JP7082439B2 - Printer memory device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a memory device for a printer provided in a toner container that is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction device thereof.

Typical prior art are described, for example, in Patent Document 1. In this conventional technique, a technique for mounting a toner container on a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine in a detachable manner is proposed.

The toner container is equipped with a printer memory device, which is also called a printer memory device, in which information transmitted to and received from the printer main body is stored. When the toner container is attached to the printer body, information such as the date of manufacture of the toner container, the production lot number, the color of the toner, and the type stored in the memory device for the printer is stored in the control unit of the printer body. Information is transmitted from the printer body to the printer memory device, and information management between the printer body and the toner container is realized.

The memory device for a printer is a board having a positioning hole into which a positioning protrusion provided in a connector provided in the printer main body can be fitted, a plurality of terminals to which a terminal on the main body side can be contacted, and a memory mounted on the board. It is composed of such things. When the toner container is attached to the printer main body, the toner container side terminal contacts the main body side terminal of the connector on the printer main body side. As a result, the printer memory device of the toner container and the control unit of the printer main body are electrically connected, and information is transmitted and received.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-6917

In the printer memory device of the prior art, since a positioning hole is formed on the substrate of the printer memory device, the toner container is attached to and detached from the printer body in order to replace the toner container. An external force acts on the substrate due to contact between the terminal on the toner container side and the terminal on the main body side, contact between the positioning protrusion and the periphery of the positioning hole, and the external force causes stress on the substrate. Such stress is generated every time the toner container is attached to and detached from the printer body, and such stress remains on the substrate as residual stress or residual strain, which induces deformation of the substrate. When the substrate is deformed, there is a problem that the reliability of the electrical connection between the toner container side terminal and the main body side terminal is lowered, which may cause a connection failure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a memory device for a printer capable of preventing the occurrence of poor connection of the toner container side terminal to the main body side terminal provided in the printer main body.

Paragraphs and drawing numbers in parentheses below indicate the main description of the specification and drawings.

The present invention
(A) Cylindrical toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K move along their longitudinal axes and are detachably attached to the printer body 113.
The printer body 113 faces the toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K upstream in the mounting direction (diagonally lower right in FIGS. 16 and 18 and left in FIG. 19 (opposite direction of the white arrow)) in the horizontal direction. It is provided with a positioning protrusion 86e3 that is a single upright hollow cylinder and has a substantially conical tip and is grounded, and printer-side terminals 86e21 to 86e23.
Toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K have an end portion 47Y downstream of the mounting direction (left side in FIG. 6, lower left side in FIG. 16, right side in FIG. 19 (white arrow), diagonally upper left side in FIG. 21A). In the printer memory device 48B (FIG. 24), which is moved perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and held adjustable in position (paragraph [0069, 0074, 0080]).
(B) It is a rectangle that is elongated vertically (Fig. 24) when viewed from the front.
A notch 48b21 is formed, and the notch 48b21 is
A circular hole into which the positioning protrusion 86e3 can be fitted (paragraph [0058, 0069]), wherein the center position of the circular hole is closer to the short side above the center of gravity by a distance L1.
A series of circular holes is opened on the long side of one of the substrates 48b (left side in FIG. 24), and is inclined toward the lower short side as it approaches the long side of one side (left side in FIG. 24). It has an extended sloping portion (paragraph [0084]) and
The notch 48b21 includes a substrate 48b located above the center of gravity (paragraph [0056]) and the substrate 48b.
(C) A ground terminal 48d provided on the substrate 48b facing downstream in the mounting direction and made of a conductive material.
When the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the circular hole of the notch 48b21, the annular portion surrounding the circular hole and the annular portion so as to come into contact with the fitted positioning protrusion 86e3 (paragraph [0054]).
A ground terminal 48d which is connected to the annular portion and has an extending portion 48d1 extending toward the long side of the other side (right side of FIG. 24) of the substrate 48b.
(D) The substrate 48b is provided facing downstream in the mounting direction, is made of a conductive material, is arranged above and below the notch 48b21, and is elongated along the short side (in the left-right direction in FIG. 24). The toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3, which are rectangular and come into contact with the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 when the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the circular hole of the notch 48b21.
(E) The substrate 48b is provided on the surface on the upstream side in the mounting direction (diagonally lower right in FIG. 16, left in FIG. 19 (opposite direction of the white arrow)), is arranged below the notch 48b21, and is grounded. Between the printer body 113 and the toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K, with the positioning protrusion 86e3 fitted in the circular hole of the notch 48b21, which is electrically connected to the terminals 48d and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3. A memory device 48c that stores information transmitted / received via the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3, and
(F) A protective member made of a resin material that covers and protects the memory device 48c on the surface of the substrate 48b on the upstream side in the mounting direction (diagonally lower right in FIG. 16, left in FIG. 19 (opposite direction of the white arrow)). It is a memory device for a printer characterized by including 48e.

