JP2898990B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a developing device storage device capable of storing a plurality of developing devices.

[Related technology]

Some image forming apparatuses of this type include a plurality of color developing units in a main body and switch between the units by a rotary mechanism.

On the other hand, it has also been proposed to provide a plurality of color developing devices in a storage device outside the main body. In this case, the developing device in the main body is replaced with a developing device in the storage device, or the developing device in the storage device is replaced. It is necessary to perform a moving operation such as moving the inside of the main body.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Since such a device can store a plurality of developing units in the main body and the storage device, there is a problem that it is difficult to know which developing colors are usable and which developing colors are not usable. Further, since it is difficult to know in which storage unit in the storage device the developing device to be replaced is stored, there is a problem that it takes time to replace the developing device.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a storage unit having a plurality of storage units for storing developing units, a detecting unit provided in each developing unit for detecting information indicating an image forming color, and an image forming unit. Image forming for forming an image on a sheet by a first input unit for inputting an instruction of a color to be input, and a developing device corresponding to the instruction input from the first input unit and the image forming color detected by the detecting unit Means, second input means for inputting an instruction to select a storage section in which the developing device to be taken out from the storage means is stored, and storage in the storage section selected by the instruction input from the second input means. Display means for displaying the image forming color of the developing device based on the detection result of the detecting means.

Further, in addition to the above configuration, the present invention is characterized in that it has a moving means for moving the developing device to a take-out position in accordance with an instruction input from the second input means.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus (copier) to which a plurality of developing device storage devices according to one embodiment of the present invention are applied. Note that the image forming apparatus shown here has a structure that enables double-sided image formation and multiplex image formation with different colors.

First, before describing the multiple developing device housing device of the embodiment, an image forming apparatus main body to which the multiple developing device housing device is applied will be described.

An original 2 placed on an original placing glass 1 is illuminated by a lamp 3, and the light source is a photosensitive drum 11 by an optical system composed of reflecting mirrors 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a zoom lens 10. Guided up. Lamp 3, mirror 4 and mirrors 5,6
Scans the document 2 while moving in the direction of arrow A at a predetermined speed. On the other hand, since the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is also uniformly charged by the primary charger 12 and then rotated in the direction of arrow B, the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is sequentially placed on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 1. An image is formed. Such a photosensitive drum 11
A color developing device (green developing device 13c) containing a color toner (for example, green) and a black developing device 14 containing a black toner are arranged around the image forming device. These developing units 13c and 14 are indicated by arrows, respectively.
C, it is movable in the direction, and approaches the photosensitive drum 11 in accordance with a desired color image to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11. In the case of this figure, the color developing unit (green developing unit 13c)
Are separated and the black developing device 14 is close to the photosensitive drum 11
A black image is formed on top. This image is transferred to a transfer material (transfer paper) 17 by a transfer charger 15. Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 reaches the cleaner 16 where the residual toner on the outer surface of the drum is removed, and the process proceeds to the next image forming step in the same manner.

The transfer material 17 is supplied as follows, and an image of a document image is formed. There are the following methods for supplying the transfer material 17 to the image forming means mainly including the photosensitive drum 11. In the first method, the transfer material 17 loaded on the cassette 18 is fed to the roller pair 20 by the paper feed roller 19. The roller pair 20 separates only the uppermost transfer material 17 and feeds it to the image forming means when a plurality of transfer materials 17 are sent in an overlapping manner.
After passing through the roller pair 20, the transfer material 17 is divided into guide plates 21, 22, 2
8. The sheet feed roller pair 50 reaches the registration roller 23 via the guide plates 51, 52, 53. In the second method, the transfer material 17 loaded on the cassette 24 is sent to the roller pair 26 by the feed roller 25. The roller pair 26 has the same function as the previous roller pair 20, and after the transfer material 17 passes through the roller pair 26, the guide plates 27, 28, 21, the paper feed roller pair 50, and the guide plates 51, 52, 53 To the registration roller 23 via the. The registration roller 23 starts rotating at a timing so that the visible image on the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer material 17 coincide with each other, and the upper transfer guide 31 and the lower transfer guide 32
The transfer material 17 is sent to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via the.
As described above, the transfer material 17 transfers the image on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the transfer charger 15, is separated from the outer surface of the drum 11 by the separation charger 33, and is heated by the heating roller via the transport unit 34. And a pressure roller.
The image on the transfer material 17 heated and pressed by the fixing device 35 is fixed as a permanent image. Next, the transfer material 17 is sent to a first discharge roller 36, and then reaches a second discharge roller 39 via flappers 37 and 38, and is discharged outside the apparatus. In this figure, the flapper 38 blocks the transfer material passage, but the flapper 38 is made of a light material and is rotatable in the direction of arrow D, so that when the transfer material 17 passes, Transfer material 17
The transfer member 17 is pushed up by the leading end of the transfer member 17 and is retracted with respect to the transfer member 17, so that there is no problem in passing the transfer member 17.

