JP2005062752A - Monitoring device, unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a monitoring device for monitoring the service circumstances of a unit constituted to be attached to/detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus, capable of coping with the mutual replacement of old units and realizing the miniaturization of an entire connection part by simplifying the constitution of the connection part. <P>SOLUTION: The monitoring device 130 equipped with an IC 134 (non-volatile memory) for storing the service circumstances or the like of a fixing unit constituted to be attached to/detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus is attached to a receptacle 54 for electrically connecting the fixing unit to the main body in a state where the fixing unit is attached to the main body. When the fixing unit is attached to the main body, the monitoring device main body 136 (IC 134) of the device 130 is interfaced with a control part provided in the main body through the receptacle 54, whereby various pieces of information are stored in the IC 134 by the control part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus, a unit, and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, a monitoring apparatus that monitors the usage status of a unit that is detachably attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus, and a unit including the monitoring apparatus. And an image forming apparatus including the unit.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic technology such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer, as a monitoring device for a user or a service engineer to monitor the usage status of a fixing unit (fixing device) configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. For example, a system using a fuse as shown in Patent Document 1 is known. In the fuse method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707, the old / old discrimination fuse (first fuse) provided in the fixing unit and the life management are used to discriminate between the old and new and the life of the fixing unit mounted on the apparatus body. This is done by detecting the continuity / cutting state of the fuse (second fuse) by the control circuit provided on the device body side and displaying the detected contents using the display circuit. Is stored in a memory mounted on the apparatus main body side. Therefore, in this method, it is possible to determine whether the fixing unit is new or old and to determine the life of the fixing unit. However, since information such as the number of prints is not stored on the fixing unit side, it is possible to replace old (second-hand) units. It is impossible to respond.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, in a process cartridge in which a charging roller, a photosensitive drum, and a cleaning device are integrated and detachable from the apparatus main body, the remaining life of the photosensitive drum and the remaining life of the waste toner container are disclosed. Describes a technology that enables an IC (EEPROM) storing information such as the above to be mounted on an IC mounting connector provided on the process cartridge side. In the method using an IC mounted on the cartridge (unit) side as shown in Patent Document 2, on the process cartridge side to be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, in addition to information such as the remaining life of the photosensitive drum, printing is performed. Data information such as the number of sheets can be managed, and it becomes possible to cope with replacement of used process cartridges.
JP-A-3-62051 (Pages 10-12, FIGS. 15, 16, 17) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-31870 (pages 7-9, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 12, FIG. 15)

  However, in the case of Patent Document 2, since the connector provided in the process cartridge is a dedicated connector for mounting an IC, it is impossible to interface an electrical signal with other than the IC through the dedicated connector. For example, regarding the fixing unit, it is necessary to interface various electric signals such as a temperature sensor, a paper jam sensor, and a quartz lamp AC power supply in addition to a monitoring device that monitors the usage state. When such a dedicated connector for mounting an IC (monitoring device) is applied to the fixing unit, it is necessary to separately provide a connection portion for interfacing the various electric signals. This complicates the configuration of the connecting portion and increases the size of the entire connecting portion.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, since the connector has an IC socket structure for mounting a DIP type IC, a noise removing capacitor or the like for improving the operation reliability of the IC is disposed in the vicinity of the IC. Is difficult. For this reason, it is difficult to easily cope with the improvement of the operation reliability of the IC.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention is a monitoring device that monitors the usage status of a unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device capable of simplifying the configuration and reducing the size of the entire connection portion. In addition, in a monitoring device that monitors the usage status of a unit that is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to replace old units and to easily cope with improvement in operation reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device that can perform the above.

