JP2006201381A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform good wireless communication with a simple constitution without enlarging the device even in the case where the number of cartridges are large. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is composed of a device main body 1 equipped with a wireless communication device and an antenna 11, wherein a plurality of toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3K detachably equipped on the main body 1 with cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12K respectively communicating with the wireless communication device through the antenna 11. The toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C and 3K are mounted on the main body 1, in such a manner that the cartridge tag 12Y of the furthest cartridge 3Y is supported in front of the antenna 11, and for the cartridges 3M, 3C and 3K getting near to the antenna 11 in order, then respective cartridge tags 12M, 12C, and 12K are supported with their positions shifted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a plurality of cartridge parts detachably provided on an apparatus main body, and wireless communication means provided on the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body capable of wireless communication with the cartridge parts.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic image forming process have been widely used in copying machines, facsimiles, printers, and the like, and a toner storage container for storing toner as a consumable developer is configured as a removable cartridge. Are provided. In such an image forming apparatus, when the toner in the toner cartridge runs out, the user replaces the toner cartridge with a new one and replenishes the toner. At this time, the used toner cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus is often returned from the user to the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, and the manufacturer performs a recycling process such as inspection, cleaning, replacement of consumable parts, and toner refilling. After that, it is shipped again to the user. In the image forming apparatus as described above, a color image forming apparatus is also provided. In this case, for example, a plurality of types of toner cartridges such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are mounted on the apparatus body. These toner cartridges are configured to supply different color toners to the apparatus main body.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus as described above, as a process unit related to the image forming process, a photoconductor as an image carrier is mainly used, and a developing device that attaches toner to the photoconductor, after transfer from the photoconductor There is provided a device including a process cartridge in which at least one of a cleaning device for collecting residual toner, a charging device for charging the surface of a photosensitive member to a predetermined potential, and the like are integrally stored. The process cartridge is replaced with a new process cartridge when the useful life of any of the various components constituting the process cartridge has elapsed. In many cases, the process cartridge is also returned from the user to the manufacturer, and is re-shipped to the user who uses the image forming apparatus through a recycling process such as inspection, cleaning, and replacement of a part whose service life has passed. In such a cartridge system, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus can be performed by the user himself, so that the operability can be remarkably improved, so that it is widely used in the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus including the toner cartridge and the process cartridge as described above, a tag (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge tag) called a wireless IC tag or the like having a radio wave communication function and an information storage function on the cartridge such as the toner cartridge or the process cartridge. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a wireless communication device for inputting / outputting information to / from the cartridge tag is arranged on the device main body side. In this type of image forming apparatus, when a cartridge part is mounted on the apparatus main body, radio communication is performed between the wireless communication apparatus and the cartridge tag, and a main body control unit installed in the apparatus main body stores information stored in the cartridge tag. Reading or writing information to the cartridge tag is performed. Thus, for example, if information unique to the cartridge such as service information, toner capacity, and usage history is stored in the cartridge tag, the image forming apparatus main body side determines the replacement time of the cartridge based on the information. There are advantages such as displaying.

  However, as the number of cartridges mounted on the image forming apparatus increases, it is necessary to increase the size of the transmission / reception antennas of the wireless communication apparatus on the apparatus body side or increase the number of transmission / reception antennas installed. For this reason, in an image forming apparatus having a large number of cartridges such as a color image forming apparatus, it is difficult to dispose the transmitting / receiving antenna in the apparatus main body without increasing the size of the apparatus.

Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the antenna of the cartridge tag is formed in a coil shape with a conductive wire, and the coil axis is supported so as to be substantially orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction of the cartridge. Similarly, it is configured in a coil shape with a conductive wire, and the coil axis is supported so as to be substantially orthogonal to the insertion / removal direction, and the antenna on the apparatus main body side is inserted into a gap generated between adjacent cartridges. Thus, the device is prevented from becoming large.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-271042

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there are problems that the position of the cartridge is restricted, the structure of the cartridge tag and the antenna of the apparatus main body are complicated, and maintenance inspection becomes difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to enable good wireless communication with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the apparatus even when the number of cartridges is large. It is to be.

