 at the rotation end position B of the rotation member 3 such that the rotation member 3 cannot rotate. Has been.

Although the turning member 3 is shown exposed for convenience of description in FIG. 2, the turning member 3 is actually covered with a frame so as not to be accidentally touched by the user. The member 3 is attached so that a finger or the like does not directly touch it.

The rotating member 3 of the toner cartridge 1, which is a new developer cartridge, is manufactured by being attached while being held at the rotation start position A as shown in FIG. To start.

The locking claw 4 for locking the rotating member 3 rotates when the rotating member 3 reaches the rotation end position B shown in FIG. 2B by the action of some external force. By engaging with the claw portion 3c provided at the end in the direction, there is an action of making the turning member 3 unable to turn, and this action causes the turning member 3 that has reached the turning end position B once to move to the original position. It never returns to the position.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a lever member which serves as pulse stopping means which can prevent the transmission type photosensor 16 which is pulse generating means from generating a pulse even when the motor 14 which is a driving source is rotated. The center 17a is rotatably supported coaxially with the rotation center axis of the transmission gear 13, and the friction force between the transmission gear 13 and the rotation force acts in the same direction as the rotation direction of the transmission gear 13. The gear holding portion 17b rotatably supports the transmission gear 12.

That is, the lever member 17 serving as the pulse stopping means of the present embodiment is a consumable item that is movably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 5 from the motor 14 serving as a drive source. A transmission gear that transmits the rotational drive up to the stirring shaft 2 that is the rotational drive shaft of a toner cartridge 1.
It is configured as a movable member that rotatably supports 12 and 13.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the operation of the toner cartridge 1 in this embodiment. In order to make the operation of the rotating member 3 easy to see, only the outline of the drive gear 11 is shown by a dotted line, and the drive gear 11 is shown. It is the side view drawn through through.

FIG. 3A shows a new toner cartridge 1
3 is a diagram when the image forming apparatus 5 is attached to the image forming apparatus 5, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, in the new toner cartridge 1, the rotation member 3 has the rotation start position A shown in FIG.
The pitch circle of the gear portion 3b is outside the pitch circle of the drive gear 11. The transmission gear 12 is the rotating member 3
It is in a state of being separated from the drive gear 11 in a state of meshing with the gear portion 3b.

When the motor 14 starts to rotate, the output gear 14a and the transmission gears 12 and 13 rotate in the directions of the arrows in FIG. 3 (a), and the transmission gear 12 meshes with the gear portion 3b of the rotating member 3. , The rotation member 3 around the rotation center 3a as shown in FIG.
Is rotated in the clockwise direction (direction of arrow a), but there is a gap between the transmission gear 12 and the drive gear 11, so the drive gear 11
And the encoder 15 does not rotate.

When the turning member 3 reaches the turning end position B as shown in FIG. 3B, the claw portion 3c of the turning member 3 is locked by the locking claw 4 and the turning end position is reached. The transmission gear 12 is held by B and disengages from the gear portion 3b of the rotating member 3 and meshes with the drive gear 11, whereby the drive gear 11 and the gear portion 15a meshing with the drive gear 11 are rotationally driven. The encoder 15 starts rotating, and a pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 16.

When the rotating member 3 reaches the rotation end position B as shown in FIG. 3B, the claw portions 3c of the rotating member 3 are locked by the locking claws 4 and the rotating member 3 rotates. It is held at the motion end position B and never returns to its original position.

When the toner cartridge 1 is removed from the image forming apparatus 5 during use and is mounted again, the claw portion 3c of the rotating member 3 is locked by the locking claw 4 and the rotating member 3 is rotated. Since 3 is fixed in the state of the rotation end position B, the rotation member 3 is in the state of the rotation end position B as shown in FIG. 3B from the beginning, and the transmission gear 12 is connected to the drive gear 11. It is in a meshed state. Therefore, at the same time when the rotation of the motor 14 starts, the drive gear 11 and the encoder 15 also start to rotate, and a pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 16.