Next, the flow of the transfer material 17 in the double-sided image forming mode and the multiple image forming mode will be described.

When a two-sided image forming mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus,
The transfer material 17 is transferred and fixed on one side (first side) of the transfer material 17 in the same manner as in the case of the single-sided image forming mode described above, is sent to the second discharge roller 39, and is placed on an external tray (not shown). It is discharged. And the rear end of the transfer material 17 is the detection lever
After a predetermined time (that is, a time until the rear end of the transfer material 17 passes through the flapper 38) elapses after being detected by the transfer material detection mechanism composed of the transfer material 40 and the optical sensor 41, the second discharge roller 39 starts reverse rotation, The transfer material 17 is fed into the machine again. Then, the transfer material 17 is fed to the rollers 45 via the left slopes of the flapper 38 and the flapper 37 and the guide plates 42 with the rear end first, and further via the guide plates 43 and 44. Thereafter, the transfer material 17 reaches a horizontal registration roller 47 via a roller 46. At this point, the horizontal registration roller 47 is stopped, and the transfer material 17 is stopped.
After completely hitting this roller 47, the roller pair 45,4
6 also stops. Thus, the transfer material 17 waits for an image forming operation on the second surface. Then, when an image forming signal for the second surface is issued, the horizontal registration roller 47 starts rotating and the guide plate starts rotating.
The transfer material 17 is sent to the registration roller 23 via 49. Before the transfer material 17 arrives at the registration roller 23, the side end of the transfer material 17 is detected by an optical sensor (not shown), and the side end is set to the first position.
Horizontal registration roller so that it is at the same position as when forming the image on the surface
47 moves in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the transfer material 17, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the drawing, to correct the horizontal position of the transfer material 17. The operation after the transfer material 17 reaches the registration roller 23 is the same as that in the case of the single-sided image formation, and the transfer material 17 having the image formed on the second surface is finally machined by the second discharge roller 39. It is discharged onto an outside tray.

Further, the operation at the time of the first image formation when the multiple image formation mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus is performed in the same manner as in the case of the single-sided image formation. After the first image formation, the flapper 37 is located in a state shown by a broken line. Therefore, the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 with the front end first, and the right slope of the flapper 37 is formed. Is sent to the guides 42 and 43 along the front and back, and the guides 43 and 44
Is sent to the roller 45 via After that, the transfer material 17 is
After passing through 46, it reaches the horizontal registration roller 47. The rear end of the transfer material 17 is detected by the detection lever 40 and the optical sensor 41, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the flapper 37 returns to the position indicated by the solid line. And
When the second image forming signal is generated, the horizontal registration roller 47 starts rotating, but the movement of the transfer material 17 at this time is the same as that in the case of the image forming on the second side of the previous double-sided image forming. .
The transfer material 17 on which the second image formation is performed in this manner
Is finally discharged onto a tray outside the apparatus by the second discharge roller 39. Although the description has been given of the case of forming a multiplex image twice, the movement of the transfer material 17 is basically the same in the case of forming a multiplex image of a larger number of times. However, in such a case, the return of the flapper 37 from the broken line position to the solid line position is performed before the final image formation.

Next, the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration
A description will be given of the multiple developing device housing device 150 of this embodiment, which is provided as an option outside the apparatus.

The multi-developing device housing device 150 is a main body 1 of the image forming apparatus.
When color image formation using a color developing device other than the black developing device 14 fixedly installed in the image forming apparatus 00 is desired, the color developing device is optionally provided outside the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. The photosensitive drum 1 inside the main body 100 of the forming apparatus
It is to supply and transfer to the vicinity of 1.

The storage case 151, which is the main body of the multiple developing device storage device 150, has partitions (developing device storage portions) 151a, 151b,
On the partitions 151a, 151b, 151c are provided color developing devices each containing a different color toner, for example, a red developing device 13a containing a red toner, a blue developing device 13b containing a blue toner, and a green toner. The green developing device 13c containing the container is detachably mounted on the main body 100 side. In the illustrated case, the green developing device 13c is not in the storage case 151, but is supplied and transferred to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 in the main body 100, and is in a state ready for visualizing an electrostatic image. Such a color developing device (green developing device 13c)
The supply transfer of the developing device is performed by a developing unit transfer means X shown in FIG.
Done by In this case, the respective color developing devices in the storage case 151 are carried into the main body 100 via the carry-in port (developing device entrance / exit) 55a provided in the main body 100.

