JP6269531B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology in which a wireless tag is applied to an image forming apparatus.

  The wireless tag is also called an RF (Radio Frequency) tag, an IC tag, or the like, and is used in various fields.

  There has been proposed a technique capable of detecting an IC tag attached to a moving object by arranging a plurality of antennas (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, when the handy terminal is connected to the image forming apparatus, a linearly polarized antenna is used for wireless communication between the handy terminal and the IC tag. When the handy terminal is not connected to the image forming apparatus, the handy terminal and the IC A technique of using a circularly polarized antenna for wireless communication with a tag has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2009-69961 A JP 2010-61314 A (paragraphs 0056 and 0057)

  The image forming apparatus includes a detachable unit with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. An example of such a unit is a toner container. When the toner in the toner container runs out, the toner container is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a new toner container is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is used.

  A wireless tag may be attached to the toner container in order to manage the remaining amount of toner in the toner container.

  The wireless tag standard differs depending on the country or region. For this reason, the same product cannot be used worldwide, and different products may have to be used depending on the country or region. For example, attach a wireless tag of Company A to a toner container attached to an image forming apparatus used in North America, and attach a wireless tag of Company B to a toner container attached to an image forming apparatus used in Europe. There is.

  Depending on the configuration of the wireless tag, the wireless communication range of the wireless tag of the company A may be different from the wireless communication range of the wireless tag of the company B.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably performing wireless communication with a wireless tag regardless of which wireless tag has a different wireless communication range.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above object is an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and a unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the image forming apparatus main body includes wireless communication. According to the wireless communicable range of the wireless tag attached to the plurality of antennas provided according to the wireless tags having different possible ranges, the wireless communication unit, and the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body. An antenna preselected from the plurality of antennas as a selection antenna, and a connection unit that connects the selection antenna and the radio communication unit, wherein the radio communication unit is connected to the radio by the connection unit. Wireless communication with the wireless tag attached to the unit attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus using the selection antenna connected to a communication unit To.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an antenna that can be used for wireless communication with a wireless tag attached to a unit attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus is selected in advance from a plurality of antennas. Wireless communication with the wireless tag using the selected antenna). Therefore, even if any wireless tag having a different wireless communication range is attached to the unit, wireless communication with the wireless tag can be reliably performed.

  In the above configuration, the image forming apparatus main body causes the wireless communication unit to try wireless communication with the wireless tag attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body by switching the plurality of antennas. A determination unit that determines, as the selection antenna, an antenna that establishes wireless communication with the wireless tag among the plurality of antennas; and the selection antenna that is determined by the determination unit by controlling the connection unit And a connection control unit that connects the wireless communication unit.

  According to this configuration, the selected antenna can be automatically determined. Note that the selected antenna may be determined manually. That is. A user or a service person operates the operation unit of the image forming apparatus to determine a selected antenna from a plurality of antennas.

  In the above-described configuration, in the plurality of toner containers containing the same color toner, each of the plurality of wireless tags is attached to each of the plurality of toner containers, and any one of the plurality of toner containers is the unit. Is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

  A specific example of the unit is a toner container.

  According to the present invention, any wireless tag having a different wireless communication range can reliably perform wireless communication with the wireless tag.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a graph which shows the specific example of the radio | wireless communication range of one radio | wireless tag. It is a graph which shows the specific example of the radio | wireless communicable range of another radio | wireless tag. 10 is a graph showing a specific example of a wireless communication possible range when wireless communication is performed with two wireless tags having different wireless communication possible ranges using one antenna. It is a top view which shows a read / write board | substrate. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing four toner containers to which the wireless tag shown in FIG. 3 is attached. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing four toner containers to which the wireless tag shown in FIG. 4 is attached. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where four toner containers illustrated in FIG. 7 are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where four toner containers illustrated in FIG. 8 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body. In this embodiment, it is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement which determines a selection antenna.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to, for example, a digital multifunction machine having functions of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 100, a document reading unit 200, and a document feeding unit 300.

  A document reading unit 200 is disposed on the printing unit 100, and a document feeding unit 300 is disposed on the document reading unit 200.

  The document feeding unit 300 functions as an automatic document feeding device, and can feed a plurality of documents placed on the document placing unit 301 so that the document reading unit 200 can read them continuously.

  The document reading unit 200 includes a carriage on which an exposure lamp or the like is mounted, a document table made of a transparent member such as glass, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and a document reading slit (all not shown). The CCD sensor outputs the read original as image data.

