JP2005234499A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which a latent image carrier and each processing means are integrated, nonetheless a process cartridge itself can be replaced, the latent image carrier and each processing means can independently be replaced by a user or a service person with ease and the setting of the cartridge is facilitated. <P>SOLUTION: A photoreceptor 3 which is one of rotary bodies in the process cartridge, includes an antenna 501 for communicating with a communicating part 503 disposed in the prescribed part of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and an IC chip 502. In particular, the antenna is formed in circular shape so as to be able to communicate with the communicating part of the main body even when the photoreceptor rotates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic copying process such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

In the image forming apparatus, since the toner in the developing device is consumed by image formation, it is necessary to replenish it. For example, in the case of a two-component developer, it is necessary to replace the magnetic carrier. Other members in the image forming apparatus include members that must be replaced due to wear and deterioration of the photoconductor, replacement due to contamination of the charging device, replacement due to wear of the crane blade, and the like.
Therefore, a service person goes to the user and replaces parts or members to be replaced. However, since the durability of the image forming apparatus and internal components / members has increased, the need for maintenance has been reduced.
Therefore, conventionally, a charging device, a developing device, or a cleaning device and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and a serviceman can be used by a serviceman by a process cartridge that allows the cartridge to be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The user exchanged the integrated process cartridge itself without going to the factory.

In particular, in recent years, it has become possible to effectively utilize the apparatus by exchanging information such as the degree of toner consumption between the cartridge and the image forming apparatus.
As a conventional technique of this type, for example, information is exchanged in a non-contact manner between the image forming apparatus main body and a non-contact communication IC tag mounted on a plurality of image forming cartridges attached to the main body. There is a possible image forming apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, for example, there is an image forming apparatus that can collect and utilize usage information of the main body of the image forming apparatus by using a cartridge storage means (memory) without unnecessarily increasing the cost of the cartridge (see FIG. Patent Document 2).

  Further, for example, there is an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a management system for the same that can improve management of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by recording management information for managing the electrophotographic photosensitive member in a non-contact manner (Patent Document 3). reference).

In addition, for example, the processing for managing the usage limit of the process cartridge having a memory for storing the management information of the usage limit is performed quickly and appropriately, thereby reducing the disadvantage of storing all the management information in the cartridge memory. There is an image forming apparatus that can be eliminated (see Patent Document 4).
JP 2001-22230 A JP 2001-222203 A JP 2003-195690 A JP 2002-182532 A

  However, regardless of the lifetime of each member, the user or service person has replaced the entire integrated process cartridge. This contributes to the exchangeability, but since the parts that can be used must be replaced at the same time, it leads to waste of resources, resulting in complaints from consumers.

  In addition, when a unit in the process cartridge is replaced, there is no means for confirming that the replaced part is securely set. Therefore, it is necessary for a skilled user or service person to replace the part carefully. It was expensive for ordinary users.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Even when the latent image carrier and each process means are formed integrally, the process cartridge itself can be replaced, and the user or service person can easily perform the process. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the latent image carrier and each process means can be independently replaced, and the cartridge can be easily set.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a rotating image carrier, a charging unit having a charging roller for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier, and an electrostatic on the carrier. Development means having a developing roller for developing a latent image, transfer means having an electrostatic transfer function for transferring an electrostatic ray image on the image carrier onto a transfer body such as paper or an intermediate transfer belt, and the carrier A cleaning unit for removing and collecting the developer remaining on the surface of the toner, a fixing unit for fixing the image transferred to the transfer member, and a toner bottle for storing and supplying the toner, and the image carrier. Structure in which at least two of the body, charging means, developing means, transfer means, cleaning means, fixing means, and toner bottle are unitized, and a process cartridge in which the unit is removable can be mounted The process cartridge includes an IC chip, and the image forming apparatus further includes a storage unit that reads and writes information on the IC chip and leaves a use history of the process cartridge. Further, the process cartridge is characterized in that an antenna for IC chip communication and power supply is provided on the outer periphery of an internal rotating body.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the rotating body has a detecting means for detecting that the rotating body is set by establishing communication with the main body side.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the IC chip includes first storage means for storing device information including a device ID and usage record information, and the image forming apparatus transmits the image information to an image forming unit provided in the main body. A second storage means for storing the main body side management information including the actual use value and the assigned life value to be read, and further reading the data stored in the first storage means and the second storage means And means.