Such a plural developing device storage device 151 is further provided with a case moving means Y shown in FIG.
The case moving means Y allows the storage case 151 to move vertically with respect to the main body 100. Therefore, the partitions 151a to 151c on which the desired color developing devices are mounted by the case moving means Y are moved to the carry-in port 5 on the main body 100 side.
5a (in the illustrated case, the partition 151c matches), so that a desired color developing device can be carried into the main body 100. For example, if the image forming apparatus is a red developing device 13a
When the case where is selected is described, first, the green developing device 13c
Is stored in the storage case 15 by the developing device transfer means X shown in FIG.
It is transferred and placed on the first partition 151c. When the green developing device 13c is returned to the storage case 151c, the presence of the green developing device 13c is confirmed by a developing device lock sensor shown in FIG.
When the presence of the green developing device 13c is confirmed, the storage case 151 starts moving vertically (in this case, downward) with respect to the main body 100 by the case moving means Y shown in FIG. When the partition 151a on which the developing device 13a is placed moves to a position (developing device loading / unloading portion 55b) that coincides with the carry-in port 55a of the main body 100, the operation stops. Next, the red developing device 13a is transferred to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 by the developing device transferring means X shown in FIG. 3, and is in a state ready for visualizing an electrostatic image. When the other color developing device in the storage case 151 is selected, the same operation as when the red developing device 13a is selected is performed.

Means for guiding the green developing device 13c shown in FIG. 1 from the storage case 151c to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 and means for guiding the green developing device 13c from the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 to the storage case 151c will be described with reference to FIG.

The developing device horizontal moving means A and B shown in FIG. 3 transfer the color developing device 13c in the illustrated F direction (Foward) and B direction (Back) by rotation of the color developing device driving gears 178c and 179c. Configuration. The horizontal movement means A and B are driven by the rotation of the horizontal motor 172, so that the drive transmission gears 173a and 173b
Is rotated, the rotation of the gear 173a is transmitted to the gear 178c that horizontally moves the color developing device 13 using the gears 178a and 178b, and similarly, the rotation of the gear 173b is transmitted to the gear 179c using the gears 179a and 179b.
It is configured to communicate to. Gears for transmitting the rotation of the horizontal motor 172 to the gears 173a and 173b are not shown.

The developing unit horizontal moving units A and B are pressed against the color developing unit 13c in the storage case 151c by a spring (not shown). When the developing device storage case 151 is moved in the up and down directions shown in FIG. 2 by the developing device vertical movement means Y, the horizontal movement means A and B drive solenoids 169a and 169b to store the storage case. It is configured to be separated from 151. With such a configuration, the horizontal moving means A, B
The vertical movement means Y of the color developing unit is not obstructed. Sensors 170a and 170b for detecting that the horizontal moving means A and B are sufficiently separated from the storage case 151 are provided. The sensors 170a and 170b are known photointerrupters, and detect separation of the horizontal moving units A and B.

A case where the green developing device 13c is guided from the partition 151c of the storage case to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 will be described. (See FIG. 6.) It is assumed that the partition 151c of the storage case is stationary at the position of the main body entrance 55a. The green developing device 13c is fixed to the partition 151c of the storage case by the developing device locking pawls 230a and 230b. The developing device lock pawls 230a and 230b are
The color developing device 13c is released by a color developing device lock release solenoid 180 (see FIG. 4). After driving the color developing device lock release solenoid 180, the horizontal motor is rotated to drive the horizontal moving units A and B. At this time, the horizontal moving units A and B are pressurized by the green developing device 13c in the storage case 151. (By releasing the drive of the solenoid, the horizontal moving means A and B are pressed by the green developing device 13c in the storage case 151 by a spring.) The drive gears 178c and 179c are rotated in the f direction. Thus, the green developing device 13c is transferred to the main body entrance 55a. After being transferred to the main body carry-in port 55a, it is transferred to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 by the gear 56 in the main body.

The gear 56 rotates through the drive transmission gear 181 by the rotation of the horizontal motor 172. The driving of the gear 181 from the horizontal motor 172 is performed by controlling the clutch 183.

At this time, the developing device pressure levers 60a and 60b inside the main body are
Since the black developing device inside the main body is pressurized, it does not hinder the transfer of the green developing device. In this state, the developing device connector 57 in the main body is connected to the green developing device 13c (see FIG. 7A), and an input signal from the developing device connector 57 is transmitted to the main body control section 203 described later. Thereafter, when image formation is performed in the green developing device 13c by the main body control unit 204, the black developing device 14 is separated from the photoconductor 17 by rotating the pressure levers 60a and 60b, and the green developing device 13c is Pressurized.

