JP2011064872A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify the cause of a communication error between a wireless tag and a tag reader, in an image forming device which manages a cartridge using the wireless tag. <P>SOLUTION: The tag reader 21 performs wireless communications with a cartridge tag 152 attached to the cartridge 151. A reference tag 153 is attached movably between a first position between the tag reader 21 and the cartridge tag 152 as a position for the tag reader 21 to perform wireless communications with the reference tag 153 at low power, and a second position out of the tag reader 21 and the cartridge tag 152 as a position for the tag reader 21 to perform wireless communications with the cartridge tag 152 at high power. A determination part determines that the tag reader 21 may be in failure if the reference tag 153 cannot communicate with the tag reader 21, and the determination part determines that the tag reader 21 communicates with the cartridge tag 152 if the reference tag communicates with the tag reader 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that manages a cartridge containing a developer using a wireless tag.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimile machines, and copiers equipped with a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive drum using toner use a toner supplied from a cartridge mounted on the main body of the apparatus. The electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet or the like to form an image. When the toner in the cartridge runs out, the user replaces the cartridge with a new one, and the image forming apparatus is replenished with toner.

  In this case, there is no problem if the newly replaced cartridge is a genuine product of the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, but there are cases where non-genuine products are used. When a non-genuine cartridge is used, not only the performance of the image forming apparatus is not fully exhibited, but also a failure of the image forming apparatus can be caused.

  Therefore, in many image forming apparatuses developed in recent years, cartridge management is performed using RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. In this case, a wireless tag storing cartridge and toner information as tag information is attached to the cartridge, and after the cartridge is attached, the tag reader disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side is attached by reading the tag information. Identifying that the cartridge is genuine. Then, when the tag information does not exist in the mounted cartridge or the tag information is not correct data, for example, error processing for storing a history of image forming processing in the main body memory is performed. As a result, when the image forming apparatus malfunctions due to the use of a non-genuine cartridge, for example, a service person can easily identify the cause of the malfunction.

  However, when the tag reader is out of order, the tag reader cannot read the tag information, so that a genuine cartridge is mounted even though a genuine cartridge is mounted. May be mistakenly identified.

  As a technique for facilitating the identification of whether the cause of a communication error in which the tag reader cannot read the tag information is on the reader / writer side or on the wireless tag side, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses two stages. An electronic device with an RF tag (wireless tag) communication function for performing diagnosis is disclosed (see FIGS. 4 and 5 and paragraphs 0021 to 0032).

  An electronic device (label printer) with an RF tag communication function disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a wireless communication device (tag reader, radio communication unit) that includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with an RF tag and a control unit that controls the wireless communication unit. Patent Document 1 includes an RF tag reader / writer) and a main control unit that is capable of data communication with the control unit and controls the wireless communication device. This label printer transmits data from the main control unit to the RF tag reader / writer, and when there is no response to the data from the RF tag reader / writer to the main control unit, “the control unit has an abnormality. If the response is present, the control unit is diagnosed as being “normal” (first diagnosis). Then, when it is diagnosed that “the control unit is normal”, the RF tag reader / writer is made to read / write data of the RF tag, and when the reading / writing is successful, “the whole RF tag reader / writer is normal”. If the reading and writing are unsuccessful, it is diagnosed that “the control unit is normal” and “the wireless communication state of the RF tag reader / writer with respect to the RF tag is abnormal” (second diagnosis).