In the toner cartridge 1 and the image forming apparatus 5 of this embodiment, the transmission gear for transmitting the drive to the drive gear 11.
When the rotation member 3 is at the rotation start position A, the transmission gear 12 meshes with the rotation member 3 so that the transmission gear 12 and the drive gear 12 are supported. Although the encoder 15 does not rotate because there is a gap between the rotation member 3 and 11 and the rotation member 3 reaches the rotation end position B, the lever member 17 rotates around the rotation center 17a.
The transmission gear 12 approaches the drive gear 11 by rotating in the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow b) in (b), and the transmission gear 12 and the drive gear 11
Engage with each other, and the encoder 15 starts rotating.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams for explaining a method of recognizing old and new toner cartridges 1, which are consumable items that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 5. In FIG. 4, the rotational drive is transmitted from the motor 14 via the transmission gears 12 and 13 and the drive gear 11 that form a gear train to the stirring shaft 2 that is the rotational drive shaft of the toner cartridge 1 that is a consumable item.

An encoder 15 may be provided at any position on the way.
A transmission type photosensor 16 serving as a pulse generating means is provided, and the number of pulses proportional to the rotation amount of the motor 14 is output from the transmission type photosensor 16 and counted. This count value is used as control information for rotation speed control, voltage control, life prediction, etc., as in the conventional case.

FIG. 5 shows the drive signal of the motor 14 and the encoder 15.
The output pulse of the transmissive photosensor 16 is shown. In the normal case, as shown in FIG. 5A, a pulse is generated immediately when the driving of the motor 14 is started.

However, in the image forming apparatus 5 of this embodiment, when the toner cartridge 1, which is a new consumable item, is mounted, the action of the lever member 17 serving as the pulse stopping means is shown in FIG. As described above, the pulse is not immediately generated even when the driving of the motor 14 is started, and after a certain time T, the action of the lever member 17 serving as the pulse stopping means is lost and the pulse is generated.

Depending on the difference between FIG. 5 (a) and FIG. 5 (b), whether the toner cartridge 1 which is a consumable item currently mounted in the image forming apparatus 5 is a new unused product or an old product in use. Can be identified.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the pulse is not generated even after the fixed time T, it is determined that the toner cartridge 1 which is a consumable item is not attached to the image forming apparatus 5, and the toner is consumed. It is possible to detect not only the old and new of the toner cartridge 1 to be a product but also the presence or absence thereof.

The consumable item recognizing means 6 shown in FIG. 4 can detect the pulse generated by the transmissive photosensor 16 serving as the pulse generating means as shown in FIG. 5, and is driven as shown in FIG. 5 (b). If the pulse is not detected immediately after the rotation of the motor 14 as the power source is started and the pulse is detected after the elapse of the predetermined time T, the toner cartridge 1 which is a consumable item attached to the image forming apparatus 5 is new. 5 and recognize that
As shown in (a), when the pulse is detected immediately after the rotation of the motor 14 that is the drive source is started, the toner cartridge 1, which is a consumable item, is recognized as an old item in use.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the consumable goods recognition means 6 recognizes the consumable goods when a pulse is not detected even after a lapse of a predetermined time T after the rotation of the motor 14 as a driving source is started. Recognizes that the toner cartridge 1, which is a consumable item, is not attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotation member 3 is moved from the rotation start position A to the rotation end position B in the case of a new toner cartridge 1 by not rotating the encoder 15 for a certain time T. A pulse is not generated from the transmissive photo sensor 16 until the arrival, and a pulse is generated from the transmissive photo sensor 16 immediately after the rotation of the motor 14 is started in the case of the old toner cartridge 1. ing.

By such an action, the pulse generated from the transmissive photosensor 16 is changed between the new toner cartridge 1 and the old toner cartridge 1 as shown in FIG.
Since the difference as shown in (b) occurs, it is possible to distinguish whether the toner cartridge 1 is a new product or an old product without newly adding an electrical detection device as in the conventional case.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the drive gear 11 is provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 5 has been described, but the drive gear 11 is integrally provided at the end of the stirring shaft 2 of the toner cartridge 1. However, in this case, if the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 operates without inserting the toner cartridge 1, the encoder 15 does not rotate even after the elapse of a certain time T because the drive gear 11 does not exist, and a pulse is generated from the transmissive photosensor 16. do not do.