Next, the green developing device located near the photoconductor 11 inside the main body
A case where 13c is transferred to the partition 151c of the developing device storage case will be described. (See FIG. 8.) If the green developing device 13c is pressed against the photoconductor 11 inside the main body, the pressing levers 60a and 60b are rotated to release the pressing of the green developing device 13c. By rotating the horizontal motor 172, the clutch 183 rotates the gear 56 for transferring the developing device.

With the rotation of the developing device transport gear 56, the horizontal moving means A and B also rotate, and the green developing device 13c is stored in the storage case 151.
Conveyed inside. The developing device lock levers 230a and 230b detect that the green developing device 13c has moved from the inside of the main body in the direction B shown in the drawing, and that the claw of the storage case 151 has been pressed against a predetermined position of the developing device by a spring. And the green developing device 13c is fixed to the storage case 151 as it is. The horizontal home sensor 160 includes the horizontal moving units A and B.
And serves as a reference point for transferring the color developing device 13 in the B and F directions shown in the figure. The horizontal home sensor 160 is configured to detect the passage of the developing unit 13 using a photo interrupter.

Next, a case where the color developing device 13 is manually carried in from the door 152 will be described. (See FIG. 9.) When the color developing device 13 is manually placed in the storage case 151, the opening / closing of the door 152 is detected by the door switch 161 and input to the control unit 200 described later. When the door 152 is closed, it is detected by the developing device detection sensors 164a and 164b whether or not the color developing device 13 is manually loaded (see FIG. 3A), and if the color developing device 13 is loaded, the transport gears 163a and 163b are used. It is transferred into the storage case 151. The sequence shown in FIG. 9 is always executed as the protection sequence immediately before the vertical sequence. When the door is opened, the drive sources of the respective motors are turned off and become immovable.

Next, a case where the color developing device 13 is taken out of the plural developing device storage device of the present embodiment will be described. (Refer to FIG. 10.) By the horizontal moving means A and B, it is transported in the direction B by a predetermined distance.
As described above, by transferring the color developing device 13 to the vicinity of the door 152, the color developing device can be easily replaced.

FIG. 3B shows the developing device detection sensors 164a, 164b, 165a, 1
65b shows the configuration of FIG. Reference numeral 177 denotes a photo interrupter, and the color developing device 1
The presence or absence of 3 is detected.

The storage case moving means Y will be described with reference to FIG. The storage case 151 is driven by a vertical motor 171.
The rotation of the vertical motor 171 is transmitted to a pinion 185 by a gear 184. Rack 186 and pinion 1 (not shown) on the side of the storage case
At 85, the storage case 151 moves in the illustrated up and down directions. The vertical home position sensor 159 is for positioning the storage case 151. The position of each stage is determined by the output count of the encoder of the vertical motor 171 from the sensor position or the count of the timer.

The color developing units 13a, 13b, 13c are provided with color detection marks 166 for color recognition. Each time the color developing device 13a, 13b, 13c passes the color detection sensor 167 by the case moving means Y, the developing device in the partition 151a, 151b, 151c of the storage case is
Recognize 13 colors.

The sequences described below are assembled by horizontal and vertical sequence operations.

First, a description will be given of the operation of the developing unit replacement sequence when a copy color is designated on the main body side. Main body operation unit 20 in FIG.
4 When the color is specified by the developer color selection key on
The designated color developing device is inserted into the main body in accordance with the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG. The color of the color developing unit in the main body determined by the color code signals 57a, 57b, 57c input to the main body control unit 203 is compared with the designated color. If the color is equal to the designated color, the developing device exchange sequence ends (step 529). If there is no color developing device in the main body, the flow jumps to 534 in FIG. If there is a color developing device different from the specified color in the main body,
An empty step is searched in 1 (step 530). At this time, there is a method of preferentially searching from the upper stage and the lower stage, but there is an advantage that the moving distance of the storage case 151 is shorter when searching from the lower stage. Subsequently, an unloading sequence is performed (step 532). Next, the color developing device is carried into the main body (step 535). Since the exchange between the main body side and the plurality of developing device storage devices 150 ends here, the main body side may start moving independently. Thereafter, the storage case 151 is returned to the home position in the vertical direction. By replacing the developing devices in this manner, all the developing devices housed in the plurality of developing device housing devices 150 can be sequentially installed in the main body, so that multicolors such as blue, red, black, and brown can be provided. Double copy is also possible.