JP 2005-322029 A

  However, although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can reliably diagnose that the RF tag reader / writer operates normally, in the first diagnosis, communication between the control unit of the RF tag reader / writer and the main control unit of the label printer main body is performed. Therefore, if the RF tag reader / writer fails to read / write the RF tag data, whether the cause of the communication error is a failure of the RF tag reader / writer, There is no reliable diagnosis of tag failure or the absence of an RF tag. For example, when a wireless control unit (see reference numeral 39 in FIG. 3 and paragraph 0016) of the reader / writer that controls transmission / reception of electromagnetic waves with an RF tag is out of order, the reader / writer is operable even if the control unit is normal. Fails to read and write data of the RF tag, but since the radio control unit has not been diagnosed for failure, it cannot be determined that the cause of the communication error is due to the failure of the RF tag reader / writer.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem. In an image forming apparatus that manages a cartridge using a wireless tag, a tag reader that reads the tag information of the wireless tag reads the tag information. To reliably determine whether the cause of the communication error that cannot be made is the failure of the tag reader, the failure of the wireless tag, or the absence of the wireless tag, the failure of the reader / writer With the goal.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge for storing a developer can be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, and stores a unique information of the cartridge and is attached to the cartridge tag. A tag reader that wirelessly communicates with the tag reader, a reference tag provided so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with the tag reader, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the tag reader is out of order. Is provided opposite to the cartridge tag, and the reference tag moves to a first position between the tag reader and the cartridge tag and a second position outside the tag reader and the cartridge tag. When the communication is performed with the tag reader, the cartridge tag is positioned at the first position, and the cartridge tag is connected to the tag reader. The tag reader is positioned at the second position, and when communicating with the cartridge tag, the tag reader generates a drive voltage for generating a signal to be transmitted to the cartridge tag during the communication. In the case of performing communication with the reference tag, the drive voltage for generating a signal to be transmitted to the reference tag during the communication is set as a second drive voltage lower than the first drive voltage. The determination unit determines that the tag reader is out of order when the reference tag and the tag reader cannot communicate, and the tag reader can communicate with the cartridge tag when the reference tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other. It is determined that

  According to this configuration, a reference tag is provided in the apparatus main body separately from the cartridge tag provided in the cartridge, and whether the tag reader is broken based on whether the tag reader and the reference tag can communicate with each other. Therefore, it is possible to reliably determine the failure of the tag reader without communicating with the cartridge tag. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus to which this configuration is applied, when the tag reader cannot receive a signal from the cartridge tag, the cause is the failure of the tag reader, the failure of the wireless tag, or the absence of the wireless tag. It is possible to reliably determine whether there is any.

  Moreover, according to this configuration, the reference tag can be provided without causing interference between the two types of tags, that is, the cartridge tag and the reference tag, during communication of the tag reader. That is, when the tag reader and the reference tag communicate with each other, the reference tag is positioned closer to the tag reader than the cartridge tag, and the tag reader communicates with the cartridge tag more than the communication distance. Since the communication with the reference tag is performed with the low output second driving voltage corresponding to the shortening of the signal, interference between the tag reader and the cartridge tag can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the tag reader and the cartridge tag communicate with each other, the reference tag is located farther from the tag reader than the cartridge tag, and the communication distance is longer than when communicating with the reference tag. Since communication is performed with the cartridge tag with the first drive voltage with high output corresponding to the interference, interference between the tag reader and the reference tag can be suppressed.

  In the above configuration, the determination unit is a case where the reference tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other, and when the cartridge tag and the tag reader cannot communicate, the cartridge is a non-genuine product, or the cartridge tag When the cartridge tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other, it is preferable to further determine that the cartridge is a genuine product.

  According to this configuration, since the tag reader communicates with the cartridge tag after the determination unit confirms that the tag reader operates normally, a genuine cartridge is mounted due to a failure of the tag reader. However, it is possible to prevent erroneous identification that a non-genuine cartridge is installed.

In the above configuration, the apparatus further includes an attachment / detachment detector that detects attachment / detachment of the cartridge,
The tag reader may attempt to perform wireless communication with the reference tag when the attachment / detachment detection unit detects attachment of the cartridge.

  According to this configuration, the tag reader attempts wireless communication with the reference tag when the attachment / detachment detection unit detects the mounting of the cartridge, so that wireless communication with the reference tag is minimized. The delay of the image forming process can be minimized.