  According to the present invention, the developing includes a rotating image carrier, a charging unit having a charging roller for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier, and a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image on the carrier. A transfer means having an electrostatic transfer function for transferring an electrostatic ray image on the image carrier onto a transfer member such as paper or an intermediate transfer belt; and a developer remaining on the surface of the carrier. A cleaning unit for collecting; a fixing unit for fixing the image transferred to the transfer member; and a toner bottle for storing and supplying toner; and the image carrier, the charging unit, the developing unit, and the transfer unit. An image forming apparatus having a structure in which at least two of cleaning means, fixing means, and toner bottles are unitized and a process cartridge having the units detachable can be attached. The process cartridge includes an IC chip, and the image forming apparatus further includes a storage unit that reads / writes information on the IC chip and leaves a use history of the process cartridge. Since the IC chip communication and power supply antennas are arranged on the outer periphery of the rotating body, the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body can communicate with each other regardless of the direction in which the process cartridge is set. In the past, a process cartridge set as a maintenance work was performed by a user or service person skilled in the maintenance work. According to the present invention, even a user who is not familiar with the work can easily perform the maintenance work without error. It is possible to perform.

  In the following embodiment, as a shaft rotating part, the communication antenna with the main body is wound around the outer periphery of the photoconductor in the process cartridge, and the main body and the main body regardless of the position where the photoconductor is set. Since communication is performed, it is one of the most preferred embodiments.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a process cartridge in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The process cartridge 1 includes a process cartridge frame 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “frame”), a photosensitive member 3 (not shown) as a latent image carrier, and a charging module as a charging unit as each process unit. 4, a developing module 5 that is a developing unit, and a cleaning module 6 that is a cleaning unit. Note that the photoconductor 3, the charging module 4, the developing module 5, and the cleaning module 6 can be replaced with new ones on a module basis.
Here, the “module” represents a unit that can be exchanged. For example, a “cleaning module” and a “cleaning device” are different from each other.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of the process cartridge.
The process cartridge frame 2 includes a first process cartridge frame 2a (hereinafter referred to as “first frame”) and a second process cartridge frame 2b (hereinafter referred to as “second frame”). However, it engages rotatably between the open position and the closed position with the engaging portion 2c as an axis.
In the closed position, the frames 2a and 2b are enclosed so that the photoconductor 3 cannot be removed.
The engaging portion 2c is provided with a protruding portion and a hole portion in each frame 2a, 2b, and the protruding portion is inserted into the hole portion to be engaged, and the protruding portion is held by a C-ring so as not to come off. .
Further, in the closed position, the two holes pinned on the frame positioning member (not shown) are provided in the hole provided at the place where the first and second process cartridge frames overlap. By penetrating, the first or second frame 2a, 2b is fixed simultaneously with positioning. As a result, the process cartridge frame 2 can be easily separated by assembling the first frame 2a or the second frame 2b without being integrally formed, and each process means described below And the photoreceptor can be replaced separately.

  Further, the frame 2 may be provided with detection means as shown in FIG. As detection means, a temperature / humidity sensor 21 for detecting the temperature and humidity in the process cartridge 1, a potential sensor 22 for detecting the potential of the photosensitive member 3, and a toner for detecting the amount of toner developed on the photosensitive member 3 after development. A density sensor 23 is provided.

The temperature / humidity sensor 21 is disposed in the second process cartridge frame 2b and has a positive temperature characteristic, for example, platinum, tungsten, nichrome, cantal, or a negative temperature coefficient, for example, SiC (silicon carbide). It is detected by a detection element such as a fine wire such as TaN (tantalum nitride) or a thin thermosensitive element such as a thin film or thermistor.
As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature / humidity sensor 21 is disposed on the upper part of the second frame 2b, but is not limited to this position.

The potential sensor 22 is disposed on the second process cartridge frame 2b and includes a potential detection unit and a control unit. The potential sensor 22 is spaced from the surface of the photoconductor 3 of the object to be measured by 1 to 3 mm. By disposing, it is possible to detect the surface potential of the photoreceptor 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the potential sensor 22 is disposed above the first frame 2a, between the charging module 4 and the developing module 5, and downstream of the laser light to be exposed. At this position, the potential of the photosensitive member 3 on which a latent image that becomes a patch-like solid black portion is formed is detected, and the detected signal is transmitted to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 through a signal line (harness) (not shown). The magnitude of the developing bias applied by the developing module 5 is determined, and the voltage is applied by controlling the power source.
The potential sensor 22 is not limited to the position, and may detect the potential of the photoconductor 3 serving as a white background portion and control the light amount and exposure time of the laser beam forming the solid black portion. .