Next, an operation of a sequence for taking out the developing device from the main body and the storage device will be described with reference to FIG. The color of the developing device to be taken out is selected by a Select key 220 (see FIG. 5B) on the storage device operation unit 225 described later. By pressing the Eject key 221, the color developing device to be taken out is determined, and it is determined whether the developing device is in the main body or in the storage device (step 53).
8). If it is in the main body, the empty stage in the storage case 151 is moved to the unloading position (developing unit loading / unloading section) 55b using the vertical moving means (step 539), and the horizontal unloading shown in FIG. The developer is moved into the storage case 151 according to a sequence (step 540). In addition, when it is in the storage device, the corresponding stage moves in the same manner. In both cases, the door is moved to a position short of the door 152 by the horizontal external take-out sequence shown in FIG.

Next, when the power is turned on and when the door 152 is opened or closed, there is a possibility that the developing device has been replaced or newly inserted, and the operation of the initialization sequence for confirming the color of each stage or the presence or absence of the developing device. The description will be made based on FIG. First, the developing device is fixed at a predetermined position in the storage case according to the door closing sequence shown in FIG. Next, it is determined by the vertical home sensor 159 whether or not the storage case is at the home position (step 545). If not, the vertical motor 171 is driven vertically upward to return to the home position. Subsequently, the vertical motor 171 is used until counting up.
Is driven downward. At this time, the color of the developing unit at each stage is detected by the color detection sensor 167 and input to the control unit 200. Finally, the vertical motor 171 is driven upward to return the storage case to the home position.

As described above, the basic sequence of the developing device storage device
If the home sensor cannot be detected within a predetermined time when moving in the horizontal direction, a sequence for notifying the main body of the occurrence of an abnormal situation and stopping the operation of the storage device is included.

 Next, a case of moving in cooperation with a copying operation will be described.

A color is selected with a color selection key 217 on the main body operation unit 204, and a copy mode is set with other keys. At this time, if the color developing device is replaced, the color may be changed before the copy key 207 is pressed, so the color developing device to be used at the time when the copy key 207 is pressed is determined, and the eleventh color developing device is determined. The process proceeds to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG. When using two or more colors, give priority to the color developing unit in the main unit,
The time required for replacement of the developing device can be reduced. Also, only when the main unit is in the wait-up time, such as immediately after turning on the power, the color developing unit selected with the color selection key is replaced, or the color developing unit in the main unit is pressurized and pre-stirred. Means for reducing the time when using the developing device is also effective.

When a developing device is newly carried in at the time of replacing the developing device, the movement of the storage case 150 has no relation to the copying sequence of the main body. Therefore, the copy sequence can be started before the storage case 150 returns to the vertical home position. If it is necessary to supply copy paper and toner during the copying sequence, the color selection key 217 of the main body operation unit 204 and the storage device 150 Input of the Eject key 221 of the operation unit 225 is prohibited.
This is to secure a developing device of the designated color when the copying sequence is restarted.

The multi-developing device storage device 150 is provided with paper feed rollers 157, 158 and guide plates 154, 155, 156 for feeding manual paper, and is configured to feed the paper manually fed to the main body manual feed roller 54. . A door 153 and a door open / close detection switch 162 are provided for maintenance of the manual sheet feeding unit.

The paper feed sensor 168 shown in FIG. 2 detects that paper has been inserted into the manual feed inlet 167 (see FIG. 14), drives the horizontal motor 172, and feeds paper by a clutch (not shown). The rollers 157 and 158 are driven. During the manual feed drive, a horizontal motor 172 is applied to the color developing device transfer gear 56 and the horizontal moving means X by a clutch (not shown).
Is not transmitted.

Further, when driving the vertical motor 171 and the horizontal motor 172, they are always driven after the judgment shown in FIG. This makes it impossible to simultaneously drive the developing device in the horizontal and vertical directions, but it is possible to simultaneously drive the manual feed roller and the vertical direction.

If the designated color developing device is not in the main body, after the manual paper is pulled to the position of the paper feeding roller 158 by the paper feeding roller 157, the drive of the horizontal motor 172 is switched to the developing device unloading side, and FIG. The developing device is replaced according to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG. After pre-mixing the color developer, feed roller
By 157 and 158, manual paper is fed into the main body.

FIG. 15 shows an example in which the interlock is applied by software in the control unit 200. However, as shown in FIG. 16, the interlock may be applied by hardware using a switching element.

In the figure, reference numeral 565 denotes a switching element having a function of cutting off conduction between 1 and 2 when an ON signal input to the horizontal motor control 201 or the vertical motor 202 is input to the terminal 3. In this configuration, if an ON signal is input to any of the motor controllers, the ON signal of the other motor controller is cut off, so that the two motors never move at the same time. Control unit 20 that controls the motor ON signal
0 is also a protection measure in case of runaway.

