JP5244741B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that manages a toner container containing color toner using a wireless tag.

  An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, or a copying machine having a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photosensitive drum using a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier is a toner container attached to the main body of the device. The electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image using the toner supplied from the toner, and the toner image is transferred onto a sheet or the like to form an image. When the toner in the toner container runs out, the user replaces the toner container with a new toner container, so that the toner is replenished in the image forming apparatus.

  In this case, there is no problem if the newly replaced toner container is a genuine genuine product of the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, but there are cases where a toner container other than the genuine product (non-genuine product) is used. . If a toner container other than a genuine product 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.

  Thus, in many image forming apparatuses developed in recent years, toner containers are managed using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology (see Patent Documents 1 to 3). In this case, the wireless tag storing the toner container and toner information as tag information is attached to the toner container, and after the toner container is attached, the communication circuit disposed on the image forming apparatus main body side reads the tag information to attach it. It is possible to identify whether the used toner container is a genuine product.

JP-A-10-228523 JP 2007-018197 A JP 2006-280119 A

  However, when managing the toner container using the RFID tag as described above, if the RFID tag is camouflaged and attached to the non-genuine toner container, the non-genuine product cannot be identified. Although a method of discriminating using a mechanical switch or the like is conceivable, imitation is simple, and it is considered that the effect of discriminating a non-genuine product is low compared to the cost of attaching the mechanical switch.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily identify whether or not a mounted toner container is a genuine product. It is.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus main body that forms a color image on a recording medium based on image data, and can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and toners of different colors can be used. Wireless communication is performed by outputting a question signal to the plurality of toner containers accommodated, the wireless tags attached to the toner containers, and the wireless tags, and receiving response signals transmitted from the wireless tags. When the communication means and each toner container are mounted on the apparatus main body, the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container is detected in response to the inquiry signal output from the communication means. Detecting means to detect, signal strength of the response signal detected by the detecting means, and wireless attached to another toner container already attached to the apparatus main body Comparing the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the grayed, if they are different, and a determination means for determining a toner container mounted to the apparatus main body is a non-genuine.

  According to this configuration, the signal intensity of the response signal detected by the detection means by the determination means (the signal intensity of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container attached to the apparatus main body) and already attached to the apparatus main body Compare the signal strength of the response signals sent from the RFID tag attached to the already-used toner container. If the signal strengths of the two differ, the installed toner container is determined to be a non-genuine product. It is possible to identify whether or not the toner container that is easily installed is a genuine product without attaching a special device such as the above.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the determination unit is a signal of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to a toner container attached to the apparatus main body. When the strength and the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to any one of the other toner containers already attached to the apparatus main body are compared, The toner container attached to the apparatus main body is determined to be a non-genuine product.

  According to this configuration, the signal strength of the response signal detected by the detection means by the determination means and the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to any one of the toner containers already attached to the apparatus main body are displayed. If the signal strengths of the two differ, the installed toner container is determined to be a non-genuine product. Therefore, the toner container can be easily installed without attaching a special device such as a mechanical switch. Whether or not is a genuine product can be identified.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the determination unit is a signal of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to a toner container attached to the apparatus main body. The strength is compared with the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each of the wireless tags attached to all other toner containers already mounted on the apparatus main body, and both are different in any comparison combination. In this case, it is determined that the toner container attached to the apparatus main body is a non-genuine product.

  According to this configuration, the determination unit compares the response signal transmitted from the attached toner container and the wireless tag attached to the already-attached toner container, and any one of the comparison combinations is one. Otherwise, it is determined that the attached toner container is a non-genuine product, and therefore it can be reliably identified whether or not the installed toner container is a genuine product.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the determination unit is a signal of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to a toner container attached to the apparatus main body. If the intensity differs from the average value of the signal intensity of the response signal transmitted from each wireless tag attached to all other toner containers already mounted on the apparatus body, the apparatus body It is determined that the toner container attached to is a non-genuine product.

