JP5808710B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a cover for maintenance inside the apparatus, and to an image forming apparatus having an interlock switch for detecting opening and closing of the cover.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers are provided with a cover for maintenance inside the apparatus (replenishing toner and clearing paper jams). The cover must have an open / close detection mechanism that detects open / close for safety. As the open / close detection mechanism, an IC tag is attached to the cover and an antenna is attached to the main body, and the distance between the IC tag and the antenna is set. A technique for determining the open / closed state of the cover based on this has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2005-141044 A JP 2007-298722 A

  However, in the related art, when two covers are provided, it is necessary to provide an IC tag and an antenna for each of them, resulting in an increase in cost. Further, since communication is possible even when the cover is half-closed, there is a risk of erroneous detection such that the half-closed state cannot be detected and the drive unit or the like is operated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to detect which cover is opened and closed without providing a dedicated open / close detection mechanism for each of the two covers. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

In order to solve such a problem, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is “OFF” when both or one of the first cover and the second cover is open, and the first cover and the second cover are turned off. An image forming apparatus having an interlock switch that is “ON” when both the cover and the cover are closed, and an IC tag provided on a detachable body loaded via the first cover, and the detachable An antenna disposed opposite to the IC tag when the body is loaded; shielding means for preventing communication between the IC tag and the antenna in a state where the first cover is open; the first cover and the second cover; and control means for determining the open or closed state of, comprising a notifying means for notifying the determination result by the control means, wherein in the insufficiently inserted state of attachable member is not loaded correctly, so that the communication disabled state, before The communicable distance between the IC tag and the antenna is adjusted, and the control means is configured such that when the interlock switch is “OFF” and the IC tag and the antenna are communicable, When it is determined that the second cover is open, the interlock switch is “OFF”, and the IC tag and the antenna are in a communication disabled state, the first cover and the second cover are both The first case may be any of an open case, a case where only the first cover is open, and a case where only the second cover is open and the detachable body is in a half-inserted state. When it is determined that the cover is open, the interlock switch is “ON”, and the IC tag and the antenna are in an incommunicable state, the detachable body is in a half-inserted state. To wherein there to be judged.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect whether the first cover or the second cover is open without providing a dedicated open / close detection mechanism for each of the first cover and the second cover.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which the top cover of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a rear cover opened state of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a positional relationship among an IC tag of the toner container shown in FIG. 1, an antenna of a main body, and a shielding plate. It is a table | surface which shows the judgment result by the control part shown in FIG.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment forms four images corresponding respectively to different four color C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) color image data. The color printer 1 is provided with sections 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. An intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided adjacent to the upper parts of the four image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.

  Referring to FIG. 2, a top cover 40 is provided on the upper surface of the color printer 1. By opening the top cover 40, the upper portion of the intermediate transfer belt 20 is opened, and toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are opened. Is in a removable state. The toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d include four colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) supplied to the four image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, respectively. Toner is contained. 2 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display on which the state of the color printer 1 is displayed.

  The four image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are respectively provided with photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d that carry visible images (toner images) of the respective colors. Around the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, charging devices 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d for charging the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, and the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, respectively. Respectively, an exposure unit 13 for exposing image information, developing devices 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d for forming toner images on the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d, and photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c and Cleaning for removing the primary transfer rollers 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d that transfer the toner image on 11d to the intermediate transfer belt 20 and the developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d, respectively. Devices 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are provided That.