A toner density sensor 23 (hereinafter referred to as “P sensor”) is disposed on the first process cartridge frame, and a latent image of a solid black portion formed outside the image forming area on the photosensitive member 3 is visualized with toner. The toner adhesion amount of the solid black portion is optically detected as an image density, and the detection result is transmitted as a signal to the control unit.
The P sensor 23 is composed of a light emitting element (for example, LED) and a light receiving element (not shown), and the light receiving element captures the amount of light of the light emitting element reflected from the solid black portion to obtain the amount of toner on the photoreceptor 3. ing. The toner amount on the photosensitive member 3 is detected, and the toner concentration of the developer contained in the developing module 5 is determined from the table recorded in the control unit. The P sensor is provided on the downstream side of the developing module 5.
It should be noted that each process means can be easily replaced by disposing the sensors related to the photosensitive member in the cartridge frame. In addition, each replaceable process means can be made inexpensive.

The signal line harness is gathered on the back side of the process cartridge 1 and connected to a connector portion provided on the back side of the process cartridge 1.
A connector portion is formed on the back side of the process cartridge 1 and is connected to an electric circuit on the image forming apparatus main body side. A harness extending from the above-described sensor is attached to the connector portion. Each harness has a rotating shaft 2c. With this configuration, the above-described cartridge frame can be freely rotated and the exchangeability of the photosensitive member 3 and each process means can be improved.

In addition to this, for example, a pre-transfer neutralization device 25 and a pre-cleaning neutralization device 26 may be provided.
The pre-transfer neutralization device 25 is provided upstream of the transfer region, and the pre-cleaning neutralization device 26 is provided downstream of the transfer region and upstream of the cleaning device (the cleaning device is different from the cleaning module). The charge on the photoreceptor 3 is attenuated to facilitate transfer or cleaning. In particular, the pre-cleaning static elimination device 26 facilitates cleaning of residual toner that has not been transferred onto the photoreceptor 3.
These light emitting diodes (LD), LEDs, electroluminescence (EL), fluorescent lamps and the like are disposed as light emitting means, and any of them can expose the photoreceptor 3 to attenuate the charge on the photoreceptor 3. . The light emitting means is preferably EL or LD, and the structure is simple, and it is more preferable to use EL. Moreover, you may provide static elimination before a charge upstream of a charging device. The residual potential of the photoconductor 3 can be erased to uniformly charge the photoconductor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the photoreceptor in the process cartridge. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state of the back side of the process cartridge incorporated in the image forming apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, the photoreceptor 3 is provided with a photosensitive layer 36 on a cylindrical aluminum substrate 35. In the case of the cylindrical photoreceptor 3, flanges 31 and 32 are provided at both ends inside the cylinder.
The flange 31 on the back side of the process cartridge is formed with a bearing 33 for passing the drive shaft 101 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 at the center. A gear 34 is formed on the inner surface of the bearing 33 and is fitted to a gear 102 provided on the drive shaft 101.
The flange 32 on the front side of the process cartridge has a fitting portion at the center. The fitting portion is fitted to a positioning portion attached to the process cartridge frame 2a when the photosensitive member 3 is attached to the process cartridge. The positioning portion is biased by a spring (not shown) in a direction in which the photosensitive member 3 is pushed back.

The photosensitive member 3 is attached to the process cartridge by attaching it to the process cartridge frame while pressing the fitting portion of the flange 32 against the positioning portion, and vice versa at the time of removal. Note that the photosensitive member 3 is not positioned with high accuracy so that image formation can be performed only by being locked by the locking portion 12 provided on the back side plate 11 of the process cartridge frame 2. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a bearing 103 that is aligned with a hole 13 provided in the frame back plate 11 of the process cartridge 1 in the back plate 111 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
The drive shaft 101 is inserted into the hole 13 of the process cartridge 1 to determine the position of the image forming apparatus 100 and the process cartridge 1. Further, the drive shaft 101 is inserted into a bearing 33 in the flange 31 of the photosensitive member 3 and is fitted to a gear 102 of the drive shaft 101 and a gear 34 provided on the flange 31.