  According to the present invention, when the tag reader cannot receive a signal from the cartridge tag, it is reliably determined whether the cause is a malfunction of the tag reader, a malfunction of the wireless tag, or the absence of the wireless tag. can do.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the top view which shows the positional relationship of the reference | standard tag and the antenna circuit with which a reader / writer is provided, and is the figure which looked at FIG. 1 from the direction of II. It is a perspective view which shows typically the mechanism to which a reference | standard tag is moved. (A) shows the position of the reference tag when the antenna circuit included in the reader / writer communicates with the reference tag, and (B) shows the position of the reference tag when the antenna circuit communicates with the cartridge tag. FIG. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of a reader / writer. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the determination process by a determination part. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the determination process by the determination part in deformation | transformation embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the printer 1 is employed as the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a device main body 11 having a box shape. The apparatus main body 11 includes an image forming unit 12 that forms an image based on image data transmitted from an external device such as a computer, and a toner image that is formed by the image forming unit 12 and transferred onto a recording paper P as a transfer material. Are equipped with a fixing unit 13 for performing fixing processing, a paper storage unit 14 for storing recording paper, and a toner replenishing unit 15 for replenishing toner to the image forming unit 12. The recording paper P is discharged from the recording paper P.

  At an appropriate position on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, an operation panel (not shown) for inputting an output condition of the recording paper P and a display panel (not shown) for displaying a message to the user are provided. The operation panel is provided with a power key, a start button, setting keys for setting various functions, and the like.

  The paper storage unit 14 includes a paper tray 141 that is detachably mounted at a position below the exposure device 124 in the apparatus main body 11. The paper tray 141 is configured to include a box body whose upper surface is open on the entire surface, and a paper bundle P1 formed by laminating a plurality of recording papers P can be stored. The uppermost recording sheet P of the sheet bundle P1 stored in the sheet tray 141 is drawn out from the sheet bundle P1 toward the sheet conveyance path 111 by driving the pickup roller 142 from the upper surface of the downstream end (right end in FIG. 1). The recording paper P fed out one by one passes through the paper conveyance path 111 by driving the conveyance roller pair 112, and the second transfer roller 113 and the driving roller 125 a (intermediate transfer belt 125 c) in the image forming unit 12. It is fed toward the nip portion between the two.

  The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the recording paper P fed from the paper storage unit 14. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 12 sequentially arranges from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) to the downstream side. The black developing unit 12K using black toner (developer), the yellow developing unit 12Y using yellow toner, the cyan developing unit 12C using cyan toner, and the magenta toner are used. A magenta developing unit 12M is provided. Hereinafter, these developing units are collectively referred to as “developing unit 12”.

  Each developing unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum 121, a charging device 122 that uniformly charges the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121, and laser light based on image data on the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 121. An exposure device 124 that irradiates and forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121; and a developing device 123 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to form a toner image. A transfer roller 126 for transferring the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to the intermediate transfer belt 125c, and the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred. A cleaning device 127 is provided.

  An intermediate transfer member 125 is provided above the photosensitive drum 121. The intermediate transfer member 125 has an endless intermediate transfer belt 125c stretched between the driving roller 125a and the driven roller 125b, and the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 121 is in contact with the lower side of the intermediate transfer belt 125c. It is like that. The intermediate transfer belt 125c is driven by the driving roller 125a and the driven roller 125a in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 121 while being pressed against the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by the transfer roller 126 provided corresponding to the photosensitive drum 121. It circulates between the rollers 125b.

  Therefore, when the intermediate transfer belt 125c circulates, the black toner image is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12K, and then the photosensitive member of the developing unit 12Y is located at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125c. The transfer of the yellow toner toner image by the drum 121 is performed in the overcoating state, and the transfer of the cyan toner toner image by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12C is performed in the overcoating state at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125c. Finally, the magenta toner image is transferred by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12M. As a result, a color toner image in which black toner, yellow toner, cyan toner, and magenta toner are overcoated on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c is formed.