  The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 that moves while contacting the photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. The toner images sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20 are transferred onto the recording paper P at a time by the secondary transfer roller 17. The recording paper P is accommodated in a paper cassette 30 disposed in the lower part, and is conveyed through the recording paper conveyance path 33 to the secondary transfer roller 17 via the paper feed roller 31 and the registration roller 32. The toner image transferred onto the recording paper P is fixed on the recording paper P by the fixing device 18, and the printed recording paper P passes through the recording paper conveyance path 33 and is discharged onto the top cover 40 by the discharge roller 34. Discharged.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a rear cover 41 is provided on a side surface on which the recording paper conveyance path 33 is disposed, and the recording paper conveyance path 33 is opened by opening the rear cover 41. Yes. Thereby, the paper jam of the recording paper P in the recording paper conveyance path 33 can be eliminated.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color printer 1. The color printer 1 includes a control unit 3 connected to a communication unit 60 and a storage unit 70. The control unit 3 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus. The control unit 3 reads out the control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, so that each component (image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c) is determined according to the instruction information received by the communication unit 60. And 10d, the exposure unit 13, the fixing device 18, the intermediate transfer belt 20, etc.) are controlled to realize a series of image forming operations.

  The communication unit 60 has a function of transmitting and receiving various data to and from a peripheral device 62 such as a personal computer via a network 61 such as a LAN, and print data used for image formation such as color image data and instructions Receive information.

  The storage unit 70 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and is a storage unit in which print data such as color image data received by the communication unit 60 is accumulated.

  Further, the control unit 3 includes an interlock switch 80 that is turned on and off by opening and closing the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41, and IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d provided in the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d, respectively. And a wireless communication unit 90 that communicates with each other.

  The interlock switch 80 is a safety device that detects the opening and closing of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 and controls the operation of the device according to the detection result. When the interlock switch 80 is “OFF”, the operation of the device is performed. If it is not permitted and the interlock switch 80 is “ON”, the operation of the apparatus is permitted. The interlock switch 80 is “OFF” when both or either the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 are open, and is “ON” when both the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 are closed. .

  FIG. 5 shows a loaded state in which the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are loaded. The IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d have a communicable distance. When the antenna approaches a certain distance, the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d are in a communicable state and have a function of performing information communication without contact. A (Radio Frequency Identification) tag is used. IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d provided on the lower side of the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d, respectively, can communicate with the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d provided on the main body side in the loaded state. Are arranged opposite each other. The IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d are provided with storage areas in which various information of the toner container can be stored and new information can be written. The wireless communication unit 90 includes an antenna 91a. , 91b, 91c and 91d to read / write information.

  Between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d, there is provided a shielding plate 100 which moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. It has been. The shielding plate 100 is made of a material that shields communication between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the top cover 40 is opened, and a shielding plate is provided at a position that blocks between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d. 100 is moved, and communication is impossible between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the top cover 40 is closed, and positions where the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d are opened. Thus, the shielding plate 100 is moved to a communicable state in which communication is possible between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d.

  It cannot be determined which of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 is open only by the interlock switch 80 being “OFF”. Therefore, the control unit 3 uses the communication state between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d together with “ON” and “OFF” of the interlock switch 80. It is configured to determine which of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 is open and to notify the user of the open / closed state of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 3 can communicate with the IC tags 51a, 51b, 50c, and 50d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d when the interlock switch 80 is “OFF”. If it is, it is determined that the rear cover 41 is open, and an alarm or a display unit 2 (not shown) is used to notify the user that the rear cover 41 is open. In addition, the control unit 3 is in a communication disabled state in which the interlock switch 80 is “OFF” and the IC tags 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d cannot communicate with the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d. Determines that the top cover 40 is open, and notifies the user that the top cover 40 is open by using an alarm (not shown) or the display unit 2. When the interlock switch 80 is “OFF”, both the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 may be open, but when the top cover 40 is closed, the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d are in a communicable state where communication is possible, and it can be determined that the rear cover 41 is open.

  Further, the control unit 3 uses the communication state between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d together with the “ON” and “OFF” of the interlock switch 80. The toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are determined to be loaded, and the loading state is notified to the user. That is, when the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are not inserted into the main body in a half-inserted state, if the toner supply is driven as it is, the gear is in a restrained state, and the toner containers 50a, 50b, It is conceivable that 50c and 50d and the main body side gear are damaged. The toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d and the drive connection on the main body side cannot be normally connected until the toner containers are properly loaded. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d are set so that communication is disabled when the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are half inserted. The communicable distance between and has been adjusted. Therefore, when the interlock switch 80 is “ON” and the IC tag 51a, 51b, 50c and 50d and the antenna 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d cannot communicate with each other, the control unit 3 is in a communication disabled state. Determines that the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are in the half-inserted state, and notifies the user that the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are in the half-inserted state using an alarm (not shown) or the display unit 2.

