JP2006337401A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To image forming apparatus which is capable of easily discriminating whether a mounted photoreceptor drum unit or the like is new or not and allows the recycling cost of the photoreceptor drum unit or the like to be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 1, a photoreceptor drum unit 2 which is removably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 and is provided with a photoreceptor drum 20 rotating at the time of image formation, a pair of detection terminals 5a and 5b provided in the photoreceptor drum unit 2, a coil spring 6 which is so provided that is, can be stretched between the detection terminals 5a and 5b, a detection circuit 8 detecting conduction/non-conduction between the detection terminals 5a and 5b, and a rotating projection 20b which is rotated together with the photoreceptor drum 20 to detach the coil spring 6 stretched between the detection terminals 5a and 5b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus detachably provided for exchanging a photosensitive drum unit and a toner unit.

  When the photoconductive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum in the image forming apparatus deteriorates, it is necessary to replace the photosensitive drum. For this reason, a photosensitive drum unit including the photosensitive drum is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus. Further, when the toner in the image forming apparatus is exhausted, it is necessary to replenish the toner. Therefore, a toner unit that accommodates toner is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus.

  In such an image forming apparatus in which the photosensitive drum unit and the toner unit are detachably provided, it is determined that it is time to replace the unit after the unit has been replaced with a new one and image formation has reached a predetermined number of times. A warning is displayed to prompt the user to replace the unit. For this reason, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not these units are new when the power is turned on.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus that determines whether or not a photosensitive drum unit is new by detecting conduction of a fuse. In this image forming apparatus, a fuse is connected between a pair of contacts provided on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum unit, and a spring terminal that is in contact with each contact in a state where the photosensitive drum unit is mounted is provided. A detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of conduction is provided. When a new photosensitive drum unit is mounted, the detection circuit detects that the spring terminals are electrically connected via a fuse or a contact, and determines that the photosensitive drum unit is new. Thereafter, a large current is supplied from the detection circuit to the fuse via the spring terminal, and the fuse is blown to interrupt conduction between the spring terminals. As a result, when the power supply is subsequently turned on, it is detected by the detection circuit that the continuity between the spring terminals is interrupted, so that it is possible to determine that the mounted photosensitive drum unit is not new.

JP-A-5-313427

  However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the used photosensitive drum unit is reused, it takes time and labor to replace the blown fuse and a replacement fuse part cost. There was a problem that the recycling cost of the drum unit was high. Further, since a circuit for flowing a large current is required to blow the fuse, there is a problem that the cost of the photosensitive drum unit is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can easily determine whether or not a mounted photoconductor drum unit or the like is new, and can reduce the recycling cost of the photoconductor drum unit or the like. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with an apparatus main body, a unit detachably provided on the apparatus main body, and a rotating body that rotates during image formation, and the unit. A pair of contact points, a conductive body provided so as to be able to be passed between the contact points, a detection circuit for detecting the presence / absence of conduction between the contact points, and rotating with the rotary body, and passed between the contact points. And a conduction blocking body for removing the conductive body.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the unit includes a photosensitive drum as the rotating body.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit contains toner, the rotating body is a stirring body that stirs the toner, and development that carries the toner on the surface thereof. It is either a roller or a supply roller that supplies toner to the developing roller.