As described above, the pulse generated from the transmissive photosensor 16 with and without the toner cartridge 1 is shown in FIG.
(A), FIG. 5 (b), and FIG. 5 (c) cause the difference, so it is possible to detect whether the toner cartridge 1 is old or new without newly adding an electrical detection device as in the conventional case. Is possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case of the toner cartridge 1 has been described as an example of the consumable item. However, if the consumable item has a rotary drive shaft and the rotation amount thereof is detected by a pulse, For example, it may be a process cartridge including a photoconductor drum that serves as an image carrier, or a waste toner container, and consumables such as these can obtain substantially the same effects as described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example of the configuration in which the disc-shaped encoder 15 with the slit is passed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the transmissive photosensor 16 for pulse detection has been described. The same effect can be obtained by rotating a reflector printed with black and white as a configuration and detecting it with a reflective photosensor.

Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the lever member 17 serving as the pulse stopping means rotates about the rotation center has been described, but the meshing of the transmission gear 12 causes the rotation member 3 to rotate.
The same effect can be obtained even with a movable member that moves in parallel as long as the above-mentioned operation can be realized by a configuration in which the gear portion 3b is switched to the drive gear 11.

Next, the construction of the second embodiment of the image forming apparatus, the consumable item and the developer cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show the configuration of the second embodiment of the developer cartridge according to the present invention, (a) is a new developer cartridge, and (b) is a perspective view showing an old developer cartridge. Explanatory drawing, FIG. 6 (c)
7A and 7B are perspective explanatory views showing a state in which a developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are views for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge of the second embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, 101 is an example of a consumable item detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.
Toner (or developer that is a mixture of toner and carrier)
Is a toner cartridge of the present embodiment which is a developer cartridge filled with a toner cartridge 101a.
A toner supply port for supplying the toner accommodated in 1 to a developing device provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a stirring shaft which serves as a rotary drive shaft.
Reference numeral a is a stirring member provided on the stirring shaft 102. Reference numeral 103 denotes a rotating member provided on the toner cartridge 101. The rotating member 103 is centered on a rotating center 103a which coincides with the rotating center of an engaging portion 102b capable of engaging with the drive gear 111, as shown in FIG. 6) is rotatably supported from a rotation start position A shown in FIG. 6B to a rotation end position B shown in FIG. 6B, and a gear portion 103b provided on a fan-shaped outer peripheral portion around the rotation center 103a. And the rotating member 10
A claw portion 103c provided at an end portion in the rotation direction of 3 and a projection 103d provided so as to project in a substantially fan-shaped intermediate portion are formed.

Reference numeral 104 is a locking claw which serves as a rotation member locking means for locking the claw portion 103c provided on the rotation member 103, and 111 is a drive gear coaxially supported by the stirring shaft 102. is there. 112,
Reference numeral 113 denotes a transmission gear that transmits the drive to the drive gear 111.
Reference numeral 4 is a motor that is a drive source of the drive gear 111 and the transmission gears 112 and 113.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a disk-shaped member formed with a circular thin plate in which a slit is formed in the radial direction, and a gear portion 115a is integrally provided on the disk-shaped member.
The gear portion 115a is an encoder that rotates by meshing with the transmission gear 113, and 116 is a transmissive photosensor that is a pulse generating means. The above-mentioned configuration, its operation and action are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

Reference numeral 117 denotes a lever member serving as a pulse stopping means, which is rotatably supported coaxially with a rotation center axis of the transmission gear 113 at a rotation center 117a, and is rotated clockwise (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7) by an external force (not shown). A contact portion 117b that receives a rotational force in the b direction) and is capable of contacting and engaging with the protrusion 103d of the rotating member 103.
And a mask portion 117c capable of shielding between a light emitting portion having a light emitting element of the transmissive photosensor 116 and a light receiving portion having a light receiving element.

That is, in this embodiment, the lever member 117 serving as the pulse stopping means is operably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 and serves as the pulse generating means.
116 is configured as a movable member formed with a mask portion 117c capable of making it impossible to detect the rotation of the encoder 115.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the toner cartridge 101 in this embodiment. In order to make the operation of the rotating member 103 easy to see, only the outline of the drive gear 111 is shown by a dotted line, and the drive gear 111 is seen through. It is the side view drawn.

FIG. 7A shows a new toner cartridge 10
FIG. 7 is a diagram when 1 is mounted, and in the new toner cartridge 101 as shown in FIG.
At the rotation start position A shown in (a), the pitch circle of the gear portion 103b and the pitch circle of the drive gear 111 are at the same position,
Both gears mesh with the transmission gear 112.