  The printing unit 100 includes a paper storage unit 101, an image forming unit 103, and a fixing unit 105. The paper storage unit 101 is disposed at the lowermost part of the printing unit 100 and includes two paper cassettes 101 a and 101 b that can store a bundle of paper.

  Among the paper cassettes 101a and 101b, in the bundle of paper stored in the selected cassette, the topmost paper is sent out toward the paper conveyance path 107 of the printing unit 100 by driving a pickup roller (not shown). . The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 103 through the sheet conveyance path 107.

  The sheet conveyance path 107 extends in a substantially vertical direction from the lower side to the upper side along one side surface (the right side surface in FIG. 1) of the printing unit 100, and the other side surface (the left side surface in FIG. 1). ) And extends substantially horizontally along the lower side of the document reading unit 200. A discharge tray 131 is provided at the end.

  The image forming unit 103 forms a toner image on the conveyed paper. The image forming unit 103 includes a yellow image forming unit 111Y, a magenta image forming unit 111M, a cyan image forming unit 111C, and a black image forming unit 111BK, which are arranged according to the order in which the toner images are transferred to the transfer belt 113. These units have the same configuration and will be described using the yellow image forming unit 111Y as an example.

  The yellow image forming unit 111Y includes a photosensitive drum 115 and an exposure unit 117. Around the photosensitive drum 115, a charging unit 119, a developing unit 121, and a cleaning unit 123 are arranged. The charging unit 119 uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 115. The exposure unit 117 generates a modulated light beam corresponding to the image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.), and uniformly. Irradiate the circumferential surface of the charged photosensitive drum 115. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 115. In this state, by supplying yellow toner from the developing unit 121 to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 115, a toner image corresponding to yellow image data is formed on the peripheral surface.

  The transfer belt 113 can move counterclockwise while being sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 115 and the primary transfer roller 125. The yellow toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 115 to the transfer belt 113. The yellow toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 115 is removed by the cleaning unit 123. The above is the description of the yellow image forming unit 111Y.

  Above the yellow image forming unit 111Y, the magenta image forming unit 111M, the cyan image forming unit 111C, and the black image forming unit 111BK, containers containing corresponding color toners, that is, a yellow toner container 127Y, a magenta toner container 127M, A cyan toner container 127C and a black toner container 127BK are arranged. Toner for each color is supplied with toner from the corresponding container.

  As described above, a yellow toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 113, and a magenta toner image is transferred onto the toner image. Similarly, a cyan toner image and a black toner image are transferred onto the transfer belt 113. . As a result, a color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 113. In this way, a color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 113 by transferring the toner image of each color pattern superimposed on the transfer belt 113. The color toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer roller 129 onto the sheet conveyed from the sheet storage unit 101 described above.

  The sheet on which the color toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 105. The fixing unit 105 includes a heating roller and a fixing roller. The paper on which the color toner image is transferred is sandwiched between these rollers. As a result, heat and pressure are applied to the color toner image and the paper, and the color toner image is fixed to the paper. The sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 131.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a printing unit 100, a document reading unit 200, a document feeding unit 300, an operation unit 400, a control unit 500, and a communication unit 600 are connected to each other by a bus.

  The operation unit 400 includes an operation key unit 401 and a display unit 403. The display unit 403 has a touch panel function, and displays a screen including soft keys. The user operates the soft key while viewing the screen to make settings necessary for executing functions such as copying.

  The operation key unit 401 is provided with operation keys including hard keys. Specifically, a function switch key for switching between a start key, a numeric keypad, a stop key, a reset key, a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile is provided.

  The start key is a key for starting operations such as copying and facsimile transmission. The numeric keypad is a key for inputting numbers such as the number of copies and a facsimile number. The stop key is a key for stopping a copy operation or the like halfway. The reset key is a key for returning the set contents to the initial setting state.

  The function switching key includes a copy key, a transmission key, and the like, and is a key for switching between a copy function, a transmission function, and the like. When the copy key is operated, an initial copy screen is displayed on the display unit 403. When the transmission key is operated, an initial screen for facsimile transmission and mail transmission is displayed on the display unit 403.

  The control unit 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an image memory, and the like. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 on the above-described components of the image forming apparatus 1 such as the printing unit 100. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like. The image memory temporarily stores image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.).

  The control unit 500 includes a read / write unit 501, a determination unit 502, and a switch control unit 503 as functional blocks. Details of these blocks will be described later.