  According to this configuration, the determination means compares the signal strength of the response signal detected by the detection means with the average value of the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each wireless tag attached to the toner container already mounted on the apparatus main body. If the signal strengths of the two are different, it is determined that the installed toner container is a non-genuine product. Therefore, the installed toner container is a genuine product without a special device such as a mechanical switch. Whether or not there is can be identified.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the storage unit stores information related to a toner container that the determination unit determines to be a non-genuine product. The discriminating means further comprises: a signal strength of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to the toner container when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body; The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container other than the toner container stored in the storage unit among the other toner containers is compared.

  Here, “a toner container other than the toner container stored in the storage unit among other toner containers already mounted on the apparatus main body” means a genuine toner container. In other words, the discrimination means compares the signal strength of the response signal detected by the detection means with the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the genuine toner container. It is possible to reliably identify whether or not is a genuine product.

  According to the present invention, the determination means compares the signal strength of the response signal detected by the detection means with the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container already attached to the apparatus main body. If the signal strengths of the toner containers are different, it is determined whether or not the installed toner container is a genuine product by determining that the installed toner container is a non-genuine product without attaching a special device such as a mechanical switch. Can be identified.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a RFID communication part and a RFID tag. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for determining genuine / non-genuine toner containers.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a color printer will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. However, other than this, a copier, a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy, a scanner, a facsimile, and a printer. It may be.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a device body 11 having a box shape. The apparatus 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 sheet P as a transfer material. A fixing unit 13 that performs fixing processing, a paper storage unit 14 that stores paper, and a toner replenishing unit 15 that replenishes toner to the image forming unit 12 are built in, and a sheet after fixing processing is provided above the apparatus main body 11. A paper discharge unit 16 for discharging P is provided.

  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 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 sheet tray 141 is configured to include a box body whose upper surface is open on the entire surface, and a sheet bundle P1 formed by stacking a plurality of sheets P can be stored. The uppermost 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 sheet P fed out one by one passes between the second transfer roller 113 and the drive roller 125a (intermediate transfer belt 125c) in the image forming unit 12 through the sheet transport path 111 by driving of the transport roller pair 112. It is fed toward the nip part.

  The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the paper P fed from the paper storage unit 14. In this embodiment, the image forming unit 12 is sequentially arranged 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 using magenta toner. Development unit 12M. Hereinafter, these developing units are collectively referred to as “developing unit 12”.

  Each developing unit 12 irradiates a photosensitive drum 121, a charging device 122 that uniformly charges the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121, and a laser beam based on image data on the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 121. An exposure device 124 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121, and a developing device 123 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to form a toner image. The 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 cleaning for removing the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred. Each 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 toner image of the black toner is transferred onto 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 placed 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 sheet conveying path 111 is provided with a pair of conveying rollers 112 at appropriate positions, and the sheet P fed out from the sheet storing section 14 is laid around the drive roller 125a by the driving of the conveying roller pair 112. It is conveyed toward 125c.

  In the paper transport path 111, a second transfer roller 113 that is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c is provided at a position facing the driving roller 125a, and the paper P being transported through the paper transport path 111 is transferred to the transfer belt 125c. And the second transfer roller 113, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125 c is transferred onto the paper P.

  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 sheet P supplied to the fixing unit 13 in a state where the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125c is transferred passes through the nip portion between the rotating heating roller 30 and the pressure roller 40, so that heat from the heating roller 30 is transferred. The fixing process is performed.

  The paper P for which the fixing process has been completed passes through a paper discharge conveyance path 114 extending from the upper part of the fixing unit 13 and is discharged toward a paper discharge tray 161 of a paper discharge unit 16 provided at the top of the apparatus main body 11. The

  The toner replenishing unit 15 corresponds to each developing unit 12 of the image forming unit 12, and includes a black toner container 151K, a yellow toner container 151Y, a cyan toner container 151C, and a magenta toner container 151M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “toner container”). 151 ”). Each toner container 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 toner container 151 decreases, the toner is replenished in the apparatus main body 11 by replacing the toner container 151 with a new toner container 151.