Therefore, the rotational driving force transmitted from the output gear 114a of the motor 114 to the transmission gear 112 via the transmission gear 113 is simultaneously transmitted from the transmission gear 112 to the gear portion 103b of the rotating member 103 and the drive gear 111. When the drive is transmitted and the rotation of the motor 114 is started, all the gears, the encoder 115, and the rotating member 103 rotate in the arrow direction shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the rotation member 103 is at the rotation start position A, the contact portion 117b of the lever member 117 contacts the projection 103d provided on the rotation member 103. Since they are in contact with each other and are in the position as shown in FIG.
Since 7c shields the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116, even if the encoder 115 rotates, light does not reach the light receiving portion of the transmissive photosensor 116, so that no pulse is generated.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the rotating member
When 103 rotates to reach the rotation end position B, the claw portion 103c provided at the end portion of the rotation member 103 in the rotation direction locks the claw 104.
The rotation member 103 is held at the rotation end position B by being locked to the projection 103d and the lever member 117 provided on the rotation member 103.
7B moves to the position shown in FIG. 7B and the mask portion 117c does not mask the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116, so that rotation of the encoder 115 causes a pulse to be generated in the transmissive photosensor 116.

Here, when the rotating member 103 reaches the rotation end position B shown in FIG. 7B, the claw portion 103c of the rotating member 103.
Is locked by the locking claw 104 to hold the rotating member 103,
There is no return.

In addition, the toner cartridge 101 is in use.
Is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 and mounted again, the claw portion 103c of the rotating member 103 is locked by the locking claw 104 and the rotating member 103 is fixed, so The member 103 is in the state of the rotation end position B shown in FIG. 7B from the beginning, and since the mask portion 117c of the lever member 117 does not mask the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116, the rotation of the motor 114 starts at the same time. A pulse is generated in the transmissive photo sensor 116 by the rotation of the encoder 115.

With the above structure, in the toner cartridge 101 and the image forming apparatus 5 of this embodiment, the position of the lever member 117 that masks the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116 is changed, so that the rotating member 103 is moved to the position shown in FIG. At the rotation start position A as shown in a), the transmissive photosensor 11
When the optical path 6 is masked and the rotary member 103 reaches the rotary end position B as shown in FIG.
116 optical path is not masked.

As described above, even when the encoder 115 is rotating, the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116 is masked for a predetermined time T, so that the new toner cartridge 10
In the case of 1, no pulse is generated until the rotation member 103 reaches the rotation end position B from the rotation start position A, and in the case of the old toner cartridge 101, after the rotation of the motor 114 is started. The operation that a pulse is immediately generated is realized.

Due to such an action, the pulse generated from the transmissive photosensor 116 between the new toner cartridge 101 and the old toner cartridge 101 is different as shown in FIGS. Without adding a new
It is possible to distinguish a new toner cartridge 101 from an old toner cartridge 101.

In this embodiment, the case where the toner cartridge 101 is applied as an example of a consumable item which is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 has been described. Any consumable item configured to detect with a pulse may be used, for example, a process cartridge equipped with a photosensitive drum that serves as an image carrier, or
A waste toner container may be used, and the same effects as those described above can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the gear portion 115a of the encoder 115 meshes with the transmission gear 113 has been described, but the output gear 114a of the motor 114 and the drive gear 111 are described.
The same effect can be obtained even if it meshes with.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which a disc-shaped encoder 115 with a slit is passed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the transmissive photosensor 116 for pulse detection has been described, but as another configuration. The same effect can be obtained by rotating the reflection plate on which white and black are printed and detecting by a reflection type photo sensor.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the lever member 117 serving as the pulse stopping means rotates about the rotation center has been described. However, as the rotating member 103 rotates, the optical path of the transmissive photosensor 116 is blocked. The same effect can be obtained even with a movable member that moves in parallel as long as the above-described operation of shifting from the above state to the permeating state can be realized.