  In order to achieve the object, the first means includes a device main body provided with wireless communication means and an antenna, and a wireless device that is detachable from the device main body and capable of communicating with the wireless communication means via the antenna. A plurality of cartridges each provided with a tag, and in the image forming apparatus in which the tags of two or more cartridges correspond to the one antenna, when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, The cartridge farthest from the antenna arranged in the apparatus main body is supported with the wireless tag facing the front of the antenna, and the cartridge approaching the antenna in turn is supported by shifting the wireless tag. To do.

  The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the support angle of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge is changed depending on the distance from the antenna.

  The third means is that in the second means, the inclination of the support angle of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge at a position close to the antenna is the same as that of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge at a position far from the antenna. It is set to be equal to or larger than the support angle.

  A fourth means includes a device main body provided with a wireless communication means and an antenna, and a wireless tag that can be attached to and detached from the device main body and can communicate with the wireless communication device via the antenna. A plurality of cartridges, wherein the tags of two or more cartridges correspond to the one antenna, the wireless tags of the cartridges are supported by being inclined, and the antennas are also connected to the wireless tags. It is characterized by being tilted and supported so as to face each other.

  A fifth means is characterized in that, in the fourth means, the wireless tags are supported at substantially the same support angle.

  A sixth means is the first to fifth means, wherein the cartridge is a toner cartridge.

  The seventh means is the process cartridge according to any one of the first to fifth means, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge having an image carrier and developing means for developing the image information written on the image carrier. And

  In an embodiment described later, the antenna is denoted by reference numeral 11, the apparatus main body is denoted by reference numeral 1, the wireless tag is denoted by cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K, the toner cartridge is denoted by reference numerals 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, and the process cartridge is denoted by reference numeral 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K respectively.

  According to the present invention, the wireless tag of the cartridge farthest from the antenna disposed in the main body of the apparatus is supported on the front surface of the antenna, and the wireless tags of the cartridge approaching the antenna are sequentially shifted and supported. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the deterioration of the transmission / reception quality due to the image quality and enabling good wireless communication.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. In each of the following embodiments, substantially the same constituent elements are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus having a wireless communication function according to the present invention. This image forming apparatus is a tandem type image forming apparatus in which four image forming units for forming single color images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are juxtaposed. The apparatus main body 1 of the image forming apparatus includes yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1. Toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K that are detachable toner storage containers, intermediate transfer belts 4 for transferring images formed by the process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K Are provided with an optical unit 5 for forming a latent image by a light beam, a paper feed cassette 7 for accommodating a plurality of recording papers 9, a fixing roller 10 for fixing an image transferred to the recording papers 9, and the like. In this description, the alphabet attached after the reference number represents a color, and is distinguished by adding Y for yellow, C for cyan, M for magenta, and K for black. Each of the process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K includes a photoconductor, a charging roller, a cleaning device, a developing device, and the like. The toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K store yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively, and supply color toners corresponding to the developing devices of the process cartridges 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K. The optical unit 5 has a known structure including a laser diode, a polygon motor, a polygon mirror, an Fθ lens, a mirror, and the like. The recording paper 9 stored in the paper feed cassette 8 is conveyed to the transfer roller 6 by the paper feed roller 7.

  The photosensitive member of the process cartridge 2 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the drawing. At this time, the surface is charged by the charging roller, and laser light is irradiated from the optical unit 5 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. This latent image is visualized by toner as it passes through the developing means. This visible image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 4 of a transfer unit installed above the photosensitive member, and the intermediate transfer belt 4 is driven to rotate counterclockwise. The transfer image on the intermediate transfer belt 4 is transferred by the transfer roller 6 to the recording paper 9 conveyed to the transfer position. Thereafter, the recording paper 9 is conveyed to the fixing roller 10, and the visible image is fixed and discharged outside the apparatus main body 1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the first embodiment of the wireless communication system, and is a view of the apparatus main body 1 as viewed from above. The system for realizing the wireless communication function is provided between the detachable toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K that store yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners and the apparatus main body 1, and the toner cartridge 3Y that is mounted. Information of 3M, 3C, 3K is transmitted to the apparatus main body 1 and information from the apparatus main body 1 is recorded. An antenna 11 of a wireless communication device (not shown) is provided at a position facing one side surface of the toner cartridge 3 </ b> K of the apparatus main body 1. Cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K are supported on the surfaces of the toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K that face the antenna 11.