In both FIGS. 15 and 16, the drive source such as a motor is interlocked. However, it goes without saying that the interlock may be applied by displacing the moving means such as gears and rollers. Nor.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with the multiple developing device storage device of the present embodiment and a control unit of the optional multiple developing device storage device. As for the control of the image forming apparatus, only the part relating to the present embodiment is specified. The control unit 203 of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a main body control unit 203)
) And the control unit 200 of the plural developing device storage device 150 in this embodiment. The main body control unit 203 and the control unit 200 are connected by known data communication (serial communication).
The control is performed by exchanging abnormal data and color information of the color developing device. The main body control unit 203 controls the color development unit 13 transferred to the inside of the main body by the control unit 200 to pressurize the photoconductor drum 11 with the pressurizing drive clutch 216 and the developing unit connector 57. Color code signal of unit 13
It monitors and controls 57a, 57b, 57c and the main body operation unit 204.
The main body operation unit 204 is a man-machine interface for inputting a start key (copy key) for image formation and inputting / outputting various information, and the configuration is described in FIG. 5A.

The control unit 200 of the multi-developing device housing device of the present embodiment uses the communication data sent from the main body control unit to control the color developing device.
A control for carrying in 13 to the vicinity of the main body photoconductor drum 11, a control for carrying out the color developing device 13 in the vicinity of the main body photoconductor drum 11 to the storage case 151, and transferring the color developing device 13 to the vicinity of the door 152; Control for taking out the color developing unit 13;
Control for transferring and fixing the color developing device manually carried in the vicinity of 152 to the storage case 151, reading the color detection mark 166 of the color developing device 13 in the storage case 151 from the output from the color detection sensor, and controlling the main body. Control of data transmission to the storage unit and a partition 151 of the storage case to a display operation unit 205 described later.
LEDs 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d that display the colors in a, 151b, 151c
Is controlled to turn on. Further, the control unit 200
An error or the like of 1,172 is detected and error data is sent to the main body control unit 203. The color code sensor 167 is configured to read and output information of a color detection mark using a reflective photointerrupter.

The control unit 200 controls the input of each sensor and the solenoid,
A well-known input circuit and drive circuit for controlling the clutch, an interface (I / F) with the controller 201 of the horizontal motor 172 and the controller 202 of the vertical motor 171
Circuit, circuit for communication with main unit control unit, and operation unit
It consists of 205 LED drive circuits and key input circuits.

The horizontal motor controller 201 includes a known PLL circuit that controls the speed of the horizontal motor 172 and a circuit that drives the horizontal motor 172. A signal for starting the rotation of the motor as a control signal from the control unit 200 to the horizontal motor controller 201, a signal F / B for determining the rotation direction of the motor, a signal BLK for applying a brake to the rotation of the motor, a clock having a frequency for determining the rotation of the motor The signal CLK is input. It corresponds to the signal F / B for determining the rotation direction of the motor, and the horizontal moving means Forward and Back.

The vertical motor controller 202 sends a signal ON for driving the vertical motor 171 and a signal U / D for determining the rotation direction of the motor from the control unit 200 (this signal corresponds to the up and down directions of the moving means Y). ) And signals BLK and CLK are input as in the case of the horizontal motor controller.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the operation section of the main body image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 illustrates an operation unit 205 of the multi-developing device storage device according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The input switches (keys) in the main body operation unit 204 shown in FIG. 5A include a power switch 213, a numeric keypad 225, an input numerical value and a clear / stop key 209 for stopping the image formation, a multiple copy mode. Key 206 for inputting a special mode such as a reset key 206 for canceling a mode or the like, a color selection key for a developing device
217, a cassette (selection) key 208 for selecting the feeding of the storage cassettes 18, 24 for the image transfer material 17, and the like.

Also, as a man-machine interface, a liquid crystal display unit 215 for displaying the size of paper stored in the cassettes 18 and 24 and for displaying a copy (image forming) state and the like, and LEDs 210 and 211a for displaying the color of the selected developing device. (Red), 211b (blue), 2
It is composed of 11c (green) and 211d (brown).

Operation unit of multiple developing device storage device shown in FIG. 5 (b)
225 is a partition portion of the storage case, that is, storage portions 151a, 15a
A key Select key 220 for selecting 1b and 151c, and a key Ej for instructing transfer of the developing device to the vicinity of the door 152 of the storage case 150
ect key 211, Select display LEDs 223a, 223b, 223c for displaying the storage section designated by the Select key 220, the Select key 22
Color display LEDs 224a (red), 224b (blue), 224c (green), 224d that indicate the color of the developer in the storage case specified by 0
(Brown) and an LED 222 indicating that the color developing device is being transferred.