The present invention
The inclined portion is characterized in that its facing inner surfaces are formed in parallel.

According to the present invention, since the notch is formed on the substrate of the printer memory device mounted on the toner container, the toner container side terminal and the ground terminal are formed when the toner container is attached to and detached from the printer body. Even if the terminal on the main body side touches and is pressed, or the positioning protrusion touches and is pressed around the notch of the board, no large stress is generated on the board, and residual stress and residual strain of the board are generated. It can be significantly reduced. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of poor connection of the toner container side terminal with respect to the main body side terminal.

It is sectional drawing which shows the schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which mounts the toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K provided with the printer memory apparatus 48Y, 48M, 48C, 48K of one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged sectional view of the image forming part 19Y. It is a figure which shows typically the state which the toner container 45Y is attached to the toner supply device 73. It is a perspective view which shows the state which four toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45Y, 45K are installed in the toner container accommodating part. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state which one toner container 45C is attached to the toner container accommodating part 83. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the cap part 47Y is installed in the cap receiving part 86. It is a perspective view which shows the cap receiving part 86 of the toner container accommodating part 83. It is a perspective view which shows the cap receiving part 86 with the cap part 47Y installed. It is a front view which shows the cap receiving part 86 with the cap part 47Y installed. It is a perspective view which looked at the cap receiving part 86 from the diagonally lower side. It is a perspective view of the toner container 45Y seen from diagonally below. It is a side view which shows the container body 46Y. It is a perspective view of the vicinity of the cap portion 47Y of the toner container 45Y seen from diagonally above. It is a front view of the toner container 45Y seen from the cap portion 47Y side. It is a perspective view of the cap part 47Y which shows the state which the shutter member 47d opened the toner supply port 86w. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the memory device 48 for a printer is attached to the connector 86e. It is an enlarged front view of the memory device 48 for a printer. It is a perspective view of a connector 86e. It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment operation of the printer memory apparatus 48 to the connector 86e. It is a figure for demonstrating the electric structure of the memory device 48 for a printer and the connector 86e. It is a figure for demonstrating the electric structure of the memory device 48 for a printer and the connector 86e. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the state before the printer memory apparatus 48 is attached. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the memory device 48 for a printer is attached. It is a front view which shows the toner container 45Y. It is a front view which shows the printer memory apparatus 48A of still another embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the printer memory apparatus 48B of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the printer memory apparatus 48C of still another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus on which a toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K including a printer memory device 48Y, 48M, 48C, 48K, which is a printer memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention, is mounted. It is sectional drawing which shows. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a color copier, and is a printer main body (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "device main body") 113 and a toner container accommodating portion arranged above the printer main body 113. Equipped with 83. Four toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, and 45K corresponding to each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are detachably installed in the toner container accommodating portion 83.

An intermediate transfer unit 28 is arranged below the toner container accommodating portion 83. The intermediate transfer unit 28 has an intermediate transfer belt 21, and image forming portions 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K corresponding to each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged side by side so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 21. To.

Below each toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K, toner replenishment devices 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K are arranged. The toner contained in the toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K is supplied to the developing device of the image forming unit 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K by the toner replenishing device 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 19Y. The image forming unit 19Y corresponding to yellow is composed of a photoconductor drum 14Y, a charging unit 17Y arranged around the photoconductor drum 14Y, a developing device 18Y, a cleaning unit 15Y, a static elimination unit 16Y, and the like. A yellow image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y through a cleaning step, a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step, and a transfer step.