  In addition, in the unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, by providing the above-described monitoring apparatus, it is possible to support replacement of old units, and the monitoring apparatus, unit, unit, and apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a unit that can simplify the configuration of the connection unit, reduce the size of the entire connection unit, and can easily cope with the improvement of the operation reliability of the monitoring device.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus including a unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, by providing the above-described monitoring apparatus, it is possible to support replacement of old product units, a monitoring apparatus and a unit, and It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of simplifying the configuration of the connecting portion between the unit and the apparatus main body, reducing the size of the entire connecting portion, and further easily supporting improvement in operation reliability of the monitoring device. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of connectors that are detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and are provided in the mounted state are electrically connected to the apparatus main body. A monitoring device for monitoring a usage status of a connected unit, wherein the monitoring device main body can be mounted on a connector provided on the unit side of the pair of connectors, and at least a mounting state on the connector And a connection means for electrically connecting the relay terminal of the connector and the monitoring device main body.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, when the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the unit is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by connecting the apparatus main body and a pair of connectors provided on the unit. Various electric signals such as a power source and a control signal are interfaced. In this monitoring device for monitoring the usage status of the unit, the main body of the monitoring device can be attached to the connector provided on the unit side by the attaching means, and at least in the attached state to the connector, the connecting means can monitor the relay terminal of the connector. The apparatus main body is electrically connected.

  As the mounting means, a pair of fitting portions provided on the monitoring device main body and the connector are fitted, or an elastic member (lock member) provided on one of the monitoring device main body and the connector is provided on the other. A mechanical mounting means or the like that obtains the above-described mounting state can be applied by taking a means such as engaging with a portion. As the connection means, a connection means including a harness electrically connected to the monitoring apparatus main body and a connector provided at the tip of the harness and connected to the relay terminal can be applied.

  Thus, in a state where the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the monitoring apparatus main body is interfaced with, for example, a control unit provided in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus via the connector. It is possible to control the monitoring apparatus main body and store various information in the monitoring apparatus main body. Therefore, on the side of the unit attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, data information such as the number of printed sheets can be managed in addition to information such as the remaining life of the unit, and it is possible to cope with replacement of old product units. In addition, an interface such as a power source and a control signal of a unit mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and an interface between a monitoring device (monitoring apparatus main body) provided on the unit side and a control unit on the apparatus main body side of the image forming apparatus, However, since it is performed collectively by the connection of a pair of connectors, there is no need to provide a plurality of connectors or connection parts for interfacing them, thereby simplifying the configuration of the connection part and reducing the size of the entire connection part. be able to.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the monitoring device according to the first aspect, the main body of the monitoring device stores a substrate on which a circuit pattern is formed, and information relating to a usage status of the unit mounted on the substrate. And the connection means is configured by a relay connector mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the storage means via the circuit pattern and connectable to the relay terminal. Yes.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the monitoring device (monitoring device main body) is attached to the connector of the unit, the relay connector mounted on the board constituting the monitoring device main body is connected to the relay terminal of the connector. In a state where the unit is mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the storage unit mounted on the substrate and the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus via the relay connector connected to the relay terminal of the connector and the circuit pattern formed on the substrate The control unit or the like is interfaced, and the control unit or the like can store various types of information in the storage means constituting the monitoring apparatus main body.

  As described above, if the monitoring device main body includes the substrate, it is possible to mount a noise-removing capacitor or the like for improving the operation reliability of the storage unit on the substrate and arrange it near the storage unit. Thus, it is possible to easily cope with the improvement of the operation reliability of the monitoring device (monitoring device main body) provided with the storage means.

  Also, in the electrical connection and disconnection between the relay terminal of the connector and the monitoring apparatus main body, the relay connector is connected to the relay terminal as the monitoring apparatus main body is attached to the connector, and the relay connector is connected as the monitoring apparatus main body is detached. Since the connection is released from the relay terminal, the work becomes easy.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the monitoring apparatus according to the second aspect, the mounting means is constituted by the relay connector.

  In the invention according to claim 3, when the relay connector mounted on the board constituting the monitoring device main body is connected to the relay terminal of the connector of the unit, the monitoring device main body is attached to the unit by the fitting force between the relay terminal and the relay connector. Attached to the connector.

  As described above, the mounting means that enables the monitoring device main body to be mounted on the connector provided on the unit side is a connection means that electrically connects the relay terminal of the connector and the monitoring device main body at least in a mounted state to the connector. By using the relay connector, the configuration of the mounting means can be simplified.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by connecting a pair of connectors provided to each other in the mounted state. The monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus includes the above-described monitoring device, so that it is possible to replace old units, and the monitoring device. The structure of the unit and the connection part between the unit and the apparatus main body can be simplified, the entire connection part can be miniaturized, and the operation reliability of the monitoring apparatus can be easily improved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the unit according to the fourth aspect, the connector includes a plurality of relay terminals, and the monitoring device main body is connected to any one of the plurality of relay terminals. The relay terminal can be used.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the monitoring device main body can be used in a state where the monitoring device main body is connected to any one of the plurality of relay terminals provided on the connector of the unit. Various electrical signals other than the monitoring device between the apparatus main body and the unit of the image forming apparatus can be interfaced by using the relay terminal that is not connected.