  The communication unit 600 includes a facsimile communication unit 601 and a network I / F unit 603. The facsimile communication unit 601 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 601 is connected to the telephone line 605.

  The network I / F unit 603 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 607. A network I / F unit 603 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 607.

  The image forming apparatus main body 10 is configured by the printing unit 100, the document reading unit 200, the document feeding unit 300, the operation unit 400, the control unit 500, and the communication unit 600. The image forming apparatus main body 10 only needs to include the printing unit 100 and the control unit 500, and elements other than these can be unitized.

  The yellow toner container 127Y, the magenta toner container 127M, the cyan toner container 127C, and the black toner container 127BK are specific examples of units attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. When it is not necessary to distinguish between these toner containers, they are referred to as a toner container 127.

  The toner container 127 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. When the toner in the toner container 127 runs out, the toner container 127 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 10 and a new toner container 127 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10.

  The yellow toner container 127Y, the magenta toner container 127M, the cyan toner container 127C, and the black toner container 127BK are each attached with a wireless tag 40, or the yellow toner container 127Y, the magenta toner container 127M, the cyan toner container 127C, Each of the black toner containers 127BK is provided with a wireless tag 50. A read / write substrate 150 on which an antenna used for wireless communication with the wireless tags 40 and 50 is disposed is provided in the printing unit 100.

  Currently, wireless tags with various configurations are manufactured. Due to the difference in configuration of the wireless tag, the shape and size of the antenna built in the wireless tag are different, which causes the wireless communication range of the wireless tag to be different. This will be specifically described. FIG. 3 is a graph showing a specific example of the wireless communication range of the wireless tag 40. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a specific example of the wireless communication range of the wireless tag 50. The vertical axis indicates the distance in the vertical direction of the read / write board 150 from the reference point of the read / write board 150, and the horizontal axis indicates the distance in the direction along the plane of the read / write board 150 from the reference point of the read / write board 150. Is shown.

  The reference point is the center point of the coiled planar antenna disposed on the read / write substrate 150. If the centers of the wireless tags 40 and 50 are located in the wireless communication range, the read / write unit 501 can perform wireless communication with the wireless tags 40 and 50. The wireless tags 40 and 50 at the position indicated by “OK” are wireless tags capable of wireless communication with the read / write unit 501. The wireless tags 40 and 50 at the position indicated by “NG” are wireless tags that cannot wirelessly communicate with the read / write unit 501.

  A wireless tag 40 shown in FIG. 3 has a configuration in which an IC chip and an antenna are mounted on a film. The dimension of the wireless tag 40 is, for example, 18 mm long × 18 mm wide. The wireless communicable range is a range defined by a range in which the distance shown on the vertical axis is from 1.5 mm to 7.5 mm and a range in which the distance shown on the horizontal axis is from the reference point to 2.0 mm.

  A wireless tag 50 shown in FIG. 4 has a configuration in which an IC chip and an antenna are baked and hardened with ceramics. The dimension of the wireless tag 50 is, for example, 3.2 mm long × 3.2 mm wide. The wireless communicable range is a region defined by a range in which the distance shown on the vertical axis is 0.0 mm to 3.0 mm and a range in which the distance shown on the horizontal axis is 2.0 mm from the reference point.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing the wireless communicable range of the wireless tag 40 shown in FIG. 3 when the antenna disposed on the read / write board 150 is made to correspond to the specification of the wireless tag 50 shown in FIG. In other words, FIG. 5 shows the wireless communicable range of the wireless tag 50 shown in FIG. 4 when the antenna arranged on the read / write board 150 is made to correspond to the specification of the wireless tag 40 shown in FIG. It is a graph. The vertical axis of the graph indicates the same direction as the vertical axis of the graphs of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the horizontal axis of the graph indicates the same direction as the horizontal axis of the graphs of FIGS. 3 and 4. The wireless communicable range is a range defined by a range from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm on the vertical axis and a range from the reference point to 2.0 mm on the horizontal axis. narrow. Therefore, in order to cope with both the case where the wireless tag 40 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the toner container 127 and the case where the wireless tag 50 shown in FIG. It is difficult with an antenna.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of antennas are arranged on the read / write substrate 150 in order to be able to correspond to the wireless tags 40 and 50 in different wireless communication ranges. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the read / write substrate 150. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing four toner containers 127 to which the wireless tag 40 is attached. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing four toner containers 127 to which the wireless tag 50 is attached. The four toner containers 127 are specific examples of two or more toner containers.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the wireless toner tag 127Y is attached to the yellow toner container 127Y, the wireless tag 40M is attached to the magenta toner container 127M, and the wireless tag 40C is attached to the cyan toner container 127C. A wireless tag 40BK is attached to the toner container 127BK. When it is not necessary to distinguish between these wireless tags, they are referred to as wireless tags 40.