Next, the construction of the third embodiment of the image forming apparatus, the consumable item, and the developer cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 8A and 8B show the configuration of the third embodiment of the developer cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 8A is a new developer cartridge, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing an old developer cartridge. Explanatory drawing, FIG. 8C is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, FIG. 9 is a sectional explanatory view showing the configuration of the encoder of the third embodiment, and FIGS. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the operations of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge according to the third exemplary embodiment. The same components as those in the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 201 designates a developer cartridge filled with toner (or developer in which toner and carrier are mixed) as an example of a consumable article detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 of the present embodiment. The toner cartridge 201a has a toner supply port 201a for supplying the toner contained in the toner cartridge 201 to a developing device provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.

Further, 202 is a stirring shaft serving as a rotary drive shaft, and 202a is a stirring member provided on the stirring shaft 202. 203
Is a rotating member provided in the toner cartridge 201, and the rotating member 203 is an engaging portion 20 capable of engaging with the drive gear 211.
The center of rotation 203a, which coincides with the center of rotation of 2b, is shown in FIG.
8A is rotatably supported from a rotation start position A shown in FIG. 8B to a rotation end position B shown in FIG. 8B, and a gear portion 203b provided on a fan-shaped outer peripheral portion and a rotation member 203. A claw portion 203c provided at an end portion in the rotation direction and a protrusion 203d protruding in a fan-shaped intermediate portion are formed.

Reference numeral 204 is a locking claw that serves as a rotation member locking means, and reference numeral 211 is a drive gear coaxially supported by the stirring shaft 202. 212 and 213 are transmission gears that transmit the drive to the drive gear 211, and 214 is a motor that is a drive source of the drive gear 211 and the transmission gears 212 and 213.

As shown in FIG. 9, the disk-shaped member 215 is formed by integrally fixing a disk-shaped member 215b and a ratchet portion 215a, which are circular thin plates having slits in the radial direction.
A compression spring 215d is provided between the gear portion 215b and the gear portion 215c, the gear portion 215c is an encoder that meshes with the transmission gear 213 to rotate, and 216 is a transmissive photosensor that serves as pulse generation means. The above-mentioned configuration, its operation and action are the same as those of the above-mentioned respective embodiments.

Reference numeral 217 is a lever member serving as a pulse stopping means, which is rotatably supported by a rotation center 217a and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 8C by an external force (not shown) (direction of arrow c).
The lever member 217 is provided with an abutting portion 217b capable of abutting and engaging with a protrusion 203d provided on the rotating member 203, and the other end of the lever member 217 is subjected to a rotational force. An encoder locking portion 217c serving as an encoder stop portion engageable with a ratchet portion 215a provided on the encoder 215 is formed in the portion.

That is, the lever member 217 that serves as the pulse stopping means in this embodiment has an encoder locking portion 217c that is operably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 and that serves as an encoder stopping portion that can stop the rotation of the encoder 215. It is configured as a formed movable member.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the encoder 215 of this embodiment. The ratchet portion 215a and the disc-shaped member 215b in which the slit is formed are integrated, but the gear portion 215c is a separate body, and the compression spring 215d is provided between the disc-shaped member 215b and the gear portion 215c. A frictional force acts between the disk-shaped member 215b and the gear portion 215c.

Therefore, when the gear portion 215c normally rotates,
The disk-shaped member 215b in which the ratchet part 215a and the slit are formed also rotates integrally with the frictional force, but when the ratchet part 215a is locked by an external force, the ratchet part 215a and the slit are formed even if the gear part 215c rotates. It is possible to prevent the disk-shaped member 215b thus formed from slipping and rotating.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the operation of the toner cartridge 201 in this embodiment. In order to make the operation of the rotating member 203 easy to see, only the outline of the drive gear 211 is shown by a dotted line, and the drive gear 211 is seen through. It is the side view drawn.

FIG. 10A shows a new toner cartridge 20.
FIG. 11 is a diagram when 1 is attached, and as shown in FIG. 10A, in the new toner cartridge 201, the rotating member 2
Reference numeral 03 is at the rotation start position A shown in FIG. 10A, the pitch circle of the gear portion 203b and the pitch circle of the drive gear 211 are at the same position, and meshes with the transmission gear 212.

Therefore, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the transmission gear 212 via the transmission gear 213 meshing with the output gear 214a of the motor 214, and from the transmission gear 212 to the gear portion 203b of the rotating member 203 and the drive gear 211 at the same time. When the drive is transmitted and the rotation of the motor 214 starts, all the gears, the encoder 215, and the rotating member 203 rotate in the arrow direction of FIG.