  When the drive shaft 101 disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is rotated, the gear 102 of the drive shaft 101 rotates the photoconductor 3 via the gear 34 of the photoconductor 3. Further, the photosensitive member 3 is not fixed to the frame 2 of the process cartridge 1 but is simply locked, and the drive shaft 101 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is inserted into the photosensitive member 3, so that the photosensitive member 3 is inserted. Position 3. The positioning of the process cartridge 1 and the photosensitive member 3 is simultaneously performed by the drive shaft 101 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. In order to drive the photosensitive member with high accuracy as in this configuration, it is effective to have the rotating shaft of the photosensitive member 3. However, in this embodiment, the driving shaft 101 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side and the process is performed. By positioning the cartridge 1 while penetrating it, the photosensitive member and the process cartridge can be made inexpensive and can be rotationally driven with high accuracy.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes an intermediate transfer belt 40 that is an endless belt in the center. The intermediate transfer belt 40 is a multi-layer belt in which an elastic layer is provided on a base layer made of a material that hardly stretches, such as a stretchable fluororesin or a highly stretched rubber material. The elastic layer is formed, for example, by coating a fluorine-based resin or the like on the surface of fluorine-based rubber or acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber to form a smooth coat layer.
The intermediate transfer belt 40 is wound around three support rollers 41 to 43 and is driven to rotate clockwise. To the left of the second support roller 42 is an intermediate transfer member cleaning device 44 that removes residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 40 after image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt 40 between the first support roller 41 and the second support roller 42 has black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) along the moving direction. There is an image forming device 45 comprising each color image forming unit (image forming process device), and each color image forming unit is individually unitized for replacement and is detachably attached to the printer main body. Each color image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum 3 and an image-related device 46 including a charger for charging the photosensitive drum, a developing device for developing a latent image, a cleaning device, and other peripheral devices.

Above the image forming device 45 is a laser exposure device 51 that irradiates each photosensitive drum of each color image forming unit with laser light for image formation. The laser exposure apparatus is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement.
Below the intermediate transfer belt 40 that is an image forming process device and unitized for replacement, there is a secondary transfer device 52 that is an image forming process device and unitized for replacement. The secondary transfer device is arranged such that a secondary transfer belt 54, which is an endless belt, is stretched between two rollers 53, and the intermediate transfer belt 40 is pushed up and pressed against the third support roller 43. is there. The secondary transfer belt 54 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 40 onto a sheet.

Next to the secondary transfer device 52, there is a fixing device 55 for fixing the transfer image on the paper, and the paper on which the toner image is transferred is fed into the fixing device 55. The fixing device is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement. The fixing device is one in which a heating and pressure roller 57 is pressed against a fixing belt 56 which is an endless belt.
Below the secondary transfer device 52 and the fixing device 55, there is a sheet reversing device 58 that sends out the paper immediately after the image is formed on the front surface and reverses the front and back to record the image on the back surface. This sheet reversing device is also an image forming process device and is unitized for replacement.

  When the start switch is pressed, if there is a document on the automatic document feeder (ADF) 400, it is transported onto the contact glass 62, and when there is no document on the ADF 400, a manually placed document is read on the contact glass. Therefore, the scanner 300 is immediately driven, and the first carriage 63 and the second carriage 64 are read and scanned. Then, light is emitted from the light source on the first carriage 63 to the contact glass, and reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the first mirror on the first carriage 63 toward the second carriage 64, and on the second carriage. The light is reflected by a mirror and forms an image on a CCD 66 as a reading sensor through an imaging lens 65. Based on the image signal obtained by the CCD 66, each color recording data of K, Y, M, and C is generated.

Further, when the start switch is pressed, the rotational drive of the intermediate transfer belt 40 is started, the image forming preparation of each image forming unit of the image forming device 45 is started, and the image forming of each color image forming unit is started. The sequence is started, an exposure laser modulated based on each color recording data is projected to each color image forming unit, and each color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 40 as a single image by each color image forming process. Is done.
When the leading edge of the toner image enters the secondary transfer device 52, the sheet is sent to the secondary transfer device 52 at a timing so that the leading edge enters the secondary transfer device 52 at the same time, and thereby the intermediate transfer belt. The toner image on 40 is transferred to the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has moved is sent to the fixing device 55 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

Note that the above-described sheet is selectively rotated by driving one of the sheet feeding rollers 72 of the sheet feeding table 200, the sheet is fed out from one of the sheet feeding cassettes 74 provided in multiple stages in the paper bank 73, and only one sheet is separated by the separation roller 75. The paper is separated and put into the paper feed path 76, transported by the transport roller 77, guided to the paper feed path 78 in the image forming apparatus 100, abutted against the registration roller 79 and stopped, and then the secondary transfer device 52 at the timing described above. To be sent to.
It is also possible to feed paper by inserting it on the manual feed tray 81. When a user inserts a sheet on the manual feed tray 81, the image forming apparatus 100 rotates the paper feed roller 80 to separate one sheet on the manual feed tray 81 and pull it into the manual feed path 83. It stops against the registration roller 79.