  Referring to FIG. 8, the yellow toner container 127Y is attached with the wireless tag 50Y, the magenta toner container 127M is attached with the wireless tag 50M, the cyan toner container 127C is attached with the wireless tag 50C, and the black A wireless tag 50BK is attached to the toner container 127BK. When it is not necessary to distinguish between these wireless tags, they are referred to as wireless tags 50. In the toner container 127, the position where the wireless tag 40 is attached is different from the position where the wireless tag 50 is attached.

  One of the four toner containers 127 shown in FIG. 7 and the four toner containers 127 shown in FIG. 8 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10.

  In a plurality of toner containers 127 containing toner of the same color, a plurality of wireless tags 40 and 50 are respectively attached to a plurality of toner containers 127, and any one of the plurality of toner containers 127 is an image as a unit. Attached to the forming apparatus main body 10. The yellow toner container 127Y will be described below. In the yellow toner container 127Y shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the wireless tags 40Y and 50Y are attached to the yellow toner containers 127Y shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. Any one of the yellow toner containers 127Y shown in FIG. 8 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 as a unit.

  Referring to FIG. 6, antennas 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20BK used for wireless communication with wireless tag 40 and antennas used for wireless communication with wireless tag 50 are provided on one surface of read / write substrate 150. 30Y, 30M, 30C, 30BK and analog switches 60, 70, 80 are arranged. These antennas are coiled planar antennas.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the four toner containers 127 illustrated in FIG. 7 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. In the read / write substrate 150, one surface on which the antenna 20Y and the like are disposed faces the four toner containers 127 shown in FIG. The analog switches 60, 70, and 80 are not shown. The antenna 20Y faces the wireless tag 40Y attached to the yellow toner container 127Y, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 40Y. The antenna 20M faces the wireless tag 40M attached to the magenta toner container 127M, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 40M. The antenna 20C faces the wireless tag 40C attached to the cyan toner container 127C, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 40C. The antenna 20BK faces the wireless tag 40BK attached to the black toner container 127BK, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 40BK. When it is not necessary to distinguish these antennas, they are referred to as antennas 20.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the four toner containers 127 illustrated in FIG. 8 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. In the read / write substrate 150, one surface on which the antenna 20Y and the like are disposed faces the four toner containers 127 shown in FIG. The analog switches 60, 70, and 80 are not shown. The antenna 30Y faces the wireless tag 50Y attached to the yellow toner container 127Y, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 50Y. The antenna 30M faces the wireless tag 50M attached to the magenta toner container 127M, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 50M. The antenna 30C faces the wireless tag 50C attached to the cyan toner container 127C, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 50C. The antenna 30BK faces the wireless tag 50BK attached to the black toner container 127BK, and is used for wireless communication with the wireless tag 50BK. When it is not necessary to distinguish these antennas, they are referred to as antennas 30.

  The antennas 20 and 30 are specific examples of a plurality of antennas provided according to the plurality of wireless tags 40 and 50 having different wireless communication ranges.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the analog switch 80 includes a terminal 81, a terminal 82, and a terminal 83 connected to the read / write unit 501.

  The analog switch 60 includes a terminal 61 connected to the antenna 20Y, a terminal 62 connected to the antenna 20M, a terminal 63 connected to the antenna 20C, a terminal 64 connected to the antenna 20BK, and an analog switch 80. The terminal 65 is connected to the terminal 82.

  The analog switch 70 includes a terminal 71 connected to the antenna 30Y, a terminal 72 connected to the antenna 30M, a terminal 73 connected to the antenna 30C, a terminal 74 connected to the antenna 30BK, and an analog switch 80. The terminal 75 is connected to the terminal 81.

  The control unit 500 includes a read / write unit 501, a determination unit 502, and a switch control unit 503 as functional blocks. The read / write unit 501 has a function of a wireless communication unit, and performs a process of reading data stored in the wireless tags 40 and 50 and a process of writing data to the wireless tags 40 and 50.