  The invention according to claim 6 is electrically connected to the unit by connecting the unit according to claim 4 or claim 5 and a pair of connectors provided to each other in the mounted state. And an apparatus main body.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus is electrically connected by connecting a unit including the above-described monitoring device and a pair of connectors that are detachable and provided in a mounted state. In this image forming apparatus, it is possible to replace the old product units, and simplify the configuration of the monitoring device, the unit, and the connection portion between the unit and the device body. The overall size can be reduced, and further, the operation reliability of the monitoring device can be easily improved.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the unit is a fixing unit that fixes the image onto the recording medium on the recording medium on which the image is formed by the apparatus main body. It is a feature.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the case where the unit is a fixing unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, a pair that electrically connects the fixing unit and the apparatus main body when the fixing unit is mounted. In addition to a monitoring device that monitors the usage status of the fixing unit, various electrical signals such as a temperature sensor, a paper jam sensor, and a quartz lamp AC power source provided in the fixing unit can be interfaced.

  Since the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the monitoring apparatus that monitors the usage status of the unit that is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus can cope with the replacement of old units, and can be connected. The structure of the part can be simplified and the entire connection part can be reduced in size. In addition, in a monitoring device that monitors the usage status of a unit that is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to replace old units and to easily cope with improvement in operation reliability. Can do.

  In addition, since the unit of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus includes the above-described monitoring device, thereby being able to support replacement of old units. The structure of the connecting portion between the monitoring device and the unit and the unit and the device main body can be simplified, the entire connecting portion can be reduced in size, and the operation reliability of the monitoring device can be easily improved.

  In addition, since the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus including the unit configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus includes the above-described monitoring device, so In addition to being compatible with replacement, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the connecting portion between the monitoring device and the unit and the unit and the device main body, to reduce the size of the entire connecting portion, and to easily improve the operational reliability of the monitoring device. be able to.

  Hereinafter, a monitoring device, a fixing unit, and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a tandem color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a fixing unit mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an optical scanning device 12 that is arranged upright in the center of the apparatus main body 11. The optical scanning device 12 includes yellow (Y) and magenta. Light beams AY, AM, AC, and AK corresponding to the colors (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are output in the left direction. Photosensitive units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K including photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are arranged in series on the left side of the optical scanning device 12 in order from the top along the vertical direction. In the vicinity of the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K incorporating the corresponding chargers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are disposed. The image forming unit for each color of Y, M, C, and K in the image forming apparatus 10 includes photoreceptor units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K including these photoreceptor drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, and a charger. It is composed of developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K incorporating 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K.

  The photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are charged by the chargers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K, and the drum surface is scanned and exposed by the light beams AY, AM, AC, and AK from the optical scanning device 12. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent images are developed by developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K to become toner images of Y, M, C, and K colors. The toner images of these colors are Y color, M color, C color, and K color. With the combination of colors, the photosensitive drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are transferred to the primary intermediate transfer bodies 20YM and 20CK, and further transferred from the primary intermediate transfer bodies 20YM and 20CK to the secondary intermediate transfer body 22 and overlapped. Adapted.

  In the vicinity of the secondary intermediate transfer member 22, a transfer charger 24 that charges the secondary intermediate transfer member 22 and a cleaner unit 26 that collects waste toner from the secondary intermediate transfer member 22 are disposed. A fixing unit 30 according to the present embodiment is disposed above the secondary intermediate transfer member 22. The fixing unit 30 includes a heating roll 32 and a pressure roll 34 that is in pressure contact with the heating roll 32, and a rod-shaped halogen quartz lamp (halogen heater) 36 as a heat source is provided in the heating roll 32. Two are provided along the direction (the direction of arrow W in FIG. 2).

