JP2013025238A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent occurence of improper installation of a replacement unit more reliably by informing a user about the quality of the installing state of the replacement unit with good visibility.SOLUTION: A compound machine in which a device body is detachably fitted with a plurality of developing units dy, dm, dc, dk includes luminous elements dy1, dm1, dc1, dk1 installed to the developing units dy,dm, dc, dk and an arithmetic control part which decides whether the developing units dy, dm, dc, dk are installed in a normal state or non-normal state and differentiates lighting modes of the luminous elements dy1, dm1, dc1, dk1 according to the normal state and the non-normal state.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus based on an electrophotographic system.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is composed of a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a developing device, and the like. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by supplying toner from. In such an image forming apparatus, the photosensitive drum and the developing device are positioned as consumable parts, and are unitized so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body in order to facilitate replacement and maintenance. (See Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2006-79023 A

  By the way, each replacement unit in the image forming apparatus is generally replaced by a service person. However, there are cases where the user replaces the replacement unit without relying on the service person. However, in the color type image forming apparatus, four photosensitive drum units and developing units are provided corresponding to toner colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K), respectively. In addition, each of the four photosensitive drum units and the developing unit generally have substantially the same external shape, and therefore, when the user replaces himself / herself, for example, a yellow (Y) toner color developing unit is mounted. There is a risk that erroneous mounting such as mounting of a developing unit of another toner color may occur where it should be. If the image forming apparatus is operated in such an erroneous mounting state, the image forming apparatus may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to more reliably prevent erroneous mounting of a replacement unit by notifying the user of the mounting state of the replacement unit with good visibility.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solution, an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of replacement units are detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and a light emitter attached to the replacement unit is replaced with Adopting a means to determine whether the unit is mounted in a normal state or whether it is mounted in a non-normal state, and to include a light emission control means for changing the light emission mode of the illuminant between the normal state and the non-normal state To do.

  In the present invention, as the second solving means, in the first solving means, the light emission control means includes a unit side connecting portion provided in the replacement unit and a main body side connecting portion to which the unit side connecting portion is attached. By adopting a means for determining whether or not the replacement unit is mounted in the normal state by detecting the electrical connection state.

  In the present invention, as the third solution means, in the first or second solution means, the apparatus body is provided with an opening / closing door, and the replacement unit is attached to the apparatus body with the opening / closing door opened. The light emitter is provided at a position facing the opening / closing door.

  In the present invention, as a fourth solution, in any one of the first to third solutions, the opening / closing door is formed of a light transmissive material at least at a position corresponding to the light emitter. Adopt means.

  In the present invention, as a fifth solving means, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the replacement unit supplies the toner to the image carrier, whereby the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is converted into the toner. The developing unit develops an image, and the light emission control unit adopts a unit that changes the light emission mode of the light emitter in accordance with the toner consumption amount of the developing unit.

  According to the present invention, since the light emission mode of the light emitter provided in the replacement unit is different based on whether the replacement unit is mounted in the normal state or whether it is mounted in the non-normal state. Can be notified to the user with high visibility, and therefore, erroneous mounting of the replacement unit can be prevented more reliably than before.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between developing units dy to dk and a front door 53 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows unit side connection part dy2-dk2 in one Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral A according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording sheet based on an electrophotographic method. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an operation display unit 1, an image reading unit 2, an image data storage unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a communication unit 5, and an arithmetic control unit 6. The arithmetic control unit 6 constitutes the light emission control means in this embodiment.

  The operation display unit 1 includes operation keys and a touch panel, and functions as a man-machine interface that associates the user with the image forming apparatus A. The operation display unit 1 outputs a user operation instruction for an operation key or an operation button displayed on the touch panel to the calculation control unit 6 as an operation signal, and various operations are performed on the touch panel based on a control signal input from the calculation control unit 6. Display information of.

  The image reading unit 2 is a surface image of a document automatically fed by an ADF (Automatic document feeder) or a document placed on a platen glass based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6. The (original image) is read by the line sensor and converted into original image data, and the original image data is output to the image data storage unit 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF is provided in the upper part of the multi-function device A, and the image reading unit 2 is provided below the ADF.