  A sheet conveyance path 111 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the right side of the image forming unit 12 in FIG. The paper transport path 111 is provided with a transport roller pair 112 at an appropriate position, and the recording paper P fed out from the paper storage unit 14 is driven around the drive roller 125 a by the drive of the transport roller pair 112. It is conveyed toward the belt 125c.

  A second transfer roller 113 that is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c is provided in the sheet conveyance path 111 at a position facing the driving roller 125a, and the recording sheet P being conveyed along the sheet conveyance path 111 is transferred to the transfer belt. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125 c is transferred onto the recording paper P by being pressed and clamped between the 125 c and the second transfer roller 113.

  The fixing unit 13 performs a fixing process on the toner image on the paper transferred by the image forming unit 12, and includes a heating roller 30 in which an energization heating element such as a halogen lamp is mounted, and the heating roller 30. The pressure roller 40 is provided so as to be opposed to the peripheral surface. The recording paper P supplied to the fixing unit 13 in a state where the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125c has been transferred passes through the nip portion between the rotating heating roller 30 and the pressure roller 40, so that the recording paper P from the heating roller 30 is transferred. The fixing process is performed by obtaining heat.

  The recording paper P that has been subjected to the fixing process is discharged toward a discharge tray 161 of a paper discharge unit 16 provided at the top of the apparatus main body 11 through a discharge conveyance path 114 extending from the upper part of the fixing unit 13. Is done.

  The toner replenishing unit 15 corresponds to each developing unit 12 of the image forming unit 12 with a black cartridge 151K, a yellow cartridge 151Y, a cyan cartridge 151C, and a magenta cartridge 151M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cartridge 151”). It is prepared for. Each cartridge 151 contains toner of each color and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 11. When the amount of toner in the cartridge 151 decreases, the user replaces the cartridge 151 with a new cartridge 151 so that the toner is replenished in the apparatus main body 11.

  Each cartridge 151 is provided so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with a reader / writer 21 (tag reader). For example, the cartridge tag is a passive RFID tag that operates by obtaining power using a carrier wave output from the reader / writer 21. 152K, 152Y, 152C, and 152M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cartridge tag 152”) are attached. The cartridge tag 152 includes a memory that stores unique information of the cartridge 151 such as a product number of the cartridge 151 and a remaining amount of toner, and a communication circuit that transmits the information stored in the memory on a signal. ing. In the present embodiment, the unique information is not only read by the reader / writer 21, but information such as the remaining amount of toner included in the unique information is appropriately written by the reader / writer 21.

  The signal transmitted from the communication circuit included in each cartridge tag 152 is transmitted to an antenna circuit 211K, 211Y, 211C, 211M (opposed to each cartridge tag 152 in the reader / writer 21 installed in the apparatus body 11. Hereinafter, they are collectively referred to as “antenna circuit 211”.

  Further, the apparatus main body 11 is provided with a reference tag 153 that can move in the horizontal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) along the guide rail 154 g and can communicate with the reader / writer 21. Similar to the cartridge tag 152, the reference tag 153 includes a memory and a communication circuit.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the reference tag 153 and the antenna circuit 211 provided in the reader / writer 21, and is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction II. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a mechanism for moving the reference tag 153 (moving mechanism 154).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the moving mechanism 154 is provided on the guide rail 154g, the timing belt 154t provided in the guide rail 154g, and both ends in the length direction of the guide rail 154g, and supports the timing belt 154t in a stretched manner. Two guide pulleys 154p, a motor 154m that rotationally drives one of the guide pulleys 154p, a reader / writer 21 and a cartridge 151 side (see FIG. 2, front side in FIG. 3) are fixed to the timing belt 154t, and are guided rails. A sliding portion 154b fitted to the guide rail 154g so as to be slidable in the length direction of 154g, and an end portion projecting from the sliding portion 154b perpendicular to the guide rail 154g toward the reader / writer 21 and the cartridge 151 A columnar support 154s to which the reference tag 153 is fixed Ete constructed.