  According to the image forming apparatus of claim 1, when a new unit in which a conductive body is spanned between the contacts is mounted on the apparatus main body, the detection circuit detects that there is electrical continuity between the contacts. By doing so, it can be easily determined that the unit is new. In addition, since the conducting body stretched between the contacts is removed by the conduction blocking body rotating with the rotation of the rotating body during image formation, the conduction between the contacts is cut off, so that the unit used for image formation can be used even once. If the detection circuit detects that there is no continuity between the contact points, it can be reliably and easily determined that the unit is not new. In addition, the conduction between the contacts is disconnected by the conduction breaker rotating with the rotation of the rotating body during image formation, so that the conduction between the contacts is cut off. Therefore, the fuse is blown to cut off the conduction. Since it is not necessary to provide a circuit or the like to perform, the cost for determining whether or not the unit is new can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to let the image forming apparatus determine that the unit to be installed is new without replacing parts such as a fuse by re-laying the conductor between the contacts, so the unit once used for image formation Can be easily recycled. In this specification, the unit is new means that the unit is equivalent to a new one by recycling.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, since the unit includes the photosensitive drum, it is determined whether or not the unit is new when the photosensitive drum that deteriorates with image formation is replaced as a unit. Easy to distinguish. Further, since the conduction blocker rotates together with the photosensitive drum, the conduction body is detached by one image formation and the conduction between the contacts is cut off. Therefore, the unit used for image formation is mounted on the apparatus main body even once. In this case, it can be reliably determined that the unit is not new.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, since the unit contains toner, it is determined whether or not the unit is new when the unit is replaced in order to replenish toner that decreases with image formation. Can be easily identified. Further, the conduction blocker rotates together with any one of the stirring body for stirring the toner, the developing roller for supporting the toner on the surface thereof, and the supply roller for supplying the toner to the developing roller. Since the disconnection and the continuity between the contacts are interrupted, it is possible to reliably determine that the unit used for image formation is not new even when the unit used for image formation is attached to the apparatus main body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 1, and a photosensitive drum unit 2 and a toner unit 3 that are detachably provided on the apparatus main body 1, respectively.

  A sheet feeding cassette 101 for sequentially supplying sheets for recording images is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus. Above the sheet feeding cassette 101, a photosensitive drum unit (drum cartridge) 2 and a toner unit (toner cartridge). ) 3 and the sheet discharge tray 103 are disposed. A transport path 104 for transporting paper from the paper feed cassette 101 to the paper discharge tray 103 is formed so as to communicate from one end side of the paper feed cassette 101 to the paper discharge tray 103 through the image forming unit 102. In the image forming apparatus 100, paper is conveyed from the paper feed cassette 101 to the image forming unit 102, and images, characters, and the like are recorded on the paper by the image forming unit 102 and are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 103.

  The paper feed cassette 101 has a box shape capable of storing various sizes of paper. The paper feed cassette 101 is provided at the bottom of the apparatus so that it can be pulled out, and can be loaded with paper as needed. Inside the paper feed cassette 101, a guide 10 for holding a paper of a predetermined size at a paper feed position is disposed. The guide 10 is provided so as to be swingable within a predetermined range around the fulcrum 10a, and its bottom plate is urged upward by an elastic member to hold a plurality of sheets in a stacked state, and at the top thereof. One end of the paper is always positioned at the paper feed position. A pickup roller 11 is provided at the paper feeding position, and the uppermost sheet positioned at the paper feeding position by the guide 10 is fed out by the pickup roller 11. The fed paper is nipped by the pair of paper feed rollers 12 and fed into the conveyance path 104.

  In the middle of the conveyance path 104, a pair of conveyance rollers 40 that nip and convey the sheet are provided. The transport roller 40 is a roller in which an EPDM roller is rotated by transmitting a rotational force from a driving source such as a motor to a roller shaft, and the pair of transport rollers 40 are arranged at opposite positions of the transport path 104. It is disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the roller surface. In addition, it is good also as a driven roller which drives only one of a pair of conveyance rollers 40, and drives the other and rotates. The sheet fed into the conveyance path 104 is nipped between the pair of conveyance rollers 40 and conveyed to the image forming unit 102.

  The image forming unit 102 includes a charging brush 21, an LED printer head 22, a developing device 23, a transfer roller 24, and a diffusion brush 25 disposed around the photosensitive drum 20, and a conveyance path on the downstream side of the photosensitive drum 20. The fixing unit 26 is disposed in 104.

  The photoconductive drum 20 has a photoconductive film formed of an organic photoconductor formed on the surface thereof, and is rotated at a predetermined speed by a motor (not shown). The charging brush 21 is a so-called contact-type charging device, and a brush tip is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 20 in a state where a voltage is applied from an electric circuit (not shown), so that the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 20 is uniform. To be charged. Note that other charging devices such as a non-contact charging method and a contact-type roller charging method may be employed.

  The LED printer head 22 is a so-called self-light-emitting printer head in which LED arrays are arranged in parallel for the number of recording pixels, and light emitted from the LED array is imaged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 by a Selfoc lens array. An exposure device that selectively exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 to the photosensitive drum 20 based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Note that an exposure device of a scanning optical system using a semiconductor laser may be adopted.