  A paper feed tray 40 capable of storing a large number of recording papers P is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 11, and a paper discharge tray 42 for ejecting the recording paper P is disposed at the upper part of the apparatus main body 11. A plurality of conveyance roller pairs 46 are arranged in the conveyance path 44 of the recording paper P extending between the paper feed tray 40 and the paper discharge tray 42. In the apparatus main body 11, a control unit 48 that drives and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 10 and a power supply unit 49 that supplies power to each unit are provided.

  The toner images transferred from the image forming portions of the respective colors to the secondary intermediate transfer body 22 through the primary intermediate transfer bodies 20YM and 20CK and colored on the secondary intermediate transfer body 22 are sent out from the paper feed cassette 28 and conveyed. The images are collectively transferred from the secondary intermediate transfer body 22 onto the recording paper P conveyed along the conveyance path 44 by the roller pair 46. When the recording paper P is sent to the fixing unit 30, the toner image transferred onto the recording paper P is melted and fixed on the recording medium 34 by being heated and pressurized by the heating roll 32 and the pressure roll 34. The The toner remaining on the secondary intermediate transfer member 22 is cleaned and removed by the cleaner unit 26 and collected in a waste toner storage unit (not shown) in the cleaner unit 26.

  Through the above process, a color image is formed on the recording paper P by the image forming apparatus 10, and the recording paper P on which the color image is formed is transported by the transport roller pair 46 to the discharge tray 42 at the top of the apparatus main body 11. Discharged.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the photoreceptor units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K, the developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, the cleaner unit 26, and the fixing unit 30 are performed by a user or a service engineer. In order to facilitate replacement and maintenance, the apparatus main body 11 can be attached and detached in units.

  Next, the connection unit that interfaces the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the fixing unit 30, the monitoring apparatus 130 attached to the fixing unit 30, and the mounting structure thereof will be described in detail.

  As a connecting portion for interfacing the apparatus main body 11 and the fixing unit 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a drawer connector 50 including a pair of plugs 52 and a receptacle 54 is used. The drawer connector 50 according to the present embodiment is a commercially available hybrid type drawer connector that can connect an AC power line and a DC signal line in a lump.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drawer connector 50 is disposed at the end portion in the longitudinal direction on the mounting surface (panel 146) of the fixing unit 30, and from the halogen quartz lamp 36 built in the heating roll 32 of the fixing unit 30. The plug 52 is attached to the apparatus main body 11 side, and the receptacle 54 is attached to the fixing unit 30 side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the plug 52 includes a mounting portion 56 made of a synthetic resin and having a rectangular plate shape, and a substantially box-shaped plug housing 58 integrally provided on the front side of the mounting portion 56. ing. In the description of the plug 52 using FIG. 3, the right side of the drawing is described as the front side of the plug 52 and the left side of the drawing is described as the rear side of the plug 52.

  The attachment portion 56 is provided with a pair of positioning plates 60 protruding rearward in the vicinity of the upper and lower end portions of the rear surface. Claw pieces 62 that can be elastically deformed inward are provided on the outer surface sides of the pair of positioning plates 60, and the inner surface side of the positioning plate 60 and the inner surface side of the lower positioning plate 60 are provided. An AC power line connecting portion 64 connected to the rear surface of the attaching portion 56 is provided.

  Four through holes 66 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in the front portion of the AC power line connecting portion 64 and the AC power line connecting portion 64 in the plug housing 58. These through-holes 66 are arranged in pairs, and the pair of through-holes 66 are arranged in two rows in the width direction of the plug 52 (depth direction in FIG. 3 / arrow W direction in FIG. 2). Has been placed. Further, a guide groove 68 is formed in the plug housing 58 at a front portion of the AC power line connecting portion 64, which is notched to a predetermined depth from the front end of the plug housing 58 to the rear.

  A power contact plug 70 is provided in each through hole 66. The caulking portion 72 provided at the rear end portion of each power contact plug 70 has lead wires on the distal end side of two pairs (four in total) of power harnesses 74 connected to the power supply portion 49 of the apparatus main body 11. Thus, each power harness 74 is mechanically and electrically connected to the power contact plug 70.

  A DC signal line connection portion 76 is provided above the AC power line connection portion 64 on the rear surface of the attachment portion 56. The DC signal line connecting portion 76 is formed with two concave connector portions 78, 79, and these connector portions 78, 79 are arranged in two rows in the width direction of the plug 52. In the present embodiment, one connector portion 78 has six poles and the other connector portion 79 has seven poles, and the number of poles is different.