When the rotating member 203 is at the rotating start position A shown in FIG. 10 (a), the contact portion 217b of the lever member 217 is in contact.
Is in contact with the protrusion 203d of the rotating member 203 and is in a position as shown in FIG. 10A, and the encoder locking portion 217c of the lever member 217 locks the ratchet portion 215a of the encoder 215. Although the gear part 215c of the device rotates, the ratchet part 215a and the disk-shaped member 215b having the slit are slipped and do not rotate, and no pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 216.

When the rotating member 203 reaches the rotation end position B shown in FIG. 10B, the claw portion 203c provided at the end of the rotating member 203 in the rotation direction engages with the locking claw 204. Since the rotation member 203 is stopped and the protrusion 203d and the lever member 217 provided on the rotation member 203 move to the position shown in FIG. 10B, the encoder locking portion 217c of the lever member 217 is stopped.
Is separated from the ratchet portion 215a of the encoder 215, so that the disc-shaped member 21 with the ratchet portion 215a and the slit is formed.
5b and the gear portion 215c rotate together, and a pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 216.

Here, when the rotating member 203 reaches the rotating end position B shown in FIG. 10B, the claw portion 203c provided at the end of the rotating member 203 in the rotation direction becomes the locking claw 204. The rotation member 203 is locked and held, and does not return to its original state.

When the toner cartridge 201 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 during use and is attached again, the claw portion 203c of the rotating member 203 is engaged as shown in FIG. 10B. Since the turning member 203 is fixed by being locked by the stop claw 204, the turning member 203 is initially arranged in FIG.
In the state of the rotation end position B in (b), the rotation of the motor 214 starts, and at the same time, the ratchet portion 215a of the encoder 215.
The disk-shaped member 215b formed with the slit rotates, and a pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 216.

As described above, in the toner cartridge 201 and the image forming apparatus 5 of this embodiment, the encoder 215 having the slip mechanism and the encoder locking portion 217c of the lever member 217 for locking the ratchet portion 215a thereof are provided. Due to the change of the position, the rotation member 203 is moved to the rotation start position A.
When the gear part 215c of the encoder 215 is rotated, the disk-shaped member 215b in which the slit of the encoder 215 is formed does not rotate even if the gear part 215c of the encoder 215 rotates, and when the rotation member 203 reaches the rotation end position B, the encoder The gear portion 215c of 215 and the disk-shaped member 215b having the slit formed integrally rotate.

As described above, the gear portion 215c of the encoder 215 is
Is rotated, the disk-shaped member 215b formed with the slit of the encoder 215 is slipped for a certain period of time T to prevent the encoder 215 from rotating.
In this case, no pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 216 until the rotating member 203 reaches the rotating end position B from the rotating start position A, and in the case of the old toner cartridge 201, the motor is used. The operation in which a pulse is generated in the transmissive photosensor 216 immediately after the rotation of 214 is started is realized.

Due to such an action, the pulse generated by the transmissive photosensor 216 between the new toner cartridge 201 and the old toner cartridge 201 is different as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). It is possible to distinguish between a new toner cartridge 201 and an old toner cartridge 201 without newly adding an electrical detection device.

In this embodiment, the toner cartridge is a consumable item that is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 5.
An example in which 201 is applied has been described, but any consumable item having a rotation drive shaft and detecting the amount of rotation by a pulse may be used. For example, a photoconductor drum serving as an image carrier is provided. The process cartridge described above may be used, or the waste toner container may be used, and the same effect can be obtained in these cases.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the gear portion 215c of the encoder 215 meshes with the transmission gear 213 has been described. However, the gear portion 215c is the output gear 214a of the motor 214.
The same effect can be obtained even when meshed with the drive gear 211.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which a disc-shaped encoder 215 with a slit is passed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the transmissive photosensor 216 for pulse detection has been described, but as another configuration. The same effect can be obtained by rotating a reflection plate on which white and black are printed and detecting it by a reflection type photo sensor.

Further, in this embodiment, an example in which the lever member 217 is rotated about the rotation center 217a has been described. However, the ratchet portion 215a of the encoder 215 is locked by the rotation of the rotation member 203. The same effect can be obtained even with a movable member that moves in parallel if the above-described operation capable of stopping the disk-shaped member 215b having the slits can be realized.