  Further, RFID tags 152K, 152Y, 152C, and 152M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “RFID tag 152”) are attached to each toner container 151. The RFID tag 152 includes a memory that stores the type information of the toner container 151 such as a product number of the toner container 151 and destination information, and a communication circuit that transmits the information stored in the memory on a signal. ing. Signals transmitted from the communication circuit are received by corresponding RFID communication units 211K, 211Y, 211C, and 211M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “RFID communication unit 211”) on the RFID substrate 21 installed in the apparatus main body 11. To do.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, an RFID communication unit 211, an image memory 33, an image processing unit 34, an image forming unit 12, an input operation unit 35, and a network I / F unit 36. Yes. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as demonstrated using FIG. 1, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The storage unit 32 stores programs, data, and the like for realizing various functions provided in the image forming apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 32 functions as a non-genuine toner container storage unit 321. The non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 stores the color of the toner container determined to be non-genuine by a toner container determination unit 311 described later (or information that can identify the non-genuine toner container such as the mounting position).

  The image memory 33 temporarily stores image data transmitted from an external device via the network I / F unit 36. The image processing unit 34 performs image processing such as image correction and enlargement / reduction on the image data stored in the image memory 33. The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image based on the image data output from the image memory 33. The input operation unit 35 includes a power key for turning on / off the power of the image forming apparatus 1, a reset key for resetting a print job, a display panel, and the like. The network I / F unit 36 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits and receives various data to and from an external device via a network (not shown) connected to the network I / F unit 36.

  The control unit 31 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a program stored in the storage unit 32 and executes processing, and outputs an instruction signal to each functional unit, data transfer, and the like. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 is comprehensively controlled. The control unit 31 includes a toner container determination unit 311.

  When the toner container 151 is attached to the apparatus main body 11, the toner container determination unit 311 performs wireless communication between the RFID tag 152 attached to the attached toner container 151 and the RFID communication unit 211, and the RFID communication unit 211 is the signal strength of the response signal received, and the signal of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container that is already attached to the apparatus main body 11 and is not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321. The strengths are compared, and if both signal strengths are the same, it is determined that the attached toner container 151 is a genuine product. The signal strength of the two is different, or the RFID communication unit 211 cannot receive the response signal (for example, the response signal is not normally transmitted from the RFID tag 152 or the RFID tag 152 is not attached and the response signal If the toner container 151 is not genuine, it is determined that the toner container 151 is a non-genuine product.

  Generally, the genuine toner container of the image forming apparatus 1 is attached with an RFID tag that transmits a response signal having an optimum signal strength level so that the RFID communication unit 211 can perform stable wireless communication with the RFID tag. However, the RFID tag attached to the non-genuine toner container is likely to be different in material and specification from the RFID tag attached to the genuine toner container, and when the response signal is transmitted with the optimum signal strength for the RFID communication unit 211 Is not limited. If a non-genuine toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, not only the quality of the image formed by the image forming unit 12 cannot be ensured but also the image forming apparatus 1 may be damaged.

  Therefore, when the toner container 151 is attached to the apparatus main body 11, the toner container determination unit 311 has already been attached to the apparatus main body 11 and the signal strength of the response signal of the RFID tag 152 attached to the attached toner container 151. The signal level of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container that is not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 (that is, the genuine toner container) is compared, and the attached toner container It is determined whether or not is a genuine product. When it is determined that the toner container to which the toner container determination unit 311 is attached is a non-genuine product, the control unit 31 stores the color of the toner container in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 and the input operation unit 35 A warning message is displayed to inform the user that the non-genuine toner container is mounted on the display panel.