The sheet discharged after receiving the fixing process by the fixing device 55 is guided to the discharge roller 86 by the switching claw 85 and stacked on the discharge tray 87. Alternatively, it is guided to the sheet reversing device 58 by the switching claw 85, reversed there and led again to the transfer position, and the image is transferred also to the back surface, and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 87 by the discharge roller 86.
On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 40 after image transfer is removed by the intermediate transfer body cleaning device 44 to prepare for image formation again.

In general, the registration roller 79 is often used while being grounded, but it is also possible to apply a bias voltage to remove paper dust from the paper.
For example, a bias is applied using a conductive rubber roller. A conductive NBR rubber having a diameter of 18 mm and a thickness of 1 mm is used. The electrical resistance is about 109 Ωcm in volume resistance of the rubber material. The paper surface after passing through the registration roller 79 to which a bias is applied in this way is slightly charged on the negative side. Therefore, in the transfer from the intermediate transfer belt 40 to the sheet, the transfer condition may be changed and the transfer condition may be changed as compared with the case where no voltage is applied to the registration roller 79. A voltage of about −800 V is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 40 on the toner transfer side (front side), and a voltage of about +200 V is applied to the back side of the paper.
Generally, in the intermediate transfer method, paper dust does not easily move to the photoconductor, so that it is not necessary to take into account avoidance of paper dust transfer and may be grounded. A DC bias is applied as the applied voltage, but this may be an AC voltage having a DC offset component in order to charge the sheet more uniformly.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus includes a system controller 600, an operation panel 620, a document scanner 300, a paper feed bank 200, an ADF 400, and an image forming apparatus (image forming unit) 100.
The system controller 600 includes a work memory 601, a frame memory 602, an NVRAM 603, a RAM 604, a ROM 605, a CPU 606, an external device communication control 607, a system interface 608, a FIFO memory (First In First Out memory) 609, a FIFO memory 610, a memory controller 611, An HDDC 650 and bus controls 612 to 614 are included.
The operation panel 620 includes an input device 621, a display device 622, and an operation panel control device 623. The operation panel control device 623 further includes a CPU 624, a ROM 625, and a RAM 626.

The image forming apparatus (image forming unit) 100 includes a reader / writer module 170, a transmission / reception circuit 181, a process controller 131, a RAM 132, a ROM 133a, and main body side management including a use result value and an assigned lifetime value transmitted to the equipped image forming unit. It includes a nonvolatile memory 133b for storing information, a writing interface 134, an image forming unit 45, and an interface 136.
The document scanner 300 includes a reading unit 301, an output interface 302, an SBU, and bus control.

A reading unit 301 that optically reads a document of the document scanner 300 scans a document with a document illumination light source, and forms a document image on a CCD 66 of an SBU (sensor board unit). An original image, that is, reflected light of light irradiation on the original is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 66 to generate an R, G, B image signal, converted to RGB image data on the SBU, shading corrected, and an image by the output interface 302 The data is sent to an image data processor IPP (Image Processing Processor) via a data bus.
The IPP performs separation generation (determination of whether an image is a character area or a photographic area: image area separation), background removal, scanner gamma conversion, filter, color correction, scaling, image processing, printer gamma conversion, and gradation processing. IPP is a programmable arithmetic processing means for performing image processing.

Image data transferred from the scanner 300 to the IPP is corrected for signal deterioration (scanner signal deterioration) due to quantization into an optical system and a digital signal by the IPP, and is written in the frame memory 602. The system controller 600 has functions of a plurality of applications such as a scanner application, a facsimile application, a printer application, and a copy application, and controls the entire system.
The operation panel control device 623 is a device that decodes the input of the operation panel 620 and displays the settings of this system and the contents of the status.
The image data bus / control command bus is a bus through which image data and control commands are transferred in a time division manner.