  The read / write unit 501 includes a switch control unit 505. The switch control unit 505 alternatively executes connection between the terminal 61 and the terminal 65, connection between the terminal 62 and the terminal 65, connection between the terminal 63 and the terminal 65, and connection between the terminal 64 and the terminal 65. . That is, the switch control unit 505 controls the analog switch 60 to switch the selection of the antennas 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK.

  The switch control unit 505 alternatively executes connection between the terminal 71 and the terminal 75, connection between the terminal 72 and the terminal 75, connection between the terminal 73 and the terminal 75, and connection between the terminal 74 and the terminal 75. . That is, the switch control unit 505 controls the analog switch 70 to switch the selection of the antennas 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30BK.

  The switch control unit 503 alternatively executes connection between the terminal 81 and the terminal 83 and connection between the terminal 82 and the terminal 83. That is, when the terminal 82 and the terminal 83 are connected, any one of the four antennas 20 and the read / write unit 501 are connected. When the terminal 81 and the terminal 83 are connected, any one of the four antennas 30 and the read / write unit 501 are connected.

  The analog switch 60, 70, 80 constitutes a connection part. An antenna preselected from the plurality of antennas 20 and 30 according to the wireless communicable range of the wireless tag attached to the toner container 127 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 is selected as the selected antenna. When the wireless tag 40 is attached to the toner container 127, the antenna 20 becomes a selection antenna. When the wireless tag 50 is attached to the toner container 127, the antenna 30 is a selection antenna. The connection unit connects the selected antenna and the read / write unit 501 (wireless communication unit).

  The read / write unit 501 uses a selection antenna connected to the read / write unit 501 by a connection unit, and uses a wireless tag (wireless tag 40 or wireless tag attached to a toner container 127 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10. 50).

  The determination unit 502 switches wireless antennas (the wireless tag 40 or the wireless tag 50) attached to the toner container 127 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 to switch the plurality of antennas 20 and 30 and read / write. The unit 501 makes a trial, and determines, from among the plurality of antennas 20 and 30, an antenna that establishes wireless communication with the wireless tag as a selected antenna.

  The connection control unit configured by the switch control units 503 and 505 controls the connection unit (analog switches 60, 70, and 80) to connect the selected antenna determined by the determination unit 502 and the read / write unit 501. .

  In the present embodiment, the operation for determining the selected antenna will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. The determination unit 502 determines the selected antenna when there is a possibility that any or all of the toner containers 127 (FIG. 2) have been replaced. For example, the possibility that the toner container 127 has been replaced when the cover that covers the toner container 127 among the covers of the image forming apparatus 1 (FIG. 2) is opened or when the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned off. There is.

  Therefore, when the sensor disposed in the image forming apparatus 1 detects that the cover that covers the toner container 127 is opened and then detects that the cover is closed, or the power of the image forming apparatus 1 is turned off. Is turned on (step S1), the determination unit 502 starts a process of determining the selected antenna.

  The determination unit 502 controls the switch control unit 503 to connect the terminal 82 and the terminal 83 of the analog switch 80 (step S2).

  The determination unit 502 instructs the read / write unit 501 to try wireless communication using the antenna 20Y (step S3). In response to this command, the switch control unit 505 controls to connect the terminal 61 and the terminal 65 of the analog switch 60. Then, the read / write unit 501 tries wireless communication using the antenna 20Y (step S4).

  As shown in FIG. 9, wireless communication is established if the wireless tag 40Y is attached to the yellow toner container 127Y. However, as shown in FIG. 10, if the wireless tag 50Y is attached to the yellow toner container 127Y. Wireless communication is not established. The read / write unit 501 determines whether wireless communication using the antenna 20Y has been established (step S5).

  When the read / write unit 501 determines that wireless communication using the antenna 20Y has been established (Yes in step S5), the determination unit 502 determines the antenna 20Y as the selected antenna (step S6).

  When the read / write unit 501 determines that wireless communication using the antenna 20Y is not established (No in step S5), the determination unit 502 connects the terminal 81 and the terminal 83 of the analog switch 80 to the switch control unit 503. Control is performed (step S7).

  The determination unit 502 instructs the read / write unit 501 to try wireless communication using the antenna 30Y (step S8). In response to this command, the switch control unit 505 performs control to connect the terminal 71 and the terminal 75 of the analog switch 70. Then, the read / write unit 501 tries wireless communication using the antenna 30Y (step S9).

  If the wireless tag 50Y is attached to the yellow toner container 127Y, wireless communication is established, but if the wireless tag 40Y is attached to the yellow toner container 127Y, wireless communication is not established. The read / write unit 501 determines whether or not wireless communication using the antenna 30Y has been established (step S10).