Since the image forming apparatus 1 is a color printer, a plurality of toner containers that store toner of each color are attached to the apparatus main body 11 and printing processing is executed. Therefore, as a determination method of the toner container determination unit 311, any one of the following methods (1) to (3) may be used.
(1) The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 attached to the apparatus main body 11 and the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 already attached to the apparatus main body 11 When the signal strengths of the response signals transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to one toner container 151 among the toner containers 151 that are not used are compared, and the two are different, the toner container 151 attached to the apparatus main body 11 is not Judged to be genuine.
(2) The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 attached to the apparatus main body 11 and the non-genuine of all the other toner containers 151 already attached to the apparatus main body 11 When the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 that is not stored in the toner container storage unit 321 is compared, and the two are different in any comparison combination, 11 is determined as a non-genuine product.
(3) The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 attached to the apparatus main body 11 and the non-genuine of all the other toner containers 151 already attached to the apparatus main body 11 An average value of the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 not stored in the toner container storage unit 321 is calculated, and the former signal strength is compared with the average value, If they are different, it is determined that the toner container 151 attached to the apparatus main body 11 is a non-genuine product.

  Particularly in the case of method (2), the toner container discriminating unit 311 determines the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the RFID tag 152 attached to the attached toner container 151 and all the other attached devices. The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 is compared with each other, and when both match in all comparison combinations, the toner container 151 mounted is a genuine product. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably determine whether the toner container 151 is a genuine product.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the RFID communication unit 211 and the RFID tag 152. The RFID communication unit 211 includes a modulation circuit 202, an antenna 203, a demodulation circuit 205, an intensity detection circuit 206, and the like, and operates under the control of the control unit 31.

  The control unit 31 outputs command information for the RFID tag 152 to the modulation circuit 202, and the modulation circuit 202 modulates a carrier wave according to the command information. The antenna 203 transmits a modulated wave as an interrogation signal. The antenna 41 of the RFID tag 152 receives the interrogation signal transmitted from the antenna 203, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the communication control unit 42. The communication control unit 42 demodulates the interrogation signal received by the antenna 41 to extract command information, and causes the antenna 41 to transmit various information stored in advance according to the command information as a response signal.

  The antenna 203 receives the response signal transmitted from the antenna 41, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the demodulation circuit 205. The demodulation circuit 205 demodulates the modulated electric signal to extract information, and outputs the extracted information to the control unit 31. The intensity detection circuit 206 detects the signal intensity of the response signal received by the antenna 203 and outputs the detection result to the control unit 31.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for determining whether the toner container 151 is genuine / non-genuine in the present embodiment. Here, in the present embodiment, a case where the toner container determination unit 311 identifies the toner container 151 mounted by the method of the comparison method (2) will be described as an example.

  When the toner container 151 is extracted and reattached for the purpose of toner replenishment or the like while the image forming apparatus 1 is operating, the control unit 31 is attached to the RFID communication unit 211. Wireless communication is performed with the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151, and the intensity detection circuit 206 detects the signal intensity of the response signal A output from the RFID tag 152 and outputs it to the control unit 31 (step S12).

  When the response signal A is received from the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 to which the RFID communication unit 211 is attached (step S13; YES), the control unit 31 has already sent the apparatus main body 11 to the RFID communication unit 211. Are attached to the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 and are not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321, wireless communication is performed with the RFID tags 152 attached to all toner containers 151 (that is, all genuine toner containers). The detection circuit 206 detects the signal intensity of the response signal output from each RFID tag 152 and outputs it to the control unit 31 (step S14). In this embodiment, there will be described a case where there are three toner containers 151 that are already attached to the apparatus main body 11 and are not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321, and each response signal is referred to as “response signal”. The description will be made as “X”, “response signal Y”, and “response signal Z”.

  Further, when the toner container determination unit 311 identifies the toner container 151 mounted by the method of the comparison method (3) described above, the control unit 31 instructs the RFID communication unit 211 as described above. Wireless communication is performed with each RFID tag 152 attached to all the toner containers 151 that are already installed in the apparatus main body 11 and are not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321, and the average value of the signal intensity is calculated. calculate. In the case of the comparison method (1), the control unit 31 is one of the toner containers 151 that are already attached to the apparatus main body 11 with respect to the RFID communication unit 211 and are not stored in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321. Is selected by a predetermined method, and wireless communication with the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 is performed.