  When the guide pulley 154p located on the left in FIG. 3 is rotationally driven by the motor 154m, the sliding portion 154b fixed to the timing belt 154t slides in the length direction of the guide rail 154g. At this time, the reference tag 153 coupled to the sliding portion 154b via the support 154s also moves along the guide rail 154g in the length direction of the guide rail 154g. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the reference tag 153 has the same position as the cartridge tag 152 and the antenna circuit 211 in the front-rear direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), and each cartridge in the horizontal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2). The position where the tag 152 and each antenna circuit 211 are arranged in a straight line is moved. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the reference tag 153 is located at a height between the antenna circuit 211 and the cartridge tag 152 in the height direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating how the reference tag 153 moves. FIG. 4A illustrates the position of the reference tag 153 when one of the antenna circuits 211 included in the reader / writer 21 communicates with the reference tag 153. FIG. 4B shows the position of the reference tag when the antenna circuit 211 communicates with the cartridge tag 152 facing the antenna circuit 211.

  When one of the antenna circuits 211 communicates with the reference tag 153, the control unit 20 described later faces the reference tag 153 to the antenna circuit 211 and the antenna circuit 211 as illustrated in FIG. It is moved to a position (first position) between the cartridge tag 152. When the antenna circuit 211 communicates with the cartridge tag 152 facing the antenna circuit 211, the control unit 20 sets the reference tag 153 as the antenna circuit 211 and the cartridge tag 152 facing the antenna circuit 211 as shown in FIG. 4B. To a position (second position) deviated from between.

  That is, when the reader / writer 21 and the reference tag 153 communicate with each other, the reference tag 153 is positioned closer to the antenna circuit 211 than the cartridge tag 152, and when the reader / writer 21 and the cartridge tag 152 communicate with each other, The cartridge tag 152 is located closer to the antenna circuit 211 than the reference tag 153.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the reader / writer 21. The reader / writer 21 includes an analog selector 212 and a reader / writer circuit unit 213 in addition to the antenna circuit 211 described above.

  The analog selector 212 selects one antenna circuit 211 that performs wireless communication from the four antenna circuits 211, and switches to a state in which transmission and reception are possible. The selected one antenna circuit 211 wirelessly communicates with the cartridge tag 152 or the reference tag 153 at the opposite position, converts the received electromagnetic wave into an electric signal, and sends it to the reader / writer circuit unit 213 via the analog selector 212. Output.

  The reader / writer circuit unit 213 includes a carrier wave oscillation circuit, a modulation circuit, a demodulation circuit, and the like. In response to the control signal output from the control unit 20 to the reader / writer circuit unit 213, the reader / writer circuit unit 213 receives the carrier wave that supplies power to the cartridge tag 152 and the reference tag 153, the unique information, or the calibration information. A modulated wave on which a command requesting the output to the cartridge tag 152 or the reference tag 153 is placed is generated. The carrier wave and the modulated wave generated by the reader / writer circuit unit 213 are output from the antenna circuit 211 to the cartridge tag 152 and the reference tag 153 via the analog selector 212.

  When the carrier wave and the modulated wave are generated by the reader / writer circuit unit 213, the control unit 20 drives the antenna circuit 211 depending on whether the carrier wave and the output destination of the modulated wave are the cartridge tag 152 or the reference tag 153. Switch the voltage. That is, when the cartridge tag 152 is the output destination (FIG. 4B), the control unit 20 sets the drive voltage to, for example, 3.3 V (first drive voltage), and the reference tag 153 is the output destination. In the case (FIG. 4A), the driving voltage is set to 1.0 V (second driving voltage), for example.

  That is, during communication between the reader / writer 21 and the cartridge tag 152 or the reference tag 153, strong electromagnetic waves generated by the larger driving voltage in the two-stage driving voltage are transmitted from the antenna circuit 211 during communication with the cartridge tag 152 having a long communication distance. The weak electromagnetic wave generated by the smaller drive voltage is output from the antenna circuit 211 during communication with the reference tag 153 that is output and has a short communication distance. Therefore, since only the tag to be communicated can obtain operable power, interference with a tag different from the communication object can be reliably suppressed.