A CPU 606 on the system controller 600 controls the system controller 600. The ROM 605 stores a control program for the system controller 600. A RAM 604 is a working memory used by the CPU 606. The NVRAM 603 is a nonvolatile memory and stores information on the entire system.
The external device communication control 607 performs an external device (for example, the same type of copying machine, image scanner, personal computer, printer, facsimile, etc.) that requests image reading, image storage, or image printing, and is used for connecting to a network. Control physical I / F.
When the external device communication control 607 connected to the network receives data from the network, the content of the communication data is sent to the system interface 608 from an electrical signal. In the system interface 608, received data is logically converted in accordance with a prescribed protocol and sent to the CPU 606.
The CPU 606 determines and processes the logically converted received data. When the CPU 606 transmits data to the network, the transmission data is transmitted to the system I / F 608 and the external device communication control 607 in the reverse order of reception, and is transmitted as an electric signal on the network.

The system interface 608 controls the transfer of document reading data, facsimile reception data, personal computer document data (printing command), and image data (image data for printing personal computer document data), which are processed in the system according to instructions from the CPU 606. ) And transfer.
A work memory 601 is a working memory for image development (conversion from document data to image data) used in the printer.
The frame memory 602 is a working memory that temporarily stores image data of a read image and a written image that are printed immediately while power is being supplied.
The HDDC 650 stores an application database that stores system application programs and device activation information of an image forming process device of the image forming apparatus 100, and an image database that stores image data of read images and write images, that is, image data and document data. Hard disk HDD and its controller. Image data and document data may be encoded or dot images.

The FIFO buffer memory 610 performs data transfer rate conversion when writing an input image to the frame memory 602. In other words, it temporarily stores data that absorbs the difference between the data sending / receiving timing of the transfer source and the transfer destination, the difference in the data amount of the transfer unit, the transfer speed difference, etc., and accepts the data at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer source Data is sent out at the transfer timing and speed of the transfer destination.
Similarly, the FIFO buffer memory 609 performs speed conversion when transferring the image data in the frame memory 602 as an output image.

The memory controller 611 can control input / output of images between the frame memory 602 and the HDDC 650 and the bus without the control of the CPU 606. In addition, in response to a command received by the input device 621 of the operation board 620, the frame memory 602 is used to edit, process, or combine images stored in the HDDC 650. The memory controller 611 reads the image information from the HDD of the HDDC 650 to the work memory 601 or the frame memory 602, and changes the image printing direction on the transfer paper, rotates the image, and edits the image combination mainly by changing the image data address. Various kinds of images by density conversion by addition / subtraction / division / division of image data, image trimming and synthesis by logical product operation or logical sum operation of image data, and writing of image information processed in this way to the HDD. Processing and editing can be performed.
The image reading unit 301 performs image reading scaling, and the IPP performs printing scaling.

The CPU 624 on the operation panel control device 623 performs input / output control of the operation panel 620. That is, input reading and display output of the operation panel 620 are controlled. In the ROM 625, a control program for the operation panel 620 is written. A RAM 626 is a working memory used by the CPU 624.
The input device 621 is a device for the user to input system settings by operating the input keys and the input panel of the operation panel 620.
The display device 622 is provided on the operation panel 620 and displays the setting contents of the system, the operation state, and the like to the user, and includes an indicator lamp and a display panel.

  Basic magnification adjustment values for main scanning and sub-scanning are measured by a sample image in a system adjustment process, and are set by an operation panel control device 623. Further, the magnification adjustment value without the four edges of the main scanning and the sub-scanning is confirmed by the user or the person in charge of maintenance whether the image is missing or blank from the printed image, and the magnification adjustment value for suppressing them is the operation panel 620. Is set by Each color image forming unit (four types K, Y, M, and C) of the image forming device 45 of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 5, a laser exposure device 51, a registration roller 79, an intermediate transfer belt 40, and a secondary transfer belt 54. Each of the fixing device 55 and the sheet reversing device 58 is detachably unitized with the printer body as an image forming process device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of a unit management data transmission system from a transmission / reception circuit incorporated in an image forming process unit (hereinafter referred to as “process cartridge”) to a system controller.
One transmitter / receiver circuit 181a includes a micro wireless management chip 195a, a power receiving coil 191a for supplying an operating voltage thereto, a rectifying / smoothing circuit 193a, and a constant voltage circuit 194a. The power receiving coil 191a is on the end surface of the unit case, and is wound around the magnetic core so that the magnetic coupling with the power supply coil 177a on the image forming apparatus main body side becomes dense. A rectifying / smoothing circuit 193a is connected to the power receiving coil 191a.
When the process cartridge equipped with the transmitter / receiver circuit 181a is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, a power supply coil 177a is disposed at a position facing the power receiving coil 191a, and the process cartridge is attached to the printer main body. The power receiving coil 191a is opposed to the power feeding coil 177a at such a short distance that the power receiving coil 191a is in contact therewith.