  In this embodiment, the communication state between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d provided in the four color toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d is set. Although the configuration is such that the open / closed state of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41 is determined by use, it may be determined for each color. Further, in the present embodiment, toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are used as the detachable bodies that are detachable via the top cover 40. However, an IC provided on the detachable body such as a developing unit that can be loaded into the main body. You may make it utilize the communication state with a tag.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the top cover 40 is “OFF” when both or one of the top cover 40 (first cover) and the rear cover 41 (second cover) is open. The toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d (detachable bodies) that are loaded via the top cover 40 have an interlock switch 80 that is "ON" when both the rear cover 41 and the rear cover 41 are closed. The IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d provided, the antenna disposed opposite to the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d when the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are loaded, and the top cover 40 are open. Communication between the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d in the state When the blocking means and the interlock switch 80 are “OFF” and the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d are in a communicable state, the rear cover 41 is open. When the interlock switch 80 is “OFF” and the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d and the antennas 91a, 91b, 91c and 91d are in a communication disabled state, the top cover 40 is open. And a display unit 2 (notification means) for notifying the determination result by the control unit 3. With this configuration, it is possible to detect whether the first cover or the second cover is open without providing a dedicated opening / closing detection mechanism for each of the top cover 40 and the rear cover 41.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the antenna 91a are in a communication disabled state when the toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are not properly inserted. , 91b, 91c, and 91d are adjusted, and the control unit 3 is configured such that the interlock switch 80 is “ON”, the IC tags 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d, and the antennas 91a, 91b, and 91c. And 91d are in a communication disabled state, it is determined that the detachable body is in a half-inserted state. The toner containers 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d can be prevented from being half inserted, and the container / main body drive unit can be prevented from being damaged.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color printer 2 Display part 3 Control part 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Image formation part 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Photosensitive drum 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d Charging device 13 Exposure unit 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d Developing device 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d Primary transfer roller 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d Cleaning device 17 Secondary transfer roller 18 Fixing device 20 Intermediate transfer belt 30 Paper cassette 31 Paper feed roller 32 Registration roller 33 Recording paper transport path 34 Discharge roller 40 Top cover 41 Rear cover 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d Toner container 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d IC tag 60 Communication unit 61 Network 62 Peripheral device 70 Storage unit 80 Interlock switch 90 Wireless communication Receiving part 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d Antenna 100 Shield plate

Claims (1)

An interlock that is "OFF" when both or one of the first cover and the second cover are open, and is "ON" when both the first cover and the second cover are closed An image forming apparatus having a switch,
An IC tag provided on a detachable body loaded via the first cover;
An antenna disposed opposite to the IC tag when the detachable body is loaded;
Shielding means for preventing communication between the IC tag and the antenna with the first cover open;
Control means for determining an open / closed state of the first cover and the second cover ;
An informing means for informing a judgment result by the control means ,
In the half-insertion state in which the detachable body is not properly loaded, the communicable distance between the IC tag and the antenna is adjusted so that communication is impossible.
When the interlock switch is “OFF” and the IC tag and the antenna are communicable, the control means determines that the second cover is open, and the interlock switch When the IC tag and the antenna are in an incommunicable state with "OFF", a case where both the first cover and the second cover are open, a case where only the first cover is open, In any case of the case where only the second cover is open and the detachable body is in a half-inserted state, it is determined that the first cover is open, and the interlock switch is “ON”. An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the IC tag and the antenna are in an incommunicable state, it is determined that the detachable body is in a half-inserted state .

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