  The developing device 23 is a developing device including a supply roller 27, a developing roller 28, a toner container 29, and a stirring body 30. The toner in the toner container 29 is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 30, and the toner in the toner container 29 is fed by the difference in bias voltage applied to the supply roller 27 and the developing roller 28 from an electric circuit (not shown). Then, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 28. The toner layer formed on the surface of the developing roller 28 is made uniform by pressing the regulating blade 31 to which a predetermined bias voltage is applied. In this way, the developing roller 28 having a uniform toner layer formed on the surface is rotated at a position close to the photosensitive drum 20, and on the developing roller 28 due to a potential difference from the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 20. The toner moves to the photosensitive drum 20, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 based on the electrostatic latent image.

  Further, the developing roller 28 serves as a developing unit and also serves as a so-called cleaning unit. That is, the developing roller 28 serves as a developing unit when the first rotation is performed after the photosensitive drum 20 starts rotating during image formation, and when the photosensitive drum 20 performs the second rotation. The toner is not completely transferred onto the paper but remains on the surface of the photoconductive drum 20, and functions to remove the toner floating from the surface of the photoconductive drum 20 by the action of the diffusion brush 25. Thus, by using the developing roller 28 as both the developing unit and the cleaning unit, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to separately provide a cleaning unit and cost can be reduced.

  The transfer roller 24 is made of an EPDM foam pressed against the photosensitive drum 20 at a position opposed to the conveyance path 104, and is a transfer device that transfers the toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 to a sheet. When a bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller 24 from an electric circuit (not shown), the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 is transferred to a sheet. A non-contact type transfer device such as a corona transfer roller may be employed.

  The diffusion brush 25 is a cleaning device that is provided in contact with the surface of the photoconductive drum 20 and plays a role of lifting toner remaining from the surface of the photoconductive drum 20 without being transferred onto the paper. The toner floating from the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 by the diffusion brush 25 is removed by the developing roller 28. It should be noted that another contact method or non-contact method using a cleaning roller or a blade may be employed, or a cleaningless method may be employed.

  The fixing device 26 fixes and heats and presses the paper on which the toner image has been transferred by the heating roller 32 and the pressure roller 33 that are respectively disposed at positions opposed to the conveyance path 104. A fixing device that fixes toner on a sheet. The surface of the heating roller 32 is maintained at a predetermined temperature by a heater (not shown). A pressure roller 33 is pressed against the heating roller 32 with a predetermined pressure. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is nipped between the heating roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, so that the toner on the sheet is melted and fixed. An image or the like is recorded on a sheet by the image forming unit 102 configured as described above.

  The photosensitive drum unit 2 is a unit in which the photosensitive drum 20, the charging brush 21, and the diffusion brush 25 are integrated, and is detachable from the apparatus main body 1. The photosensitive drum unit 2 is replaced when the photosensitive drum 20 is replaced. It can be exchanged as a unit. The toner unit 3 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1 with the developing unit 23 integrated, and the toner unit 3 can be replaced as a unit when supplying toner.

  2A and 2B, the photosensitive drum unit 2 includes a charging brush 21 and a diffusion brush 25 in addition to the photosensitive drum 20, as shown in FIG. A support shaft 4a is provided on each side surface of the frame body 4 so as to project outward. The photosensitive drum 20 is rotatably supported by the photosensitive drum unit 2 by supporting a rotating shaft 20a that is rotated by a motor (not shown) of the photosensitive drum 20 in an insertion hole 4b formed in the supporting shaft 4a. On the other hand, a space for accommodating the photosensitive drum unit 2 is provided in the apparatus main body 1 with its upper surface opened, and grooves 1a extending from the upper surface are formed on both side surfaces thereof. The photosensitive drum unit 2 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 by inserting the support shaft 4a for supporting the photosensitive drum 20 into the grooves 1a from above.