The other three image forming units 19M, 19C, and 19K also have almost the same configuration as the image forming unit 19Y corresponding to yellow except that the toner colors used are different, and the images corresponding to the respective toner colors are obtained. It is formed. Hereinafter, the other three image forming units 19M, 19C, and 19K will be described with reference to the image forming unit 19Y corresponding to yellow, omitting overlapping description.

The rotation of the photoconductor drum 14Y from the output shaft of the drive motor is transmitted to the photoconductor drum 14Y via a speed reducing device configured by a plurality of gears, and the photoconductor drum 14Y is rotationally driven clockwise in FIG. To. The surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y is uniformly charged by the charging portion 17Y. After that, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y by exposure scanning of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure unit 20.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y is visualized by the yellow developer in the developing device 18Y at a position facing the developing device 18Y, and a yellow toner image is formed. After that, when the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y reaches the opposite position of the intermediate transfer belt 21 and the primary transfer bias roller 22Y, the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 21 at this position. At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoconductor drum 14Y.

The untransferred toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 14Y is scraped off by the cleaning blade 15a and mechanically removed at a position facing the cleaning portion 15Y, recovered by the recovery roll 15b, and then recovered by the photoconductor drum 14Y. The residual charge is removed from the surface of the surface by the static elimination unit 16Y. In this way, a series of image forming processes are completed on the photoconductor drum 14Y.

The yellow image image formation process described above is similarly performed in the other image forming units 19M, 19C, 19K. That is, the laser beam L of the image information of each color of magenta, cyan, and black is exposed to the exposure of each image forming unit 19M, 19C, 19K from the exposure unit 20 arranged below each image forming unit 19M, 19C, 19K. The body drums 14M, 14C, and 14K are each irradiated onto the body drums 14M, 14C, and 14K. That is, the exposure unit 20 emits a laser beam L from a light source, reflects the laser beam L by a rotation-driven polygon mirror, scans the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 14M, 14C, and 14K, and performs electrostatic latent. Form an image. After that, the electrostatic latent image of each color is visualized in the toner image of each color through the development step, and is transferred over the intermediate transfer belt 21. In this way, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 21.

The above-mentioned intermediate transfer unit 28 is composed of an intermediate transfer belt 21, four primary transfer bias rollers 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K, a plurality of secondary transfer backup rollers 25, a plurality of tension rollers, an intermediate transfer cleaning unit, and the like. To. The intermediate transfer belt 21 is stretched and stretched over a plurality of roller members, and is driven to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the drive roller, which is one of the plurality of secondary transfer backup rollers 25. To.

The four primary transfer bias rollers 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K each sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 21 between the photoconductor drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K to form a primary transfer nip. A transfer bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K.

The intermediate transfer belt 21 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, respectively. In this way, the toner images of each color on the photoconductor drums 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 and primary transfer is performed.

After that, the intermediate transfer belt 21 on which the toner images of each color are superimposed and transferred reaches the position facing the secondary transfer roller 32. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 25 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 21 with the secondary transfer roller 32 to form a secondary transfer nip. The four-color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 are transferred onto a recording medium P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 21.

After that, the intermediate transfer belt 21 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning unit (not shown). At this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 21 is collected. In this way, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 21 is completed.

The recording medium P conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed along the transfer path from the paper feed unit 39 arranged at the lower part of the apparatus main body 113 by the paper feed roller 40, the resist roller pair 41, and the like. .. That is, a plurality of recording media P such as transfer paper are stacked and stored in the paper feed unit 39. When the paper feed roller 40 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, the top recording medium P is transferred between the rollers of the resist roller vs. 41.

The recording medium P conveyed to the resist roller pair 41 is temporarily stopped at the position of the roller nip of the resist roller pair 41 where the rotation drive is stopped. The resist roller pair 41 is rotationally driven in time with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. In this way, the desired color image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

After that, the recording medium P on which the color image is transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the fixing device 33, and is transferred to the surface of the recording medium P at this position by the heat and pressure of the fixing belt and the pressure roller. The resulting color image is fixed on the recording medium P. After that, the recording medium P is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via the rollers of the paper ejection roller vs. 42. The post-transcriptional recording medium P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the paper ejection roller pair 42 is ejected onto the stack unit 43 as an output image, and is sequentially stacked. In this way, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus is completed.