  A front portion of the DC signal line connecting portion 76 in the plug housing 58 is formed into a socket shape having an open front surface and a hollow inside. A contact mounting plate 80 is provided vertically in the socket-like cavity, and 6 and 7 contacts 82 corresponding to the number of poles of the connector portions 78 and 79 are provided on both surfaces of the contact mounting plate 80. Are arranged in the vertical direction and attached to each other.

  Connectors 86 and 87 attached to one ends of signal harnesses 84 and 85 are fitted in the connector portions 78 and 79, respectively. The other ends of the signal harnesses 84 and 85 are connected to the control unit 48 in the apparatus main body 11, and the one end side is connected to the DC signal line connecting portion 76 of the plug 52 by the fitting force between the connectors 86 and 87 and the connector portions 78 and 79. And is electrically connected to the contact 82 via connectors 86 and 87.

  In the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, a rectangular plug mounting hole 90 is formed in a panel 88 that constitutes a mounting portion in which the fixing unit 30 is mounted. The plug 52 is attached to the panel 88 by a pair of positioning plates 60 provided in the attachment portion 56 being pushed into the plug attachment hole 90 from the surface side of the panel 88. In this mounted state, the plug 52 is positioned by fitting the pair of positioning plates 60 into the plug mounting holes 90, and the rear surface of the mounting portion 56 and the pair of claw pieces 62 are locked to the hole edges of the plug mounting holes 90. As a result, the panel 88 is held. Further, the plug housing 58 protrudes from the surface of the panel 88.

  On the other hand, the receptacle 54 is made of a synthetic resin and has a rectangular plate shape, and a socket-like receptacle that is integrally provided on the front side of the mounting portion 92 and has a front surface that is open and hollow. A housing 94 is provided. In the description of the receptacle 54 using FIG. 3, the left side of the drawing is described as the front side of the receptacle 54, and the right side of the drawing is described as the rear side of the receptacle 54.

  The attachment portion 92 is provided with a pair of positioning plates 96 protruding rearward in the vicinity of the upper and lower end portions of the rear surface. The pair of positioning plates 96 has a U shape as shown in FIG. A pair of arm portions 98 projecting rearward are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the receptacle housing 94. The pair of arm portions 98 are arranged in the respective positioning plates 96 at the front end side and can be elastically deformed inward, and claw portions 100 protruding outward are respectively provided at the front end portions. . An AC power line connecting portion 102 connected to the inner surface of the positioning plate 96 and the rear surface of the mounting portion 92 is provided on the inner surface side of the lower positioning plate 96, and the AC power line connecting portion 102 of the receptacle 54 is provided. These have the same structure as the AC power line connecting portion 64 of the plug 52.

  The AC power line connecting portion 102 is formed with four through holes 104 penetrating in the front-rear direction and communicating with the receptacle housing 94. These through-holes 104 are arranged in pairs, and the pair of through-holes 104 are arranged in two rows in the width direction of the receptacle 54 (depth direction in FIG. 3 / arrow W direction in FIG. 2). Is arranged. Further, a guide plate 106 having a predetermined height corresponding to the guide groove 68 of the plug 52 is projected from the front portion of the AC power line connecting portion 102 in the receptacle housing 94.

  A power contact receptacle 108 is provided in each through hole 104. In the caulking portion 110 provided at the rear end portion of each power contact receptacle 108, the lead wires on the front end side of two pairs (four in total) connected to the halogen quartz lamp 36 and the like are caulked and fixed. Thus, each power harness 112 is mechanically and electrically connected to the power contact receptacle 108.

  A DC signal line connection portion 114 is provided on the rear surface of the attachment portion 92 above the AC power line connection portion 102, and the DC signal line connection portion 114 of the receptacle 54 is connected to the DC signal line connection portion 76 of the plug 52. It has the same structure as The DC signal line connecting portion 114 is formed with two concave connector portions 116, 117, and these connector portions 116 are arranged in two rows in the width direction of the receptacle 54. In the present embodiment, one connector portion 116 has six poles and the other connector portion 117 has seven poles corresponding to the connector portions 78 and 79 of the plug 52.