FIG. 7A shows the relationship between the color developing device 13 and the main body developing device connector 57, and FIG. 7B shows the circuit of the connector 60 of the developing device 13.

The connector 60 of the developing device 13 is provided with a connector 57 inside the main body.
, The color code, the toner amount, and the developing bias signal are connected to the main body. The color detection mark 166 is
On the side surface of the color developing device 13, a reflective portion like a known bar code
166-a and a non-reflection portion 166-b, as described later,
The storage case 151 is moved up and down by the moving means Y, and the code of the color detection mark is read to identify the color of the developing device 13. The developing sleeve 61 carries out the image forming process by uniformly applying a color toner on the surface and applying a developing bias, as is known in a known electrostatic image forming process.

FIG. 7B shows a connector signal in the connector 60. The signal line 62 is for applying the image bias, and is output from a high-voltage generating power supply (not shown). The signal lines 63 to 65 are signal lines for detecting the remaining amount of toner, and are signal lines for a reflection sensor including a light emitting element 70 and a light receiving element 71. Signal lines 66 to 69 are output signals for color code identification, and can be distinguished in eight ways by switches 72 to 74.

Next, detection means for the color detection mark 166 will be described with reference to FIG. The signal in FIG. 17 is the output signal P from the color detection means (color detection sensor 167). The color detection sensor 167 is a known reflection type sensor, and outputs an output signal "1" when there is a reflection mark and outputs "0" when there is a non-reflection mark. Further, a pulse output (encoder output) E proportional to the rotation speed of the vertical motor 171 is shown.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of developing device color detection by code analysis of the color detection sensor output signal P. Step 11
-b is a control for vertically moving the storage case 151 to a predetermined home position and then stopping. Next, in step 11-c, the storage case 151 starts to move in the down direction until the partition 151a of the development device storage case moves to the developing device insertion / removal portion 55b, that is, the main developing device loading port 55a. When the down stop is detected in 11-d, the storage case 151 is moved to the home position of 11-h, and the process ends. When a predetermined encoder pulse count (predetermined position) is reached in 11-e, the detection output signal "
The width of 1 ″ is counted by the encoder pulse E and
The S, L, and M marks shown in the figure are detected. This mark
The color code and the number of the color developing devices 13 are stored by S, L, and M.

Next, the operation of displaying the colors of the developing devices housed in the main body and the plurality of developing device housing devices will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 (1) is a flowchart showing the operation of recognizing and displaying the color of the developing device in the main body, and FIG. 19 (2) is a flowchart showing the operation of recognizing and displaying the color of the developing device in the plural developing device storage device. is there.

First, the recognition / display operation in the main body will be described with reference to FIG. First, the color of the developing device housed in the main body is detected (step 601), and this detection result is transmitted to the control unit 200 through serial communication (step 602). Based on the information transmitted from the control unit 200 and the information of the color developing device inside the main body detected in step 601 as described above, the main body control unit 203 selects one of the color display LEDs 211a to 211d on the main body operation unit 204. The object to be lighted is turned on (step 604). This informs the user of usable color information. When the copy start key 207 is pressed after a desired color is selected by the color selection switch 217, the developing device is replaced according to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG.

Next, the recognition / display operation in the plural developing device storage device will be described with reference to FIG. 19 (2).

When the color / presence of the developing device inside the multiple developing device storage device 150 is detected by the initialization sequence in FIG. 13 (step 611), the control unit 200 of the multiple developing device storage device communicates the known data with the main body control unit 203. The communication unit performs serial communication and transmits a detection result to the main body control unit 203 (step 612). As will be described later, the color information in the main body detected in step 601 is transmitted from the main body control unit 203 by serial communication, and the control unit 200 receives this (step 613). Then, based on the detection result of step 611 and the information from the main body control unit 203, the operation unit 2
The lighting control of the 05 color display LEDs 224a to 224d is performed (Step 6).
14).

Next, a specific operation of display performed on the operation units 204 and 205 will be described. First, a display operation in the operation unit 205 will be described. The relationship between the storage stage and the color in the developing device storage device 150 is selected by the select key 220 and the selection display 223 is performed.
By moving the LED lighting part of a ~ 223c, the LED of the corresponding color
Is turned on. That is, in the standard state, the colors of all the developing devices housed in the main body and the plurality of developing device housing devices are displayed by the LEDs 224a to 224d. When the select key 220 is pressed once in this state, the LED 223a is turned on, and the LED corresponding to the color developing device stored in the first-stage storage section is selected from among 224a to 224d and turned on. Similarly, when the select key 220 is pressed twice, the LED 223b is
Press twice to turn on each LED223c,
The LED corresponding to the color developing device stored in the third and third storage units is selected and turned on. Select key 220 and 4
When the button is pressed twice, the state returns to the original state, and the LEDs corresponding to all the developing devices existing in the main body and the plurality of developing device storage devices are turned on.