In each of the above embodiments, the motors 14, 114, 2
14 is preferably a DC (direct current) brush motor.

In each of the above embodiments, the pulse stop means and the encoder are provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus 5, but the main body of the image forming apparatus 5 is detachable and can be replaced with a new one at the end of its service life. Used as a consumable product having at least one rotation drive shaft, the toner cartridge serving as a developer supply container has a pulse stop means and an encoder, and when the pulse is detected, the toner cartridge is new. It may be configured to discriminate whether there is an existing product or an old product in use.

[0118]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, the rotating member starts rotating in the case of a new consumable item (developer cartridge) by not rotating the encoder for a certain period of time. No pulse is generated from the position until the rotation end position is reached, and in the case of an old consumable product (developer cartridge), a pulse is generated immediately after the rotation of the drive source (motor) is started. Since the old and new consumables can be detected, it is not necessary to add an electrical detection device for the old and new detection, and an image forming apparatus with a consumable life detection function can be realized with a simple and inexpensive configuration. .

When the drive gear is provided not on the image forming apparatus main body but on the consumable item side, it is judged that the consumable item is not attached when the pulse is not generated even after the elapse of a certain time. It is also possible to detect the presence / absence of a consumable item without adding another detection device.

Further, even if the encoder is rotating, the photosensor is masked for a certain period of time, so that it is not necessary to add an electric detection device for detecting old and new consumables, and it is simple and inexpensive. An image forming apparatus having a function of detecting the life of a consumable item can be realized by the configuration.

Further, even if the gear part of the encoder is rotating, the slit part of the encoder is slipped for a certain period of time so as not to rotate, thereby adding an electric detection device for detecting old and new consumables and detecting presence / absence. It is possible to realize an image forming apparatus having a consumable life detection function with a simple and inexpensive structure that does not require.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a plan view and a side view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

2A and 2B show a configuration of a developer cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a new developer cartridge, and FIG. 2B is an old developer cartridge. FIG. 3C is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method of recognizing old and new consumable items in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a pulse output diagram illustrating a method of recognizing the old and new consumable items in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

6A and 6B show a configuration of a developer cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6A is a new developer cartridge, and FIG. 6B is an old developer cartridge. FIG. 3C is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge according to the second embodiment.

8A and 8B show a configuration of a developer cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8A is a new developer cartridge, and FIG. 8B is an old developer cartridge. FIG. 3C is a perspective explanatory view showing a state in which a developer cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an encoder according to a third embodiment.

10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus and the developer cartridge according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Rotation start position, B ... Rotation end position, 1 ... Toner cartridge, 1a ... Toner supply port, 2 ... Agitation shaft, 2a ... Agitation member, 2b ... Engaging portion, 3 ... Rotation member, 3a ... Rotation Moving center, 3b ... Gear part, 3c ... Claw part, 4 ... Locking claw, 5 ... Image forming device, 6 ... Consumable item recognizing means, 11 ... Drive gear, 12, 13
... transmission gear, 14 ... motor, 14a ... output gear, 15 ... encoder, 15a ... gear section, 16 ... transmissive photosensor, 17 ... lever member, 17a ... rotation center, 17b ... gear holding section, 101 ...
Toner cartridge, 101a ... Toner supply port, 102 ... Agitation shaft, 102a ... Rotating member, 102b ... Engaging portion, 103 ... Rotating member, 1
03a ... Rotation center, 103b ... Gear part, 103c ... Claw part, 103d ... Protrusion, 104 ... Locking claw, 111 ... Drive gear, 112, 113 ... Transmission gear, 114 ... Motor, 114a ... Output gear, 115 ... Encoder ,
115a ... Gear part, 116 ... Transmissive photosensor, 117 ... Lever member, 117a ... Rotation center, 117b ... Abutting part, 117c ... Mask part, 201 ... Toner cartridge, 201a ... Toner supply port, 2
02 ... Stirring shaft, 202a ... Stirring member, 202b ... Engaging portion, 203 ... Rotating member, 203a ... Rotating center, 203b ... Gear portion, 203c ... Claw portion,
203d ... Protrusion, 204 ... Locking claw, 211 ... Drive gear, 212, 213 ...
Transmission gear, 214 ... Motor, 214a ... Output gear, 215 ... Encoder, 215a ... Ratchet part, 215b ... Disc-shaped member, 215c ...
Gear part, 215d ... Compression spring, 216 ... Transmissive photo sensor, 2
17 ... Lever member, 217a ... Rotation center, 217b ... Abutting portion, 217c
... Encoder locking part, 501 ... Transfer material feeding means, 502 ... Registration roller pair, 503 ... Transfer belt, 505 ... Conveying screw, 506 ... Process cartridge, 507 ... Exposure means, 508
… Transfer means, 510… Fixer