  The image data storage unit 3 is a semiconductor memory, a hard disk device, or the like. Based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6, original image data, print image data and communication received by the communication unit 5 from an external client computer The unit 5 stores facsimile image data received from an external facsimile machine and reads out the image data and outputs it to the image forming unit 4.

  The image forming unit 4 forms an original image based on the image data read from the image data storage unit 3 on the recording paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette 45 based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6. It is. The image forming unit 4 includes a belt roller 41, an intermediate transfer belt 42, four image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, 43K corresponding to toner colors (Y, M, C, K), primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K, a paper feed cassette 45, a pickup roller 46, a transport roller 47, a registration roller 48, a secondary transfer roller 49, a fixing roller 50, a paper discharge roller 51, and a paper discharge tray 52.

  As shown in the figure, the belt roller 41 includes three rollers that are spaced apart from each other, that is, a driving roller 41a, a driven roller 41b, and a tension roller 41c. That is, the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b are arranged at a certain distance in the horizontal direction, and the tension roller 41c is arranged at a position slightly displaced upward between the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. ing. The intermediate transfer belt 42 is an endless belt stretched around such a belt roller 41 (drive roller 41a, driven roller 41b, tension roller 41c), and travels in a direction indicated by an arrow by the drive roller 41a.

  That is, the intermediate transfer belt 42 runs in the horizontal direction between the driving roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. The driving roller 41a described above is a roller in which a motor that generates a driving force is axially coupled, and causes the intermediate transfer belt 42 to travel in the direction of the arrow by the power of the motor. The driven roller 41b is a free roller provided so as to freely rotate, and guides the intermediate transfer belt 42 according to the power of the drive roller 41a. Further, the tension roller 41c is a roller that is provided with a rotating shaft so as to be movable, and applies a certain tension (tension) to the intermediate transfer belt 42 by pressing the intermediate transfer belt 42 with a predetermined adjusting force.

  As shown in the figure, the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K are provided at predetermined intervals in the horizontal running portion of the intermediate transfer belt 42 described above. Of these image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K, the image forming unit 43Y is a unit that forms a yellow (Y) toner image, and is provided at a position closest to the driven roller 41b. The image forming unit 43M is a unit for forming a magenta (M) toner image, and is provided at a position near the driven roller 41b next to the image forming unit 43Y. The image forming unit 43C is a unit that forms a cyan (C) toner image, and is provided at a position close to the driven roller 41b next to the image forming unit 43M. The image forming unit 43K is a unit that forms a black (K) toner image, and is provided at a position closest to the drive roller 41a.

  Such image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K each include photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, and ak, charging portions by, bm, bc, and bk, laser scanning units cy, cm, cc, and ck, and development. The units dy, dm, dc, dk and the cleaners ey, em, ec, ek are constituent elements.

  That is, the image forming unit 43Y includes a photosensitive drum ay, a charging unit by, a laser scanning unit cy, a developing unit dy, and a cleaner ey. The image forming unit 43M includes a photosensitive drum am, a charging unit bm, and a laser scanning unit. cm, a developing unit dm, and a cleaner em, and the image forming unit 43C includes a photosensitive drum ac, a charging unit bc, a laser scanning unit cc, a developing unit dc, and a cleaner ec, and the image forming unit 43K is a photosensitive member. It comprises a drum ak, a charging unit bk, a laser scanning unit ck, a developing unit dk, and a cleaner ek.

  The photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, and ak are cylindrical members whose peripheral surfaces are formed of a predetermined photosensitive material (for example, amorphous silicon). The charging portions by, bm, bc, and bk uniformly charge the peripheral surfaces (photosensitive surfaces) of the photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, and ak. The laser scanning units cy, cm, cc, and ck form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface by irradiating the charged photosensitive surface with laser light.

  Each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk accommodates a predetermined amount of toner inside and supplies the toner to the photosensitive surface to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive surface as a toner image. This is an exchange unit that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. As shown in FIG. 3, the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are provided with light emitters dy 1, dm 1, dc 1, and dk 1 that emit light of a predetermined wavelength on the front surface facing the front door 53. Each of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits red light.

  Further, unit-side connecting portions dy2, dm2, dc2, and dk2 (connecting connectors) are provided on the back surface of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the unit side connection portions dy2, dm2, dc2, and dk2 is a 2-pin connection connector (male connector), and corresponds to each developing unit dy, dm, dc, and dk on the apparatus body. The developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are electrically connected to the apparatus main body by fitting with the provided main body side connection portions 54Y, 54M, 54C, and 54K. The main body side connection portions 54Y, 54M, 54C, and 54K have, for example, eight receptacles (female connectors).