Next, a display operation in the operation unit 204 will be described.
In the main body, it is determined whether or not the developing device of the color selected by the select key 217 is in the main body or in the plural developing device storage device. If there is, the corresponding LED is turned on. . Black is selected in the standard state of the developing device, and in this state, every time the select key 217 is pressed, the order is switched in the order of red → blue → green → brown → black.

If the empty stage of the plural developing device storage device 150 is selected in this way, by turning on the LED corresponding to the developing device color in the main body among the LEDs 224a to 224d, it is assumed that the developing device is in the storage device. , Can be handled by the user. That is, when the developing device is used for copying, the processing can be performed only by the operation from the main body side, and when the developing device is taken in and out, the processing can be performed only by the operation from the storage device side.

Also, if the developing units in the main body are treated as being in the empty stage in the storage device 150, only the empty position within the allowable number of developing units is displayed on the display unit, so that the user can store more developing units. It is possible to avoid the situation of being inserted into the device.

In this embodiment, the color of the selected developing device is displayed on the main body side, but the colors of all the developing devices existing in the main body and the housing device are displayed in the same manner as the developing device housing device side. It may be configured to display. In this case, the main body may be configured to turn on the LED corresponding to the selected color only when the developing device of the selected color is stored in the main body or the developing device housing device.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when an image is formed, an image is formed on a sheet by a developing device according to the input color instruction, and when an attempt is made to remove the developing device, the image is formed by the input instruction. Since the image forming color of the developing unit stored in the selected storage unit is displayed, a color instruction is input when forming an image, and an instruction for selecting a storage unit is input when removing the developing device. Thus, the user can specify the developing device by a simple operation suitable for the purpose.

For example, even when a plurality of developing devices of the same color are stored, the storing unit is selected and the image forming color of the developing device is displayed, so that the developing device to be taken out can be easily specified.

Further, according to the present invention, since the developing device stored in the storing unit selected by the input instruction is moved to the take-out position, the developing device can be easily taken out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a "multiple developing device storage device" according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the embodiment in a longitudinal section, and FIG. (A) is a schematic configuration diagram showing the same embodiment in cross section, FIG. 3 (b) is a configuration diagram of a developing device position sensor, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit,
FIG. 5 (a) is a layout diagram of operation keys and a display unit of a main body operation unit, FIG. 5 (b) is a layout diagram of operation keys and a display unit of a plurality of developing device storage device operation units, and FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the relationship between the color developing device and the main body connector, FIG. 7B is a circuit diagram of the connector of the developing device, and FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a horizontal unloading sequence. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a horizontal door closing sequence, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a horizontal external take-out sequence, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a developing unit replacement sequence, and FIG. 12 is a developing unit. 13 is a flowchart showing an initialization sequence, FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a manual feed sequence, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an interlock mechanism, FIG. 17 is a time chart of a color detection output signal, FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a color detection operation,
FIG. 19 (1) is a flowchart showing the operation of recognizing and displaying the colors of the developing devices in the main body, and FIG. 19 (2) is a flowchart showing the operation of recognizing and displaying the colors of the developing devices in the plural developing device storage device. . 13 Developing device 55a Loading port (developing device inlet / outlet) 55b Developing device loading / unloading portion 100 Image forming apparatus body 151 Storage case 151a, 151b, 151c Partition (developing device storage portion)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Isamu Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masahiro Tomosada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nao Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Naoyuki Oki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-63-109466 (JP, A) JP-A-60-260968 (JP, A) JP-A-60-233667 (JP, A) JP-A-60-86561 (JP, A) 1986-201060 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/01 113

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage unit having a plurality of storage sections for storing developing units, a detecting unit provided in each developing unit for detecting information indicating an image forming color, and inputting an instruction of a color to be image formed. A first input unit, an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet by a developing device corresponding to an instruction input from the first input unit and an image forming color detected by the detecting unit; Second input means for inputting an instruction to select a storage unit in which a developing device to be taken out is stored, and a developing device stored in the storage unit selected by the instruction input from the second input unit. An image forming apparatus, comprising: display means for displaying an image forming color based on a detection result of the detecting means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising moving means for moving said developing device to a take-out position in accordance with an instruction input from said second input means.