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a consumable item having at least one rotary drive shaft, which is used after being replaced by a new one according to its life, is detachable, and which is capable of rotationally driving the rotary drive shaft of the consumable item. Source, an encoder rotatable at a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of the drive source, a pulse generation unit capable of generating a number of pulses proportional to the rotation speed of the encoder, and A pulse stopping means capable of preventing the pulse generating means from generating a pulse, and a pulse generated by the pulse generating means can be detected, and no pulse is immediately detected even when the rotation of the drive source is started. If a pulse is detected after a certain period of time, it is recognized that the attached consumable item is new, and if a pulse is detected immediately after the rotation of the drive source is started, it is attached. Image forming apparatus characterized by having a consumable recognizing means recognizes that the consumables are is old goods of the middle-used. 2. The pulse stopping means is operably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and includes at least one of transmission gears for transmitting rotational drive from the drive source to a rotary drive shaft of the consumable item. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a movable member that is rotatably supported. 3. The movable means having a mask portion, wherein the pulse stopping means is operably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the pulse generating means can make the rotation of the encoder undetectable. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a member. 4. The pulse stop means is a movable member that is operably supported by the image forming apparatus main body and has an encoder stop portion that can stop rotation of the encoder. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive source is a DC brush motor. 6. The pulse generating means includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and has an optical sensor capable of generating a number of pulses proportional to the rotation speed of the encoder. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encoder has a disk-shaped member having slits provided in a radial direction of a circular thin plate. 8. In the consumable item recognition by the consumable item recognizing means, the consumable item is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body when a pulse is not detected even after a lapse of a certain time after the rotation of the drive source is started. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is recognized. 9. A consumable item which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, and which extends from a predetermined rotation start position to a rotation end position with respect to the consumable body. It is rotatably supported and partly has a gear part. Even if the consumable item is dropped or vibrated, an inertial force due to its own weight exerts an external force that is unrotatable. A turning member that can be turned from the turning start position to reach the turning end position when another external force is applied, and the turning end of the turning member provided on the consumable body. And a rotation member locking means that locks the rotation member in a non-rotatable position. 10. A developer supply having at least one rotation drive shaft, and an encoder rotatable at a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of a drive source capable of driving the rotation drive shaft provided in the image forming apparatus. A container, which is capable of detecting a pulse generated by the pulse generation means capable of generating a number of pulses proportional to the rotation speed of the encoder, and the pulse generated by the pulse generation means. If no pulse is detected and a pulse is detected after a certain period of time, it is recognized that the installed developer supply container is new, and the pulse is detected immediately after the drive source starts rotating. The developer supply container is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus provided with a recognition unit for recognizing that the installed developer supply container is an old product in use. 11. The developer supply container according to claim 10, further comprising pulse stopping means capable of preventing the pulse generating means from generating a pulse even when the drive source is rotated. 12. The pulse stop means is operably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus, and includes at least one of transmission gears for transmitting rotational drive from the drive source to a rotational drive shaft of the consumable item. The developer supply container according to claim 10 or 11, which is a movable member that rotatably supports the developer supply container. 13. The movable means having a mask portion formed thereon, wherein the pulse stopping means is operably supported by the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the pulse generating means can prevent the rotation of the encoder from being detected. It is a member, The developer supply container of Claim 10 or Claim 11 characterized by the above-mentioned. 14. The pulse stop means is a movable member that is operably supported by the image forming apparatus main body and has an encoder stop portion that can stop rotation of the encoder. Alternatively, the developer supply container according to claim 11. 15. The developer supply container according to claim 10, wherein the encoder has a disk-shaped member in which a slit is provided in a radial direction of a circular thin plate.