  A concave contact mounting socket 118 having an open front surface and a hollow inside is provided at a front portion of the DC signal line connecting portion 114 in the receptacle housing 94. On both inner wall surfaces in the width direction of the contact mounting socket 118, six and seven contacts 120 corresponding to the number of poles of the connector portions 116 and 117 are respectively arranged in the vertical direction and attached.

  A connector 124 attached to one end of the signal harness 122 is fitted into the 7-pole connector portion 117 of the two connector portions 116 and 117 provided in the DC signal line connection portion 114 (see FIG. 5). ). The other end of the signal harness 122 is connected to a temperature sensor and a paper jam sensor (not shown) in the fixing unit 30, and one end is connected to the DC signal line of the receptacle 54 by the fitting force between the connector 124 and the connector portion 117. It is mechanically connected to the portion 114 and is electrically connected to the contact 120 via the connector 124. In addition, a connector 138 provided in the monitoring device 130 according to the present embodiment for monitoring the usage status of the fixing unit 30 is fitted into the 6-pole connector portion 116.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the monitoring device 130 includes a printed wiring board 132 on which a predetermined circuit pattern is formed. On one side of the printed wiring board 132 (left side in FIG. 5), a surface-mount type IC 134 (nonvolatile memory) for storing information on the usage status of the fixing unit 30 and a plurality of resistors, capacitors, etc. (not shown). Chip components are mounted. As the IC 134, an EEPROM (Electricably Erasable Programmed Read-Only Memory) capable of electrically writing and erasing data can be used. The IC 134 and the chip component are electrically connected to a circuit pattern formed on the printed wiring board 132, and the monitoring device main body 136 is configured by the printed wiring board 132 on which the IC 134 and the chip component are mounted. .

  A receptacle-type 6-pole connector 138 corresponding to the connector portion 116 of the receptacle 54 is mounted on the front end portion of the other surface (right surface in FIG. 5) of the printed wiring board 132. The connector 138 is provided with a pair of arm portions 140 protruding toward the mounting surface at the rear end portions of both side surfaces in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 5). The pair of arm portions 140 can be elastically deformed in the width direction of the connector 138, and claw portions 142 projecting inward are provided at the tip portions thereof.

  When the connector 138 is mounted on the printed wiring board 132, the claw portions 142 are locked to the notches 144 formed at both ends of the printed wiring board 132 by the elastic force of the pair of arm portions 140. A lead portion of a contact receptacle (not shown) is attached to the board 132 and is inserted into a through-hole penetrating a land provided in the printed wiring board 132 and soldered to the land, so that a circuit pattern of the printed wiring board 132 is obtained. Electrically connected.

  In order to attach the monitoring device 130 having the above configuration to the receptacle 54, the monitoring device 130 is fitted in the connector portion 116 of the receptacle 54 as described above with the orientation shown in FIG. Due to the fitting force between the connector 138 and the connector portion 116, the monitoring device 130 is held by the monitoring device main body 136 being attached to the receptacle 54 and electrically connected to the contact 120 via the connector 138.

  When the monitoring device 130 is attached to the receptacle 54, the printed wiring board 132 constituting the monitoring device main body 136 is in the insertion / extraction direction of the connector 138 with respect to the connector portion 116 and the insertion / extraction direction of the receptacle 54 and the plug 52 of FIG. The direction is parallel to the arrow L direction, and the DC signal line connecting portion 114 is arranged outside the receptacle 54 in the arrow W direction in FIG. 5, which is the width direction of the receptacle 54. As a result, the IC 134 and the chip component mounted on the opposite side of the printed wiring board 132 and the connector 138 mounting surface are moved away from the connector portion 117, and the printed wiring board 132, the IC 134 and the chip component are fitted into the connector portion 117. It does not interfere with the connector 124 and the signal harness 122 including the connector 124, and does not hinder the insertion / extraction of the connector 124 with respect to the connector portion 117.

  In the fixing unit 30, a rectangular receptacle mounting hole 148 is formed in a panel 146 that constitutes a mounting surface of the image forming apparatus 10 to the apparatus main body 11. The receptacle 54 is attached to the panel 146 by having the pair of positioning plates 96 and the distal ends of the pair of arms 98 pushed into the receptacle attachment holes 148 from the surface side of the panel 146. In this mounted state, the receptacle 54 is positioned by fitting the pair of positioning plates 96 into the receptacle mounting holes 148, and the rear surfaces of the mounting portions 92 and the claws 100 of the pair of arm portions 98 are connected to the receptacle mounting holes 148. The panel 146 is held by engaging with the hole edge. Further, the receptacle housing 94 protrudes from the surface of the panel 146.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment described above will be described.