The developing apparatus 18Y is composed of a developing roller 64Y facing the photoconductor drum 14Y, a doctor blade 65Y facing the developing roller 64Y, two transport screws 68Y arranged in the developer accommodating portions 66Y and 67Y, and the like. The developing roller 64Y is composed of a magnet fixed inside, a cylindrical sleeve rotating around the magnet, and the like. A two-component developer D composed of a carrier and a toner is housed in the developer accommodating portions 66Y and 67Y.

The developing device 18Y configured in this way operates as follows. The sleeve of the developing roller 64Y is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The developer D supported on the developing roller 64Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet moves on the developing roller 64Y as the sleeve rotates.

Here, the developer D in the developing device 18Y is adjusted so that the toner concentration, which is the ratio of the toner in the developing agent, is within a predetermined range. Specifically, according to the toner consumption in the developing device 18Y, the toner stored in the toner container 45Y is replenished in the developing agent storage unit 67Y via the toner replenishing device 73Y (see FIG. 3 and the like). .. The configuration and operation of the toner replenishing device will be described in detail later.

After that, the toner replenished in the developer accommodating portion 67Y circulates in the two developer accommodating portions 66Y and 67Y while being mixed and stirred together with the developer D by the two transport screws 68Y (vertical on the paper surface of FIG. 2). It is a movement of direction.). The toner in the developer D is adsorbed on the carrier by triboelectric charging with the carrier, and is supported on the developing roller 64Y together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 64Y.

The developer D supported on the developing roller 64Y is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 and reaches the position of the doctor blade 65Y. The developer D on the developing roller 64Y is conveyed to a position facing the photoconductor drum 14Y, that is, a developing region, after the amount of the developer is adjusted to an appropriate amount at this position. The electric field formed in the developing region causes the toner to be adsorbed on the latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 14Y. After that, the developer D remaining on the developing roller 64Y reaches the upper part of the developing agent accommodating portion 66Y as the sleeve rotates, and is separated from the developing roller 64Y at this position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the toner container 45Y is mounted on the toner replenishing device 73, and FIG. 4 is a state in which four toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45Y, and 45K are installed in the toner container accommodating portion. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which one toner container 45C is mounted on the toner container accommodating portion 83. The toner in each toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K installed in the toner container accommodating portion 83 of the apparatus main body 113 is a toner replenishing device 73Y provided for each color according to the toner consumption in the developing apparatus of each color. , 73M, 73C, 73K are replenished in each developing device.

The four toner replenishing devices 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K and the toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K have almost the same structure except that the colors of the toner used in the image forming process are different. Only the device 73Y and the toner container 45Y will be described, and the description of the toner replenishing devices 73M, 73C, 73K and the toner containers 45M, 45C, 45K corresponding to the other three colors will be omitted.

With reference to FIG. 1, when the main body cover (not shown) installed on the front side of the apparatus main body 113 (the front side perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) is opened, the insertion port 84 of the toner container accommodating portion 83 is opened. Be exposed. With the longitudinal direction of each toner container 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K horizontal, the toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K are attached / detached from the front side of the apparatus main body 113.

The toner container 45Y is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle, and is a container body 46Y in which a cap portion 47Y held by the toner container accommodating portion 83 and a gear 46c (see FIGS. 13 and 14) are integrally formed. It is composed of and. The container body 46Y is held so as to be rotatable relative to the cap portion 47Y, and is rotationally driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 by the drive portion 104 composed of the drive motor, the drive gear 94, and the like. By rotating the container body 46Y itself, the toner contained in the container body 46Y of the toner container 45Y is conveyed in the longitudinal direction and discharged from the cap portion 47Y. That is, the toner is replenished by appropriately rotating and driving the container body 46Y of the toner container 45Y by the drive unit 104.

The toner replenishing device 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K includes a toner container accommodating unit 83, a driving unit 104, and the like.