  Detection terminals 5a and 5b as contact points of a pair of springs made of a conductor such as metal are provided on the surface of the frame 4 of the photosensitive drum unit 2 with its end faces exposed. The detection terminals 5 a and 5 b extend from the end surface and project from the inner surface of the frame body 4 near one end of the photosensitive drum 20 toward the photosensitive drum 20. One end of the coil 6 as a conducting body made of a conductor such as metal is fixed to a portion protruding from the inner surface of the frame body 4 of one detection terminal 5a, and a portion protruding from the inner surface of the frame body 4 of the other detection terminal 5b A hook 6a provided at the other end of the coil spring 6 is engaged with the protruding portion 5c formed in FIG. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 20 is provided with a rotating projection 20b that rotates with rotation during the image formation so as to protrude from the rotating shaft 20a. When the photosensitive drum 20 is rotated during image formation, the rotating protrusion 20b is also rotated, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the vicinity of the tip thereof contacts the coil spring 6, whereby the hook 6a of the coil spring 6 is The lock of the detection terminal 5b with respect to the protrusion 5c is released, and the conduction between the detection terminals 5a and 5b by the coil spring 6 is lost. By removing the photosensitive drum 20, the hook 6a of the coil spring 6 detached from the projection 5c of the detection terminal 5b can be locked to the projection 5c, and the coil spring 6 is again connected between the detection terminals 5a and 5b. It is possible to carry over. On the other hand, since the hook 6a of the coil spring 6 detached from the projection 5c of the detection terminal 5b cannot be locked to the projection 5c when the normal apparatus is used, the coil spring 6 is stretched between the detection terminals 5a and 5b. Whether or not the photosensitive drum 20 has been replaced with a new one can be reliably determined.

  When the photosensitive drum unit 2 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, a pair of detection terminals 5a and 5b exposed to the surface of the frame 4 and a pair of spring terminals 7a whose ends are in elastic contact with each other. , 7b are provided in the apparatus main body 1. The spring terminals 7a and 7b are connected to a detection circuit 8 that detects the presence or absence of conduction between the spring terminals 7a and 7b. The spring terminals 7a and 7b also have a role of stabilizing the mounting of the photosensitive drum unit 2 to the apparatus main body 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the toner unit 3 has a toner container 29 and a toner container 29, as shown in FIG. The developer 23 including the toner and the agitating body 30 accommodated therein is accommodated inside the box-shaped frame body 14, and support shafts 14a projecting outward are provided on both side surfaces of the frame body 14, respectively. It has been. The developing roller 28 is rotatably supported by the toner unit 3 by supporting a rotating shaft 28a that is rotated by a motor (not shown) of the developing roller 28 in an insertion hole 14b formed in the supporting shaft 14a. The rotating shaft 27a of the supply roller 27 and the rotating shaft of the stirring member 30 are connected to the rotating shaft 27a of the developing roller 28 by gears (not shown), and the supply roller 27 is inserted into insertion holes formed on both side surfaces of the frame body 14. By supporting the rotation shaft 27 a and the rotation shaft of the stirring member 30, the supply roller 27 and the stirring member 30 are rotatably supported by the toner unit 3. On the other hand, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a space for accommodating the toner unit 3 with the upper surface opened, and grooves 1b extending from the upper surface are formed on both side surfaces thereof. By inserting a support shaft 28a for supporting the developing roller 28 into the grooves 1b from above, the toner unit 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1.

  Detection terminals 15a and 15b as a pair of contacts made of a conductor such as metal are provided on the surface of the frame 14 of the toner unit 3 with the end surfaces exposed. The detection terminals 15 a and 15 b extend from the end surface and project toward the developing roller 28 from the inner surface of the frame body 14 near one side end of the developing roller 28. One end of the coil spring 16 as a conducting body made of a conductor such as a metal is fixed to a portion protruding from the inner surface of the frame body 14 of one detection terminal 15a, and a portion protruding from the inner surface of the frame body 14 of the other detection terminal 15b A hook 16a provided at the other end of the coil spring 16 is engaged with the protrusion 15c formed in the hook. On the other hand, the developing roller 28 is provided with a rotating projection 28b that rotates with the rotation at the time of image formation so as to protrude from the rotating shaft 28a. When the developing roller 28 rotates during image formation, the rotating protrusion 28b also rotates, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the vicinity of the tip of the developing roller 28b contacts the coil spring 16, thereby detecting the hook 16a of the coil spring 16. The locking of the terminal 15b with respect to the protrusion 15c is released, and the conduction between the detection terminals 15a and 15b by the coil spring 16 is lost. By removing the developing roller 28, the hook 16a of the coil spring 16 detached from the projection 15c of the detection terminal 15b can be locked to the projection 15c, and the coil spring 16 is again hooked between the detection terminals 15a and 15b. It is possible to pass. On the other hand, when a normal device is used, the hook 16a of the coil spring 16 detached from the protrusion 15c of the detection terminal 15b cannot be locked to the protrusion 15c. Whether the toner is replenished or not can be surely determined based on whether the toner has been added.