  Among these four development units dy, dm, dc, dk, the unit side connection portion dy2 of the development unit dy is, among the eight receptacles arranged in a row of the main body side connection portion 54Y, as shown in FIG. , Two connection pins P1 and P2 are provided that fit into the two receiving ports located on the leftmost side and the second from the left. As shown in FIG. 4B, the unit-side connecting portion dm2 of the developing unit dm has two receiving ports located third and fourth from the left among the eight receiving ports arranged in a row of the main body-side connecting portion 54M. Two connecting pins P3 and P4 to be fitted are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the unit-side connecting portion dc2 of the developing unit dc is connected to two receiving ports located at the fifth and sixth positions from the left among the eight receiving ports arranged in a row of the main body-side connecting portion 54C. Two connecting pins P5 and P6 to be fitted are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the unit-side connecting portion dk2 of the developing unit dk includes two receiving ports located at the seventh and eighth positions from the left among the eight receiving ports arranged in a row of the main body-side connecting portion 54K. Two connection pins P7 and P8 are provided to be fitted into the receiving port.
The cleaners ey, em, ec, and ek scrape and remove the toner (residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive surface after the toner image is transferred.

  The image forming unit 4 configured in this way is provided at the approximate center in the apparatus main body, and from the necessity of maintenance inspection (maintenance), the front door 53 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body as shown in FIG. It is configured to be accessible by opening. For example, each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk can be detached from the apparatus main body by opening the front door 53 and operating a lever (not shown).

  In addition, the front door 53 provided in the apparatus main body has the above-mentioned alarm at a position facing the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk that are exchange units in the closed state. Transmission windows 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53K that transmit light are provided. These transmission windows 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53K are disk-shaped members made of, for example, a light-transmitting resin, and are fitted into a circular opening provided in the front door 53.

  As shown in the figure, four primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K are provided corresponding to the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K, and each of the primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K has an intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween. Opposite to the photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, ak of the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, 43K. Further, a primary transfer bias (high voltage) is applied to each primary transfer roller 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K, and each primary transfer roller 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K has this primary transfer bias. The toner images of the respective colors respectively formed on the photosensitive drums ay, am, ac and ak of the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C and 43K by the action are transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 42.

  The paper feed cassette 45 is a container for storing a plurality of recording papers P having a predetermined shape such as A4 size and B5 size. The pickup roller 46 is a roller that is provided in pressure contact with the recording paper P in the upper part of the paper feeding cassette 45, takes out the recording paper P in the paper feeding cassette 45 one by one, and sends it out to the transport roller 47. The transport roller 47 is a roller that transports the recording paper P fed from the pickup roller 46 toward the registration roller 48. The registration roller 48 is a roller that supplies the recording paper P supplied from the transport roller 47 to the secondary transfer roller 49 at a predetermined timing.

  The secondary transfer roller 49 is a roller disposed opposite to the driving roller 41a with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween, and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 to the recording paper P (secondary transfer). A secondary transfer bias (high voltage) is applied to the secondary transfer roller 49, and the secondary transfer roller 49 applies the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 to the recording paper P by the action of the secondary transfer bias. (Secondary transfer).

  The fixing roller 50 includes a heating roller 50a provided with a heater therein, and a pressure roller 50b that is in pressure contact with the heating roller 50a. The fixing roller 50 heats and presses the recording paper P by sandwiching the recording paper P on which the toner image of each color is transferred between the heating roller 50a and the pressure roller 50b, and the toner image of each color is placed on the recording paper P. To settle. The paper discharge roller 51 is a roller that conveys the recording paper P supplied from the fixing roller 50 toward the paper discharge tray 52. The paper discharge tray 52 is a storage unit that stores and holds the recording paper P supplied from the paper discharge roller 51.