  Then, the toner container determination unit 311 compares the signal strength of the response signal A with the signal strengths of the response signals X, Y, and Z (step S15). When the signal strengths are the same in all the comparison combinations (step S15; YES), the toner container determination unit 311 determines that the attached toner container 151 is a genuine product (step S16). Note that the signal intensities of the response signal A and the response signals X, Y, and Z do not need to match completely, and the toner container discriminating unit 311 determines that the toner container 151 has a difference in intensity between the two. Judged as genuine.

  On the other hand, when the signal strength is different in any of the comparison combinations (step S15; NO), or when the RFID communication unit 211 cannot receive the response signal (step S13; NO), the toner container determination unit 311 is attached. It is determined that the toner container 151 is a non-genuine product, and the control unit 31 displays a warning message that informs the user that the non-genuine toner container is mounted on the display panel of the input operation unit 35 (step S17). The control unit 31 stores information on the toner container determined to be a non-genuine toner container in the non-genuine toner container storage unit 321 (step S18).

  Here, when the toner container discriminating unit 311 discriminates the toner container 151 attached by the method of the comparison method (3), the toner container discriminating unit 311 determines the signal strengths of the response signals X, Y and Z. An average value is calculated, and the average value is compared with the signal intensity of the response signal A.

  As described above, the signal strength of the response signal of the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container 151 to which the toner container determination unit 311 is attached and the non-genuine toner container storage that has already been attached to the apparatus main body 11. The signal intensity of the response signal of the RFID tag 152 attached to the toner container (that is, the genuine toner container) that is not stored in the unit 321 is compared to determine whether the attached toner container is a genuine product. Thus, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the mounted toner container is a genuine product. Further, when a non-genuine toner container is installed, the control unit 31 displays a warning message that informs the user that the non-genuine toner container is installed on the display panel, so that the performance is not sufficiently exhibited to the user. In addition, it can warn that the image forming apparatus 1 may cause a failure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 12 Image forming part 151 Toner container 152 RFID tag (wireless tag)
211 RFID communication unit (communication means)
202 Modulation circuit 203 Antenna 205 Demodulation circuit 206 Strength detection circuit (detection means)
31 Control Unit 311 Toner Container Discrimination Unit (Determination Unit)
32 storage unit 321 non-pure toner container storage unit (storage means)

Claims (5)

An apparatus body for forming a color image on a recording medium based on image data;
A plurality of toner containers that can be detachably attached to the apparatus main body, each containing toner of different colors;
A wireless tag attached to each toner container;
A communication means for performing wireless communication by outputting a question signal to the wireless tag and receiving a response signal transmitted from the wireless tag;
Detecting means for detecting a signal strength of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to the toner container in response to an interrogation signal output from the communication means when each of the toner containers is mounted on the apparatus main body; ,
When the signal strength of the response signal detected by the detection means is compared with the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the other toner container already mounted on the apparatus main body, Determining means for determining that the toner container mounted on the apparatus main body is a non-genuine product;
An image forming apparatus.   The discriminating means includes any one of a signal strength of a response signal transmitted from a wireless tag attached to a toner container attached to the apparatus main body and another toner container already attached to the apparatus main body. The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container is compared, and if both are different, it is determined that the toner container attached to the apparatus main body is a non-genuine product. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The determination means is attached to the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container attached to the apparatus main body, and to all other toner containers already attached to the apparatus main body. The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from each wireless tag is compared, and if both are different in any comparison combination, it is determined that the toner container attached to the apparatus body is a non-genuine product. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The determination means is attached to the signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to the toner container attached to the apparatus main body, and to all other toner containers already attached to the apparatus main body. The average value of the signal intensity of the response signal transmitted from each wireless tag is compared, and when both are different, it is determined that the toner container attached to the apparatus main body is a non-genuine product. The image forming apparatus described.   The apparatus further comprises storage means for storing information relating to the toner container that is determined to be a non-genuine product, and the determination means is attached to the toner container when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body. The signal strength of the response signal transmitted from the wireless tag and the wireless tag attached to the toner container other than the toner container stored in the storage unit among the other toner containers already mounted on the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the signal strengths of the response signals are compared.

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