  The fixing unit 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 by moving the fixing unit 30 arranged in the mounting portion of the apparatus main body 11 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. When the fixing unit 30 is mounted in the apparatus main body 11 by moving it in the direction of arrow A by a guide mechanism (not shown) provided in the mounting portion of the apparatus main body 11, as shown in FIG. The plug housing 58 of the plug 52 provided on the 11 side is fitted into the receptacle housing 94 of the receptacle 54 provided on the fixing unit 30 side. In this insertion, the outer peripheral surface of the plug housing 58 is guided by the inner wall surface of the receptacle housing 94, and the guide groove 68 is guided while being inserted into the guide plate 106, so that the relative positions of the plug 52 and the receptacle 54 are adjusted. Each power contact plug 70 and each contact 82 of the plug 52 are connected to each power contact receptacle 108 and each contact 120 of the receptacle 54, respectively. After the fixing unit 30 is mounted, the fixing unit 30 is fixed to the apparatus main body 11 by a fixing mechanism (not shown).

  By connecting the drawer connector 50 including the pair of plugs 52 and the receptacle 54, the fixing unit 30 is electrically connected to the apparatus main body 11, and the halogen quartz lamp 36 of the fixing unit 30 is connected to the power supply unit 49 of the apparatus main body 11. The power supply is supplied from the control unit 48, and the temperature sensor and paper jam sensor of the fixing unit 30 are controlled by the control unit 48 of the apparatus main body 11. In the monitoring device 130, information such as the remaining life of the fixing unit 30 and data information such as the number of prints are stored in the IC 134 of the monitoring device main body 136 by a signal from the control unit 48.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the fixing unit 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 11, the monitoring apparatus main body 136 (IC 134) of the monitoring apparatus 130 is connected via the drawer connector 50 (plug 52 and receptacle 54). The control unit 48 provided in the apparatus main body 11 is interfaced, and the control unit 48 can store various types of information in the IC 134. Therefore, on the fixing unit 30 side that is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 11, data information such as the number of prints can be managed in addition to information such as the remaining life of the fixing unit 30. Can respond. In addition, an interface such as a power source and a control signal of the fixing unit 30 mounted on the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, a monitoring device 130 (monitoring apparatus main body 136) provided on the fixing unit 30 side, and a control unit on the apparatus main body 11 side. 48, the drawer connector 50 including the pair of plugs 52 and the receptacle 54 is collectively performed, so that it is not necessary to provide a plurality of connectors or connection portions for interfacing them, thereby configuring the connection portion. Is simplified, and the entire connecting portion can be reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, since the monitoring device main body 136 of the monitoring device 130 includes the printed wiring board 132, a noise removing capacitor or the like for improving the operation reliability of the IC 134 is mounted on the printed wiring board 132. It becomes possible to arrange in the vicinity of the IC 134. Thereby, it is possible to easily cope with the improvement of the operation reliability of the monitoring device 130 (monitoring device main body 136) including the IC 134.

  Further, in the electrical connection and disconnection between the contact 120 of the receptacle 54 and the monitoring device main body 136, the connector 138 is connected to the contact 120 along with the attachment of the monitoring device main body 136 to the receptacle 54, and the monitoring device main body 136 is detached. Accordingly, since the connector 138 is disconnected from the contact 120, the operation becomes easy.

  In this embodiment, when the connector 138 mounted on the printed wiring board 132 constituting the monitoring apparatus main body 136 is connected to the contact 120 of the receptacle 54 of the fixing unit 30, the connector 116 including the connector 138 and the contact 120 is connected. The monitoring device main body 136 is attached to the receptacle 54 by the fitting force.