  Further, the reader / writer circuit unit 213 demodulates the electrical signal from the antenna circuit 211 output to the reader / writer circuit unit 213 via the analog selector 212 and outputs the demodulated signal to the control unit 20.

  The control unit 20 is configured by a CPU (central processing unit) and the like, and controls the image forming operation of the printer 1 and the movement of the reference tag 153, and functions to include the determination unit 201 and the attachment / detachment detection unit 202. The attachment / detachment detection unit 202 detects attachment / detachment of the cartridge 151. As an example of this attachment / detachment detection, for example, an opening / closing switch for detecting opening / closing of the opening / closing cover is provided on an opening / closing cover (not shown) that is opened / closed when the cartridge 151 is mounted, and the old cartridge 151 is opened when the opening / closing cover is opened / closed. And the attachment / detachment detection unit 202 determines that a new cartridge 151 is attached to the printer 1.

  The determination unit 201 determines whether or not the reader / writer 21 operates normally when the attachment / detachment detection unit 202 detects that a new cartridge 151 is attached to the printer 1. Furthermore, after confirming that the reader / writer 21 operates normally, the determination unit 201 determines the attached cartridge 151 based on the communication result with the cartridge tag 152. Details of these determination processes will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of determination processing by the determination unit 201. When the attachment / detachment detection unit 202 detects that the cartridge 151 is attached to the printer 1, the control unit 20 moves the reference tag 153 to the first position facing the antenna circuit 211 (step S1). Subsequently, the control unit 20 steps down the drive voltage of the antenna circuit 211 from, for example, 3.3 V, which is a normal drive voltage when performing communication with the cartridge tag 152, to 1.0 V, for example (step S2).

  In this state, the control unit 20 checks whether or not the antenna circuit 211 facing the reference tag 153 can normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (step S3). When the antenna circuit 211 cannot normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (NO in step S3), the determination unit 201 determines that the reader / writer 21 is out of order (step S4). At this time, the control unit 20 causes the display panel to display a predetermined error message that prompts the user to make a service call.

  If the antenna circuit 211 can normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (YES in step S3), the control unit 20 proceeds to step S5, and the control unit 20 moves the reference tag 153 from the position facing the antenna circuit 211. Move to position. Subsequently, the control unit 20 boosts the drive voltage of the antenna circuit 211 and returns it to, for example, 3.3 V, which is a normal drive voltage when communicating with the cartridge tag 152 (step S6).

  In this state, the control unit 20 checks whether or not the antenna circuit 211 can normally wirelessly communicate with the opposed cartridge tag 152 (step S7). If the antenna circuit 211 cannot normally wirelessly communicate with the opposing cartridge tag 152 (NO in step S7), the determination unit 201 determines that the cartridge 151 corresponding to the cartridge tag 152 is a non-genuine cartridge, or the cartridge tag It is determined that 152 is out of order (step S8). At this time, the control unit 20 may display a warning message indicating that there is a problem with the mounted cartridge on the display panel or the like.

  If the antenna circuit 211 can normally wirelessly communicate with the corresponding cartridge tag 152 (YES in step S7), the determination unit 201 determines that the cartridge 151 corresponding to the cartridge tag 152 is a genuine cartridge (step S9). ).

  According to the above embodiment, the reference tag 153 is provided in the apparatus main body 11 separately from the cartridge tag 152 provided in the cartridge 151, and the reader / writer is determined based on whether the reader / writer 21 and the reference tag 153 can communicate with each other. Since it is determined whether or not 21 is out of order, it is possible to reliably determine the failure of the reader / writer 21 without communicating with the cartridge tag 152. Accordingly, when the reader / writer 21 cannot receive a signal from the cartridge tag 152, it is reliably determined whether the cause is a failure of the reader / writer 21, a failure of the cartridge tag 152, or the absence of the cartridge tag 152. can do.

  Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the reader / writer 21 communicates with the cartridge tag 152 after the determination unit 201 confirms that the reader / writer 21 operates normally. It is possible to prevent erroneous identification that a non-genuine cartridge is installed, even though the cartridge is installed.

  Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when the attachment / detachment detection unit 202 detects the attachment of the cartridge 151, the determination unit 201 makes the above determination, so wireless communication between the reader / writer 21, the cartridge tag 152, and the reference tag 153 is achieved. It is possible to minimize the delay of the image forming process.

  The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiment can be taken.

  (1) When the antenna circuit 211 facing the reference tag 153 cannot normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (NO in step S3 in FIG. 6), the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. It becomes possible to specify the failure part of the writer 21. Details will be described below.

  When the antenna circuit 211 facing the reference tag 153 cannot normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (NO in step S3), the reference tag 153 is moved to the first position with the different antenna circuit 211 (step S41). In this state, the control unit 20 checks whether or not the antenna circuit 211 facing the reference tag 153 can normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (step S42). If the antenna circuit 211 can normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (YES in step S42), the determination unit 201 determines that the antenna circuit 211 that has been unable to communicate is faulty (step S43). If the antenna circuit 211 cannot normally wirelessly communicate with the reference tag 153 (NO in step S42), the determination unit 201 determines that the analog selector 212 or the reader / writer circuit unit 213 is faulty (step S44).

  (2) In the above embodiment, the printer 1 is a color printer including four types of cartridges 151. However, the present invention can be applied to a monochrome printer including only the black cartridge 151K.

  (3) The present invention is not limited to the printer 1 as the image forming apparatus, and may be a copier, a facsimile machine, a multi-function machine or the like provided with a detachable cartridge 151.

1 Printer (image forming device)
11 Device main body 15 Toner replenishing portion 151K, 151Y, 151C, 151M Cartridge 152K, 152Y, 152C, 152M Cartridge tag 153 Reference tag 154 Moving mechanism 154b Slide portion 154g Guide rail 154m Motor 154p Guide pulley 154s Support body 154t Timing belt 20 Unit 201 determination unit 202 attachment / detachment detection unit 21 reader / writer (tag reader)
211K, 211Y, 211C, 211M Antenna circuit 212 Analog selector 213 Reader / writer circuit section

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus in which a cartridge containing a developer can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body,
A tag reader that stores unique information of the cartridge and performs wireless communication with a cartridge tag attached to the cartridge, and reads the unique information;
A reference tag provided so as to be capable of wireless communication with the tag reader;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the tag reader is out of order,
The tag reader is provided facing the cartridge tag,
The reference tag is movably provided at a first position between the tag reader and the cartridge tag and a second position outside the tag reader and the cartridge tag, and communicates with the tag reader. Is located at the first position, and when the cartridge tag communicates with the tag reader, is located at the second position,
When the tag reader communicates with the cartridge tag, the drive voltage for generating a signal to be transmitted to the cartridge tag during the communication is the first drive voltage, and when the tag reader communicates with the reference tag. , A driving voltage for generating a signal to be transmitted to the reference tag during the communication is a second driving voltage lower than the first driving voltage,
The determination unit determines that the tag reader is out of order when the reference tag and the tag reader cannot communicate, and the tag reader can communicate with the cartridge tag when the reference tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other. An image forming apparatus that determines that   In the case where the reference tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other and the cartridge tag and the tag reader cannot communicate with each other, the determination unit is a non-genuine product, or the cartridge tag has failed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further determining that the cartridge is a genuine product when the cartridge tag and the tag reader can communicate with each other. An attachment / detachment detector for detecting attachment / detachment of the cartridge;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tag reader attempts wireless communication with the reference tag when the attachment / detachment detection unit detects the mounting of the cartridge.

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