  When the toner unit 3 is attached to the apparatus main body 1, a pair of spring terminals 17 a and 15 b that are elastically contacted with the exposed portions of the pair of detection terminals 15 a and 15 b on the surface of the frame 14. 17 b is provided on the inner surface of the apparatus main body 1. A detection circuit 18 that detects the presence or absence of conduction between the spring terminals 17a and 17b is connected to the spring terminals 17a and 17b. The spring terminals 17a and 17b also have a role of stabilizing the mounting of the toner unit 3 on the apparatus main body 1.

  Hereinafter, determination of whether or not the photosensitive drum unit 2 in the image forming apparatus 100 is new will be described. When the photosensitive drum unit 2 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1 and the apparatus power supply is turned on, the detection circuit 8 detects the presence / absence of conduction between the spring terminals 7a and 7b. When the photosensitive drum unit 2 is new, the coil spring 6 is stretched between the detection terminals 5a and 5b that elastically contact with the spring terminals 7a and 7b, respectively, so that there is electrical continuity between the spring terminals 7a and 7b. Is detected by the detection circuit 8 and a detection signal is output. A control unit (not shown) receives the detection signal from the detection circuit 8 and determines that the mounted photoconductor drum unit 2 is new. Then, a counter (not shown) that counts the number of rotations of a motor (not shown) that rotates the photosensitive drum 20 is cleared to 0, and counting of the number of rotations of the motor is newly started.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 starts image formation, the photosensitive drum 20 rotates. Along with this, the rotation protrusion 20b rotates, and the hook 6a of the coil spring 6 spanned between the detection terminals 5a and 5b is detached from the protrusion 5c of the detection terminal 5b, and the connection between the spring terminals 7a and 7b is lost. Thereafter, when the apparatus power supply is turned on, the detection circuit 8 detects that there is no conduction between the spring terminals 7a and 7b, and outputs a detection signal. A control unit (not shown) receives the detection signal from the detection circuit 8 and determines that the mounted photoconductor drum unit 2 is not new. The counter then continues counting. When the count of the counter exceeds a predetermined count, it is presumed that the photosensitive drum 20 has deteriorated, so that the control unit prompts the user or the like to replace the photosensitive drum unit 2 with a display such as a liquid crystal panel (not shown). The warning is displayed in a warning section including a warning lamp and a speaker (not shown). Further, when the old photosensitive drum unit 2 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, since the coil spring 6 is not stretched over the detection terminals 5 a and 5 b in the old photosensitive drum unit 2, the detection circuit 8 Upon receiving the detection signal, the control unit determines that the photosensitive drum unit 2 has not been replaced with a new one.

  Hereinafter, determination of whether or not the toner unit 3 in the image forming apparatus 100 is new will be described. When the toner unit 3 is attached to the apparatus main body 1 and the apparatus power supply is turned on, the detection circuit 18 detects the presence or absence of conduction between the spring terminals 17a and 17b. When the toner unit 3 is new, the coil spring 16 is stretched between the detection terminals 15a and 15b that are elastically in contact with the spring terminals 17a and 17b, respectively, so that there is continuity between the spring terminals 17a and 17b. The detection circuit 18 detects and outputs a detection signal. The control unit (not shown) receives the detection signal from the detection circuit 18 and determines that the mounted toner unit 3 is new. Then, a counter (not shown) that counts the number of rotations of a motor (not shown) that rotates the developing roller 28 is cleared to 0, and counting of the number of rotations of the motor is newly started.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 starts image formation, the developing roller 28 rotates. As a result, the rotation protrusion 27b rotates, and the hook 16a of the coil spring 16 spanned between the detection terminals 15a and 15b is detached from the protrusion 15c of the detection terminal 15b, and the connection between the spring terminals 17a and 17b is lost. Thereafter, when the apparatus power supply is turned on, the detection circuit 18 detects that there is no continuity between the spring terminals 17a and 17b, and outputs a detection signal. A control unit (not shown) receives the detection signal from the detection circuit 18 and determines that the mounted toner unit 3 is not new. The counter then continues counting. When the count of the counter exceeds a predetermined count, it is estimated that the remaining amount of toner is low. Therefore, the control unit prompts the user or the like to replace the toner unit 3 on a display unit including a liquid crystal panel (not shown). The warning is displayed and a warning is made from a warning lamp or speaker (not shown). Even when the old toner unit 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the detection signal from the detection circuit 18 is detected because the coil spring 16 is not stretched over the detection terminals 15 a and 15 b in the old toner unit 3. In response, the control unit determines that the toner unit 3 has not been replaced with a new one.