  The communication unit 5 communicates with an external multifunction peripheral or facsimile apparatus via a telephone line on the basis of a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6, and with a client computer or the like via a LAN (Local Area Network). It communicates. That is, the communication unit 5 has a communication function compliant with a facsimile standard such as G3 and a communication function compliant with a LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The arithmetic control unit 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an interface circuit that transmits / receives various signals to / from each electrically connected unit. . The arithmetic control unit 6 performs various arithmetic processes based on the control program stored in the ROM and controls the overall operation of the multifunction peripheral A by communicating with each unit.

  In addition, as a characteristic control process, the arithmetic control unit 6 determines whether the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are attached in the normal state or the non-normal state when they are attached to the apparatus main body. Then, the light emission modes of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 of the development units dy, dm, dc, and dk are made different between the normal state and the non-normal state.

  For example, when a lever for removing the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk from the apparatus main body is operated, the arithmetic control unit 6 is connected to the unit side connecting parts dy2, The connection state with dm2, dc2, and dk2 is monitored, and when a development unit dy, dm, dc, and dk is newly installed in the apparatus main body, it is determined whether the connection state is a normal state or an abnormal state. The light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are caused to emit light only in the state. Details of such characteristic control processing will be described later.

  This characteristic control process is performed when the main power supply of the multifunction peripheral A is in the OFF state. However, the arithmetic control unit 6 uses the auxiliary power supply such as a battery to perform the above characteristic control process even when the main power supply is in the OFF state. The power supply system is configured so that

Next, a characteristic operation of the multi-function device A configured as described above will be described.
First, the overall operation of the multifunction machine A will be described. For example, when the user sets a document on the ADF and operates the operation display unit 1 to instruct copy (copy) of the document, an operation signal related to the instruction is input from the operation display unit 1 to the arithmetic control unit 6. As a result, the arithmetic control unit 6 causes the image reading unit 2 to sequentially read the document image for each page of the document and stores the document image data of the document image in the image data storage unit 3. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 generates bitmap image data corresponding to each toner color based on the document image data, and performs image forming processing of the document image on the image forming unit 4 based on the bitmap image data. Let it run.

  In other words, the arithmetic control unit 6 drives the pickup roller 46 to take out the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 45 one by one and sends it to the transport roller 47 and drives the transport roller 47 to register the recording paper P. It is conveyed toward the roller 48. The arithmetic control unit 6 drives the driving roller 41a to bring the intermediate transfer belt 42 into a running state and drives the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K, based on the above-described bitmap image data. Thus, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the photosensitive surfaces (peripheral surfaces) of the photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, and ak. The arithmetic control unit 6 applies the primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K, thereby transferring the toner images of the photosensitive drums ay, am, ac, and ak to the intermediate transfer belt 42. Primary transfer is performed on the top.

  Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 drives the registration roller 48 in accordance with the image formation processing timing of each color in the image forming units 43Y, 43M, 43C, and 43K and applies a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer roller 49. As a result, the toner image (original image) on the intermediate transfer belt 42 is secondarily transferred to a desired position on the recording paper P. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 drives the fixing roller 50 and the paper discharge roller 51 to fix the toner image on the recording paper P and discharge it to the paper discharge tray 52.

  Here, in such an image forming process in the MFP A, the toner of each color stored in each of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk is gradually consumed, and eventually the remaining amount is exhausted. Need to be replaced. Further, when any trouble occurs in each of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk, it may be necessary to replace the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk. Such replacement of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk is performed by the service person or the user himself / herself using the multifunction device A.

  For example, when the user replaces all the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk, the developing unit dy, dm, dc in the state where the front door 53 is closed to the open state and is attached to the apparatus main body. , Dk are pulled out to the front side (front door 53 side) of the multi-function device A and removed sequentially. Then, the user sequentially attaches new developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk obtained separately to the apparatus main body by pushing them backward from the front. As shown in FIG. 2, the normal mounting positions of these development units dy, dm, dc, and dk are as follows. The development unit dy is the rightmost, the development unit dm is the second from the right, and the development unit dc is the right. And the developing unit dk is the fourth from the right (that is, the leftmost).

  The user attaches these four development units dy, dm, dc, and dk to the apparatus main body in the order of development unit dy → development unit dm → development unit dc → development unit dk, for example, as shown in FIG. When the developing unit dy is mounted at the rightmost regular position, that is, when the unit side connecting portion dy2 of the developing unit dy is connected to the main body side connecting portion 54Y, as shown in FIG. The two connection pins P1 and P2 of the unit-side connection portion dy2 of the developing unit dy are fitted into the two reception ports that are located second from the left and the left among the eight reception ports. As a result, since the developing unit dy is mounted at the normal position, the arithmetic control unit 6 can normally control the developing unit dy, and thus causes the light emitter dy1 of the developing unit dy to emit light.