  The communication distance between the antenna 11 and the cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K varies depending on the type, size, and output of the antenna 11. If the communication distance is increased, the size of the wireless communication device (including the antenna) becomes large, and it becomes difficult to install the device within the device. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K are mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the cartridge tag of the toner cartridge 3Y that is farthest from the antenna 11 disposed in the apparatus main body 1 is used. 12Y is supported so as to be positioned in front of the antenna 11, and then the cartridge tag 12M of the toner cartridge 3M far from the antenna 11 is supported while being slightly shifted downward from the front of the antenna 11 in the horizontal direction in FIG. Next, the cartridge tag 12C of the toner cartridge 3C that is second closest to the antenna 11 is supported by being slightly shifted from the front of the antenna 11 in the horizontal direction opposite to the cartridge tag 12M, in FIG. The cartridge tag 12K of the toner cartridge 3K closest to the antenna 11 is supported by being further displaced in the same horizontal direction as the cartridge tag 12M, that is, further downwardly from the cartridge tag 12M in FIG. In this way, by supporting the cartridge tags 12M, 12C, and 12K in a horizontal direction, an image forming apparatus and a toner that reduce a decrease in communication distance due to overlapping of a plurality of cartridge tags and prevent deterioration in transmission / reception quality. A wireless communication system with the cartridge can be provided.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna and a toner cartridge in the second embodiment of the wireless communication system. In the second embodiment, the antenna 11 is provided on the cartridge tag 12Y side, and the cartridge tag 12K of the toner cartridge 3K is supported so as to be positioned in front of the antenna 1. The remaining cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, and 12C of the toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, and 3C are supported while being shifted in the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the cartridge tag 12K of the toner cartridge 3K. Thus, by shifting the cartridge tag horizontally and vertically, a large space in the shifting direction can be taken, which is effective for a large number of cartridge tags.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a third embodiment of the wireless communication system, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of the cartridge tag, and FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a support angle of the cartridge tag. In the third embodiment, the communication distance between the antenna 11 and the cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K also changes depending on the inclination of the antenna 11 and these cartridge tags, and the cartridge tag that faces the antenna 11 is tilted. We are paying attention to the fact that the communication distance will become shorter. Therefore, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the cartridge tag 12Y farthest from the antenna 11 disposed in the apparatus main body 1 is supported on the front surface of the antenna, and the cartridge tag that approaches the antenna 11 sequentially. 12M, 12C, and 12K are supported while being shifted from each other, but the cartridge tag 12K located at the shortest position from the antenna 11 has a predetermined side wall 20K of the toner cartridge 3K with respect to the surface of the side wall 20K as shown in FIG. By forming a recess 21K having a tag mounting surface that forms an angle of, and attaching the cartridge tag 12Y to the recess, the tilt is supported with respect to the antenna 11.

  If the cartridge tag 12K is shifted and supported, the positional relationship between the inclination of the antenna 11 and the cartridge tag 12K is not optimal. In order to correct the positional relationship of the tilt, the support angle of the cartridge tag 12K supported by the toner cartridge 3K is set to the support angle optimally corrected by the toner cartridge 3. In the third embodiment, the cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, and 12C have the same support angle and no difference, but 12K that is the shortest position from the antenna 11 is optimal when the support angle is changed.