  Other units also have transmission / reception circuits 181b, 181c, 181d,... Having the same specifications as the transmission / reception circuit 181a. When these units are mounted on the printer body, each power receiving coil of each transmission / reception circuit Are disposed in the printer main body. The feeding coils 177b, 177c, 177d,. The power feeding coils 177a to 177d,... Are connected to each of the first to Npd input / output ports of the selective connection circuit 176.

When the system controller 600 instructs the process controller 131 to read the state, the process controller 131 closes the open / close switch circuit 173. Then, the selective connection circuit 176 is switched to the voltage output from the input / output port 0 to the first port, and when the data transfer to the transmission / reception circuit 181 of the unit coupled to the first port is completed, the voltage output to the second port is performed. When the data transfer at the second port is completed, the voltage output is switched to the third port. For example, the voltage output is switched to the Npd port to transfer the data, and then the open / close switch circuit 173 is opened.
While the open / close switch circuit 173 is closed, the AC voltage generator 174 generates an AC voltage, whereby an AC current flows through the first feeding coil 177a and an AC magnetic field is generated. By this AC magnetic field, an AC current is induced in the power receiving coil 191a of the transmitter / receiver circuit 181a to charge the smoothing capacitor of the rectifying / smoothing circuit 193a. The constant voltage circuit 194a starts applying a voltage to the management chip 195a after the charging voltage of the smoothing capacitor reaches a predetermined value.

The transmission / reception circuits 181a, 181b, 181c, 181d,... Have a transmission / reception end 199 in which a light emitting diode for communication signal transmission and a phototransistor for reception are paired, and are aligned with the power reception coil 191. A similar transmission / reception end 178a corresponding to is provided in the printer main body, and is aligned with the power transmission coil 177a.
The transmission / reception end 199a of the process cartridge and the transmission / reception end 178a of the printer main body constitute two pairs of photocouplers for transmission and reception. That is, optical communication in wireless communication is performed.

The process controller 131 transmits a read command or a write command to the management chip 195.
In response to the read command, the management chip 195 reads data in the management memory 198 that is a nonvolatile memory inside the management chip 195 and sends the data to the process controller 131. In addition, the data sent by the process controller 131 in response to the write command is updated and written in the management memory 198.
When the process controller 131 finishes reading / writing the management data to / from the first port (the unit that is communicatively coupled to), this time, the selection connection circuit 176 is connected to the voltage output and data transfer connection from the first port to the second port. Switching is performed to transmit / receive data to / from the transmitting / receiving circuit 181b. The management memory 198 provided in the management chip 195 records process cartridge characteristic values such as cartridge ID and usage history (usage record) information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotating body in the process cartridge.
Here, as an example of the rotating body in the process cartridge, a photoconductor is taken as an example.
As shown in the figure, the photosensitive member 3 includes an antenna 501 for performing communication with a communication unit 503 provided at a predetermined position on the image forming apparatus main body side, and an IC chip 502. In particular, the antenna is stretched in a circumferential shape so that communication with the main body side communication unit is possible even when the photosensitive member rotates.
Note that the antenna 501 in this figure corresponds to the power receiving coil 191 in FIG. Further, the IC chip 502 in this figure corresponds to the transmission / reception circuit 181 in FIG. 7, and the communication unit 503 in this figure corresponds to the power supply coil 177 in FIG.
That is, in the photoconductor of the image forming apparatus, a photoconductor is prepared for each color of YMCK, and each color photoconductor is provided with an antenna and an IC chip.
For example, 177a, 191a, 181a,... In FIG. 7 are parts for the Y color photoconductor, 171b, 191b, 181b,... Are parts for the M color photoconductor, 171c, 191c,. 181c,... Are components for the C color photoconductor, and so on.

As shown in FIG. 8, a coil for transmitting and receiving RFID is wound around the outer periphery of the rotating body in the process cartridge, so that the communication unit 503 with the main body and the antenna regardless of the direction of the RFID attached to the rotating body. 501 faces and can communicate.
Also, set detection can be performed by establishing this communication.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation flow when the process cartridge is set in the image forming apparatus.
When the user mounts the components, the image forming apparatus checks whether all the components are mounted (step S1). If all the components are mounted (step S1 / Yes), the image forming operation or standby is performed. (Step S2). If not mounted (step S1 / No), a message indicating that is not mounted is displayed on the operation unit (step S3), and the user waits for all components to be mounted.
This makes it possible to prevent the user from forgetting to set a component when the component in the process cartridge is replaced.