  As described above, the mounting means that allows the monitoring device main body 136 to be mounted on the receptacle 54 provided on the fixing unit 30 side is a connector that is a connection means for electrically connecting the contact 120 of the receptacle 54 and the monitoring device main body 136. By adopting 138, the configuration of the mounting means can be simplified. Further, since the connector 138 is firmly attached to the printed wiring board 132 by the pair of arm portions 140 and the claw portions 142, the printed wiring board 132 is attached to and detached from the receptacle 54 with respect to the monitoring device 130 (monitoring device main body 136). Even if the grip connector 138 is inserted into and removed from the connector portion 116, the connector 138 is prevented from rattling with respect to the printed wiring board 132 and cracks are prevented from entering the soldering portion.

  In the present embodiment, of the two connector portions 116 and 117 provided in the receptacle 54 of the fixing unit 30, the other connector portion 117 is used while the monitoring device main body 136 is connected to one connector portion 116. If possible, the connector unit 117 to which the monitoring apparatus main body 136 is not connected is used to interface various electrical signals other than the monitoring apparatus 130 between the apparatus main body 11 and the fixing unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the receptacle 54 to which the monitoring device 130 is attached is disposed away from the halogen quartz lamp 36 built in the heating roll 32 of the fixing unit 30, so that the IC 134 of the monitoring device main body 136 can be connected. Thermal stress is reduced.

  In this embodiment, a commercially available (general purpose) drawer connector 50 is used as a connecting portion for interfacing the apparatus main body 11 and the fixing unit 30 of the image forming apparatus 10, so that a dedicated connector is produced and used. Compared to the case, the connecting portion can be made inexpensive.

  In the present embodiment, the difference between the fixing unit 30 with the monitoring device 130 attached and the fixing unit 30 with no monitoring device 130 attached is only the presence or absence of the monitoring device 130 (monitoring device main body 136). All members constituting the fixing unit 30 can be made common without providing a special structure or the like for mounting the device 130. Thereby, diversion of the member can be promoted for a plurality of types of fixing units, and the cost of the fixing unit can be suppressed. Further, it is possible to easily cope with a design change of the fixing unit 30.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail by specific embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited to it, Various other embodiment is possible within the scope of the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the fixing unit 30 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the monitoring device 130 that monitors the usage status of the fixing unit 30, for example, the apparatus main body 11 of the image forming apparatus 10. To other units such as the developing units 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K, the photoconductor units 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15K, and the cleaner unit 26 that can be attached to and detached from, and the monitoring device for monitoring the usage status of these units Can also be applied.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a fixing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view of a state in which a connection portion between an apparatus main body and a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is disconnected from the direction of line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view of a state in which a connection portion between an apparatus main body and a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected, viewed from the same direction as FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a receptacle attached to the fixing unit of FIG. 2 and a monitoring device attached to the receptacle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 30 Fixing unit (unit)
50 drawer connector (a pair of connectors)
52 Plug 54 Receptacle (Connector provided on the unit side)
116 Connector (relay terminal)
117 Connector (other relay terminals)
120 contacts (relay terminal)
130 Monitoring Device 132 Printed Wiring Board (Board)
134 IC (memory means)
136 Monitoring Device Body 138 Connector (Mounting / Connecting / Relay Connector)

Claims (7)

A monitoring device that monitors the usage status of a unit that is electrically connected to the apparatus main body by connecting a pair of connectors provided to each other in a mounted state that is detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus,
A mounting means for mounting the monitoring device main body on a connector provided on the unit side of the pair of connectors,
A connection means for electrically connecting the relay terminal of the connector and the monitoring device main body at least in a mounted state to the connector;
The monitoring apparatus characterized by having. The monitoring device main body includes a substrate on which a circuit pattern is formed, and a storage unit that stores information on a usage status of the unit mounted on the substrate
2. The connection means is constituted by a relay connector mounted on the substrate and electrically connected to the storage means via the circuit pattern and connectable to the relay terminal. Monitoring device.   The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mounting means is constituted by the relay connector. A unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus and is electrically connected to the apparatus body by connecting a pair of connectors provided to each other in the mounted state;
A unit comprising the monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the connector includes a plurality of relay terminals, and another relay terminal can be used in a state where the monitoring device main body is connected to any one of the plurality of relay terminals. unit.   A unit according to claim 4 or 5, and an apparatus main body to which the unit is electrically connected by connecting a pair of connectors provided to each other so that the unit is detachable and in a mounted state. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unit is a fixing unit that fixes the image onto the recording medium on which the image is formed by the apparatus main body.

Images