  This support angle will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Generally, the optimum support angle 13 is as the distance 14 from the center of the cartridge tag 12K and the antenna 11 is further away, and as the distance 15 between the cartridge tag 12 and the antenna 11 is closer. ,large. Accordingly, since the support angle of the cartridge tag 12K of the toner cartridge 3K close to the antenna 11 is equal to or greater than the support angle of the cartridge tag 12Y of the toner cartridge 3Y far from the antenna 11, the reduction in communication distance is reduced, and the transmission / reception quality is improved. Deterioration can be prevented. In this way, by changing the support angle of the cartridge tag supported by the toner cartridge depending on the position, it is possible to prevent deterioration of transmission / reception quality due to the inclination of the cartridge tag and to configure a system that performs good wireless communication. In this embodiment, the cartridge tag 12Y is drawn into the toner cartridge 3K by the recess 21K. However, if it does not affect the mounting of the toner cartridge 3K, it may have a protruding shape.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the wireless communication system, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an attached state of the cartridge tag in this embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the support angle of the cartridge tag supported by each toner cartridge is similarly inclined to increase the commonality ratio of the toner cartridges, and the cost reduction and recyclability are improved. That is, the cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K are supported by the toner cartridges 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K with the same support angle. Each cartridge tag 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K has a concave portion provided with a tag mounting surface at a predetermined angle with respect to the surface of the side wall 20Y on the side wall 20Y of the toner cartridge 3Y as shown in FIG. 8 taking the cartridge tag 12Y as an example. A place 21Y is formed, and the cartridge tag 12Y is attached to the recess 22Y. The angle is formed in the direction opposite to that of the third embodiment. The remaining toner cartridges 3M, 3C, and 3K cartridge tags 12M, 12C, and 12K are similarly supported at the same angle. As a result, the sharing rate of the toner cartridge can be increased. The antenna 11 is supported by the apparatus main body 1 at the same angle so as to face the cartridge tags 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K, and as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna 11 also has the cartridge tabs 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K. Is supported at the same angle.

  In FIG. 7, the antenna 11 is disposed such that the upper end portion thereof is opposed to the substantially central portion of the cartridge tab 12K and the lower end portion thereof is opposed to the substantially central portion of the cartridge tab 12Y, whereby the remaining two cartridge tabs 12M are arranged. , 12C can be positioned so that a part thereof faces the antenna 11. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the reduction in communication distance due to the overlap of a plurality of cartridge tags, prevent deterioration in transmission / reception quality, increase the common rate of toner cartridges, and reduce the cost and improve the recyclability. Can be provided.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the case where four cartridge tags communicate with one antenna has been described, but the number of cartridges is not limited to this. Further, although one wireless communication system is described in the apparatus, a plurality of wireless communication systems may be provided. Further, although the cartridge part has been described as an example of the toner cartridge, the same applies to the process cartridge.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an antenna and a toner cartridge in a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a third embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the cartridge tag in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the support angle of a cartridge tag. It is a schematic plan view which shows 4th Embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment state of the cartridge tag in 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus body 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K Process cartridge 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K Toner cartridge 4 Intermediate transfer belt 5 Optical unit 10 Fixing roller 11 Antenna 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12K Cartridge tag 20K, 20Y Side wall 21K, 21Y Concave Place

Claims (7)

An apparatus main body provided with a wireless communication means and an antenna, and a plurality of cartridges each provided with a wireless tag that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and can communicate with the wireless communication means via the antenna. An image forming apparatus in which the tags of two or more cartridges correspond to the one antenna;
When the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, the cartridge farthest from the antenna arranged in the apparatus main body is supported with the wireless tag facing the front of the antenna, and the cartridge that approaches the antenna in sequence is the cartridge. An image forming apparatus, wherein the wireless tag is supported while being shifted.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support angle of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge is changed depending on a distance from the antenna.   The inclination of the support angle of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge at a position close to the antenna is set to be equal to or greater than the support angle of the wireless tag supported by the cartridge at a position far from the antenna. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. An apparatus main body provided with wireless communication means and an antenna, and a plurality of cartridges each provided with a wireless tag that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body and can communicate with the wireless communication apparatus via the antenna. An image forming apparatus in which the tags of two or more cartridges correspond to the one antenna;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the wireless tag of each cartridge is supported by being inclined, and the antenna is also supported by being inclined so as to face the wireless tag.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the wireless tags is supported at substantially the same support angle.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a toner cartridge.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is a process cartridge having an image carrier and a developing unit that develops the image information written on the image carrier.

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