  As described above, when a new photosensitive drum unit 2 or toner unit 3 in which the coil springs 6 and 16 are spanned between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a and 15b is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the detection terminal 5a. , 5b, 15a, and 15b are detected by the detection circuits 8 and 18, so that the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 can be easily determined to be new. In addition, since the coil springs 6 and 16 are detached by the rotation protrusions 20b and 28b that rotate together with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20 and the developing roller 28 during image formation, the conduction between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a, and 15b is interrupted. When the photosensitive drum unit 2 or the toner unit 3 used for image formation is attached to the apparatus main body 1, the detection circuits 8 and 18 indicate that there is no conduction between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a, and 15b. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and easily determine that the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 are not new. Further, the coil springs 6 and 16 are disengaged by the rotation protrusions 20b and 28b that rotate together with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 20 and the developing roller 28 at the time of image formation, so that conduction between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a, and 15b is interrupted. Therefore, since it is not necessary to provide a circuit or the like for fusing the fuse in order to cut off the conduction, it is possible to reduce the cost for determining whether or not the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 are new. Further, when the coil springs 6 and 16 are re-hanged between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a and 15b, the image of the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 to be mounted is replaced with a new one without replacing parts such as a fuse. Since the forming apparatus 100 can discriminate, the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 once used for image formation can be easily recycled.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in the present embodiment is merely an example, and it is needless to say that the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the rotation protrusion 20b of the photosensitive drum unit 2 may be provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 20, or the rotation protrusion 28b of the toner unit 3 may be provided so as to protrude from the rotation axis of the supply roller 27 or the agitator 30. . Further, in place of the coil springs 6 and 16 spanned between the detection terminals 5a, 5b, 15a and 15b, a rod-shaped one made of a conductor such as metal and having a locking portion such as a hook at the end may be used. Instead of the one whose end is fixed to the detection terminals 5a and 15a, the detection terminals 5a and 15a may be locked by hooks or the like. Further, a process unit (process cartridge) in which the photosensitive drum unit 2 and the toner unit 3 are integrated may be provided, and the process unit may be replaced.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. 2 is an enlarged partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the photosensitive drum unit 2 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1. FIG. 4A shows a state where the photosensitive drum unit 2 is new, and FIG. . 4 is an enlarged partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner unit 3 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1. FIG. 4A shows a state where the toner unit 3 is a new product, and FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Photosensitive drum unit (unit)
3 Toner unit (unit)
5a, 5b, 15a, 15b Detection terminal (contact)
6, 16 Coil spring (conductor)
8, 18 Detection circuit 20 Photosensitive drum (rotating body)
20b Rotation protrusion (conduction barrier)
27 Supply roller (rotating body)
28 Developing roller (rotating body)
28b Rotating protrusion (conduction barrier)
30 Stirrer
100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (3)

The device body,
A unit that is detachably provided in the apparatus main body and includes a rotating body that rotates during image formation;
A pair of contacts provided on the unit;
A conductor provided so as to be able to be bridged between the contacts;
A detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of conduction between the contacts;
A conduction blocking body that rotates with the rotating body and removes the conducting body that is stretched between the contacts;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unit includes a photosensitive drum as the rotating body.   The unit stores toner, and the rotating body is one of a stirring body that stirs the toner, a developing roller that carries the toner on a surface thereof, and a supply roller that supplies toner to the developing roller. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images