  As is apparent from the above description, the rotating image carrier, the charging means having a charging roller for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier, and the developing roller for developing the electrostatic latent image on the carrier. Development means having a transfer means; transfer means having an electrostatic transfer function for transferring an electrostatic ray image on the image carrier onto a transfer member such as paper or an intermediate transfer belt; and developer remaining on the surface of the carrier Cleaning means for removing and collecting the toner, fixing means for fixing the image transferred to the transfer body, and a toner bottle for storing and supplying toner, and further, the image carrier, charging means, and developing means , A transfer unit, a cleaning unit, a fixing unit, and a toner bottle, and an image forming apparatus having a structure in which a process cartridge in which at least two units are detachable can be mounted. The process cartridge includes an IC chip, and the image forming apparatus further includes a storage unit that reads and writes information on the IC chip and leaves a use history of the process cartridge. Since the cartridge has an IC chip communication and power supply antenna on the outer periphery of the internal rotating body, communication between the process cartridge and the main body of the image forming apparatus can be performed in any direction. Is possible. In the past, a process cartridge set as a maintenance work was performed by a user or service person skilled in the maintenance work. According to the present invention, even a user who is not familiar with the work can easily perform the maintenance work without error. It is possible to perform.

  In addition, since it is detected that a component has been set by establishing communication between the rotating body and the main body, it is possible to easily determine whether the component has been set correctly, and maintenance work is easy. Can be done.

  In addition, since device information such as device IDs and usage records can be stored and read in the IC chip and the nonvolatile memory of the main body, cartridge management based on the device information can be performed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a process cartridge in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of a process cartridge. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a photoconductor in a process cartridge. It is the schematic which shows the state of a process cartridge back side. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is the figure which showed the outline | summary of the unit management data transmission system from the transmission / reception circuit incorporated in the image formation process unit to a system controller. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a rotating body in a process cartridge. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a process cartridge is set in the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Process cartridge 2 Process cartridge frame 3 Photoconductor 4 Charging module 5 Developing module 6 Cleaning module 11 Back side plate of frame 12 Locking part 13 Hole part of process cartridge 31 Flange (back side of process cartridge)
32 Flange (front side of process cartridge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 33 Bearing 34 Gear 35 Cylindrical aluminum base 36 Photosensitive layer 100 Image forming apparatus 101 Drive shaft 131 Process controller 170 Reader / writer module 171 Controller 172 Communication circuit 173 Open / close switch circuit 174 AC voltage generator 176 Selection connection circuit 177 Feed coil 178 Transmission / reception Edge (image forming device side)
181 Transmitting and receiving circuit 191 Power receiving coil 193 Rectification smoothing circuit 194 Constant voltage circuit 195 Wireless management chip 196 Communication circuit 197 Read / write circuit 198 Management memory 199 Transmission / reception end (process cartridge side)
200 Paper feeding table 300 Document scanner 400 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
501 Antenna 502 IC chip 503 Communication unit 600 System controller 620 Operation panel

Claims (3)

A rotating image carrier;
Charging means having a charging roller for uniformly charging the surface of the image carrier;
Developing means having a developing roller for developing the electrostatic latent image on the carrier;
A transfer means having an electrostatic transfer function for transferring an electrostatic ray image on the image carrier onto a transfer body such as paper or an intermediate transfer belt;
Cleaning means for removing and collecting the developer remaining on the surface of the carrier;
Fixing means for fixing the image transferred to the transfer member;
A toner bottle for storing and supplying toner;
Further, at least two or more of the image carrier, charging unit, developing unit, transfer unit, cleaning unit, fixing unit, and toner bottle are unitized, and a process cartridge having the unit detachable can be mounted. An image forming apparatus having
The process cartridge has an IC chip,
Further, the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that reads and writes information of the IC chip and leaves a use history of the process cartridge,
Further, the process cartridge includes an antenna for IC chip communication and power supply on the outer periphery of an internal rotating body.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body includes a detecting unit that detects that the rotating body is set by establishing communication with the main body side. The IC chip has first storage means for storing device information including a device ID and usage record information,
The image forming apparatus includes a second storage unit that stores main body side management information including an actual use value and an assigned lifetime value transmitted to an image forming unit provided in the main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reading unit that reads data stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit.

Images