  When the read / write unit 501 determines that wireless communication using the antenna 30Y has been established (Yes in step S10), the determination unit 502 determines the antenna 30Y as the selected antenna (step S11).

  When the read / write unit 501 determines that wireless communication using the antenna 30Y is not established (No in step S10), the determination unit 502 displays a message indicating that wireless communication with the wireless tag attached to the yellow toner container 127Y is not possible. It is displayed on 403 (FIG. 2) (step S12).

  The same processing as in steps S1 to S12 described with reference to FIG. 11 is performed on the wireless tags attached to other toner containers 127.

  The main effects of this embodiment will be described. According to the present embodiment, wireless communication with the wireless tag (wireless tag 40 or wireless tag 50) attached to the toner container 127 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 from among the plurality of antennas 20 and 30 is performed. An antenna that can be used is selected in advance, and the antenna (selected antenna) is used to perform wireless communication with the wireless tag. Therefore, any wireless tag (wireless tag 40 or wireless tag 50) having a different wireless communication range when an error occurs in the position where the toner container 127 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 or vibration occurs in the image forming apparatus 1. Stable communication is possible. Therefore, even if any wireless tag having a different wireless communication range is attached to the toner container 127, wireless communication with the wireless tag can be reliably performed.

  As described with reference to FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the selected antenna is automatically determined. However, the selected antenna may be determined manually. That is. A user or a service person operates the operation unit 400 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 1 to determine a selected antenna from the plurality of antennas 20 and 30.

  In this embodiment, the four toner containers 127 used for color printing have been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to monochrome printing. In this case, an antenna 20BK and an antenna 30BK corresponding to the wireless tag (wireless tag 40BK or wireless tag 50BK) attached to the black toner container 127BK may be provided.

  In this embodiment, two types of wireless tags (wireless tag 40 and wireless tag 50) having different wireless communication ranges have been described. However, the present invention is applied to three or more types of wireless tags having different wireless communication ranges. You can also. In this case, it is necessary to add an antenna in addition to the antennas 20 and 30.

1 Image forming apparatus 10 Image forming apparatus main body 20, 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20BK Antenna 30, 30Y, 30M, 30C, 30BK Antenna 40, 40Y, 40M, 40C, 40BK Wireless tags 50, 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50BK Wireless Tag 60 Analog switch (element of connection part)
70 Analog switch (element of connection part)
80 Analog switch (element of connection part)
127, 127Y, 127M, 127C, 127BK Toner container (specific example of unit)
501 Read / write unit (specific example of wireless communication unit)
503 Switch control unit (element of connection control unit)
505 Switch control unit (element of connection control unit)

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and a unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body.
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
A plurality of antennas provided according to a plurality of wireless tags having different wireless communication ranges;
A wireless communication unit;
According to the wireless communication range of the wireless tag attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body, an antenna preselected from the plurality of antennas is a selection antenna, and the selection antenna and the A connection unit for connecting the wireless communication unit,
The wireless communication unit, said using said selected antenna connected to the wireless communication unit, the wireless tag and the wireless communication that are attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body by the connecting portion ,
The image forming apparatus main body further includes:
The wireless communication for the wireless tag attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body is switched between the plurality of antennas to cause the wireless communication unit to try, and the wireless communication unit is selected from the plurality of antennas. A determination unit that determines an antenna that establishes wireless communication with a tag as the selected antenna;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a connection control unit that controls the connection unit to connect the selection antenna determined by the determination unit and the wireless communication unit . In the plurality of toner containers containing the same color toner, each of the plurality of wireless tags is attached to each of the plurality of toner containers, and any one of the plurality of toner containers is used as the unit to form the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus is attached to the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and a unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body.
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
A plurality of antennas provided according to a plurality of wireless tags having different wireless communication ranges;
A wireless communication unit;
According to the wireless communication range of the wireless tag attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body, an antenna preselected from the plurality of antennas is a selection antenna, and the selection antenna and the A connection unit for connecting the wireless communication unit,
The wireless communication unit, said using said selected antenna connected to the wireless communication unit, the wireless tag and the wireless communication that are attached to the unit attached to the image forming apparatus main body by the connecting portion ,
In the plurality of toner containers containing the same color toner, each of the plurality of wireless tags is attached to each of the plurality of toner containers, and any one of the plurality of toner containers is used as the unit to form the image. An image forming apparatus attached to the apparatus main body .

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