  On the other hand, when the user mounts the first developing unit dy at a position other than the rightmost side, that is, any of the main body side connection portions 54M, 54C, 54K other than the main body side connection portion 54Y (for example, the main body side connection portion 54M). ) Is connected to the unit side connection portion dy2 of the development unit dy, among the eight reception ports of the main body side connection portion 54M, two of the unit side connection portions dy2 Connection pins P1 and P2 are fitted.

  In this case, normally, as shown in FIG. 4B, the developing unit dm should be connected to the main body side connecting portion 54M. In such a normal state, the two connections of the developing unit dm are connected. The pins P3 and P4 are connected to the two receiving ports located third and fourth from the left among the eight receiving ports of the main body side connecting portion 54M. When the developing unit dy other than the normal developing unit dm is connected to the main body side connecting portion 54M, the arithmetic control unit 6 does not cause the light emitter dy1 of the developing unit dy to emit light.

  Such characteristic control processing by the arithmetic control unit 6 is the same for each of the developing units dm, dc, and dk mounted on the apparatus main body after the second, and the user moves to the normal position shown in FIG. Only when each developing unit dm, dc, dk is mounted, the arithmetic control unit 6 causes the light emitters dm1, dc1, dk1 of the newly mounted developing units dm, dc, dk to emit light.

  Here, in such a multi-function device A, the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk mounted in the normal state with respect to the apparatus main body are all lit, that is, all. Red light is emitted. Further, since the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are provided on the front surface of each developing unit dy, dm, dc, and dk, they are visible to the user who accesses the apparatus main body from the front side of the multi-function device A. Easy to do. When all the development units dy, dm, dc, and dk have been installed, the user closes the front door 53. Since the front door 53 is provided with the transmission windows 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53K, the user Can easily recognize the light of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 from the outside of the multifunction device A.

  The arithmetic control unit 6 changes the light emission mode of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1, for example, by lighting them in a pulsed manner at a predetermined period, so that the toner consumption of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk is performed. The amount (toner remaining amount) is notified to the outside. For example, the arithmetic control unit 6 changes the light emission modes of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 so that the lighting cycle becomes shorter as the toner consumption increases (the toner remaining amount decreases). The status of the development units dy, dm, dc, dk is notified to the outside.

  More specifically, the arithmetic control unit 6 calculates the dot count value of each toner color by counting the number of dots of each toner color for each job processed by the multifunction peripheral A, and stores the dot count value in advance. The toner consumption amount of each toner color in the job is calculated based on the toner consumption amount per dot, and the toner consumption amount is integrated for each toner color from the replacement of each development unit dy, dm, dc, dk. Thus, the toner consumption amount for each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk is calculated. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 causes the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 to emit light at shorter intervals as the toner consumption increases. The user can visually recognize the light of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, dk1 from the outside of the multi-function device A through the transmission windows 53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K of the front door 53 in the closed state. The toner consumption amount of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk can be easily confirmed.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, the light emitters dy1, dy1, dy1, dy, dy, dy, dy, dm, dc, dk of the developing units dy, dm, dc, dk only when the developing units dy, dm, dc, dk are attached to the apparatus main body in a normal state. Since dm1, dc1, and dk1 emit light, it is possible to inform the user of the quality of the mounted state of each developing unit dy, dm, dc, and dk with good visibility, and therefore, for each developing unit dy, dm, dc, and dk. Incorrect mounting can be prevented more reliably than before.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the light emission modes of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are changed according to the toner consumption, the toners of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are directly and easily used. The consumption state can be confirmed. Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the front door 53 is provided with the transmission windows 53Y, 53M, 53C, and 53K, the user can change the light states of the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1, that is, the developing units dy. , Dm, dc, dk and the toner consumption state can be easily confirmed from the outside of the multifunction device A.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, when the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are mounted at the regular positions of the apparatus main body, the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 emit light and are mounted at the non-regular positions. Although the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are prevented from emitting light, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, on the contrary, when the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are mounted at the normal positions of the apparatus main body, the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are not emitted and are mounted at the non-normal positions. In this case, the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 may emit light.

  Specifically, a circuit incorporating identification information corresponding to each color of toner is embedded in each of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk, and the arithmetic control unit 6 is configured to store the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk. At the time of mounting, identification information is received from the circuit. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 determines whether or not the correct combination is attached based on the identification information. When the correct combination is attached, the arithmetic control unit 6 emits light to the circuits inside the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk. When the bodies dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are not emitted and are mounted in an incorrect combination, the luminous bodies dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 are caused to emit light in the circuits inside the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk. .

(2) In the above-described embodiment, whether the mounting positions of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk are correct is notified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photoconductor drums ay, am, ac, and ak are provided with a light emitter and a unit side connection unit in a photoconductor unit that is united with the charging units by, bm, bc, and bk, respectively, and the same processing as described above May be allowed.

(3) In the above embodiment, the arithmetic control unit 6 calculates the toner consumption amount of each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk using the dot count value, and the light emitters dy1, dm1 according to the toner consumption amount. , Dc1, and dk1 are emitted, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the arithmetic control unit 6 may calculate the toner consumption amount of each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk based on the printing rate of each color on each recording sheet.

  For example, at the time of image formation, the arithmetic control unit 6 calculates the printing rate of each color for each recording sheet based on the image data, and calculates the toner consumption amount of each color for each recording sheet based on the printing rate. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 integrates the toner consumption amount of each color for each recording sheet from the replacement of each of the development units dy, dm, dc, and dk, so that each of the development units dy, dm, dc, and dk. Toner consumption is calculated. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 causes the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 to emit light according to the toner consumption.

  Further, the arithmetic control unit 6 may calculate the toner consumption amount of each color in each developing unit dy, dm, dc, dk based on the number of jobs executed. For example, the arithmetic control unit 6 stores in advance an average value of toner consumption of each color per job. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 determines each developing unit based on the number of jobs executed since the replacement of the developing units dy, dm, dc, and dk and the average value of the toner consumption amount of each color per job. The toner consumption amounts of dy, dm, dc, and dk are calculated. Then, the arithmetic control unit 6 causes the light emitters dy1, dm1, dc1, and dk1 to emit light according to the toner consumption.

  A ... MFP (image forming apparatus), 1 ... operation display unit, 2 ... image reading unit, 3 ... image data storage unit, 4 ... image forming unit, 5 ... communication unit, 6 ... calculation control unit, 41a, 41b, 41c ... belt roller, 42 ... intermediate transfer belt, 43Y, 43C, 43M, 43K ... image forming unit, 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K ... primary transfer roller, 45 ... paper feed cassette, 46 ... pickup roller, 47 ... transport Roller, 48 ... Registration roller, 49 ... Secondary transfer roller, 50 ... Fixing roller, 51 ... Discharge roller, 52 ... Discharge tray, 53 ... Front door, 53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K ... Transparent window, 54Y, 54C 54M, 54K ... main body side connection part, ay, am, ac, ak ... photosensitive drum, by, bm, bc, bk ... charging part, cy, cm, cc, ck ... laser scan Dying unit, dy, dm, dc, dk ... developing unit, ey, em, ec, ek ... cleaner, dy1, dm1, dc1, dk1 ... luminous body, dy2, dm2, dc2, dk2 ... unit side connection, P ... Recording paper

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus in which a plurality of replacement units are detachably attached to the apparatus body,
A light emitter attached to the exchange unit;
A light emission control means for determining whether or not the replacement unit is attached in a normal state or in a non-normal state, and for changing a light emission mode of the light emitter in a normal state and a non-normal state. An image forming apparatus.   The light emission control means detects the electrical connection state between a unit side connection provided in the replacement unit and a main body side connection part to which the unit side connection is attached, thereby allowing the replacement unit to be in a normal state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus. The apparatus body includes an opening / closing door, and the replacement unit is attached to the apparatus body with the opening / closing door opened.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is provided at a position facing the opening / closing door.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a position corresponding to the light emitter is formed of a light transmissive material on the opening / closing door. The replacement unit is a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier into a toner image by supplying toner to the image carrier.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emission control unit changes a light emission mode of the light emitter according to a toner consumption amount of the developing unit.

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