The toner container accommodating portion 83 includes a cap receiving portion 86 for holding the cap portion 47Y of the toner container 45Y, a bottle receiving portion 85 for holding the container main body 46Y of the toner container 45Y, and a toner container 45Y during mounting operation. It is composed of an insertion port portion 84 which is an insertion port in the above.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cap portion 47Y is installed on the cap receiving portion 86, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the cap receiving portion 86 of the toner container accommodating portion 83, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the cap portion 47Y. It is a perspective view which shows the cap receiving part 86 in the installed state. FIG. 9 is a front view showing the cap receiving portion 86 in a state where the cap portion 47Y is installed, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cap receiving portion 86 viewed from diagonally below.

The toner container accommodating portion 83 is provided with a bottle receiving portion 85, a cap receiving portion 86, and an insertion port 84. The toner container 45Y is provided by the user who grips the grip portion 46d from the insertion port 84 with the cap portion 47Y at the head and the longitudinal direction as the mounting direction with respect to the container body 46Y in a state where the longitudinal direction is horizontal. It is attached to the toner container accommodating portion 83. The toner container 45Y inserted from the insertion port 84 is pushed by the user toward the cap receiving portion 86 while sliding on the bottle receiving surface 85a of the bottle receiving portion 85.

The cap receiving portion 86 of the toner container accommodating portion 83 is provided with a first reference pin 86a, a second reference pin 86b, a contact groove 86m, a side groove 86h, a wall portion 86g, a through hole 86f, and the like.

11 is a perspective view of the toner container 45Y viewed from diagonally below, FIG. 12 is a side view showing the container main body 46Y, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the cap portion 47Y of the toner container 45Y viewed from diagonally above. be. FIG. 14 is a front view of the toner container 45Y as viewed from the cap portion 47Y side, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cap portion 47Y showing a state in which the shutter member 47d opens the toner supply port 86w.

Each of the first reference pin 86a and the second reference pin 86b as the positioning pin is fitted into the first positioning notch 47a and the second positioning notch 47b of the cap portion 47Y in the toner container 45Y, whereby the first reference pin 86a and the second reference pin 86b are fitted to each other. The cap portion 47Y is positioned on the cap receiving portion 86.

The first reference pin 86a is longer in the axial direction than the second reference pin 86b, and the reference plane serving as the root portion is formed on the same plane. Further, the tip of the first reference pin 86a has a tapered shape. With these configurations, the toner container 45Y can be smoothly attached to the cap receiving portion 86 in the longitudinal attachment operation of the toner container 45Y to the cap receiving portion 86.

When the toner container 45Y is attached / detached, the side protrusion 47c formed on the cap portion 47Y pushes away the cap portion sandwiching member 86r urged by the torsion coil spring 106 in the groove portion 86r1 and the side groove 86h. do. As a result, the user who performs the operation of attaching / detaching the toner container 45Y to / from the cap receiving portion 86 of the apparatus main body 113 can feel a click feeling synchronized with the attaching / detaching operation, and is optimal without performing the attaching / detaching operation with halfway momentum. The toner container 45Y can be attached and detached with great momentum.

On the wall surface perpendicular to the mounting direction of the cap receiving portion 86, a through hole 86f having a shape in which an elliptical hole extending in the vertical direction and a square hole overlap each other with their edges aligned with each other is formed. .. Through the through hole 86f, the connector 86e shown in FIG. 18 described later is installed so as to be exposed to the inside from the inner wall of the cap receiving portion 86 as shown in FIG. When the toner container 45Y is attached to the cap receiving portion 86, the connector 86e comes into close contact with the printer memory device 48 arranged at the tip of the cap portion 47Y, and controls the printer memory device 48 and the device main body 113. The unit 103 is electrically connected, and transmission / reception between the printer memory device 48 and the control unit 103 of the device main body 113 becomes possible.

Four connectors 86e are arranged on each cap receiving portion 86, as shown in FIG. 7, corresponding to the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, and 45K. The four connectors 86e are arranged side by side on one rectangular common electronic board 108. Specifically, the connector 86e is fixed on the common electronic board 108 by fitting the snap-fit locking claw 86e4 formed on the bottom of the connector 86e into the notch formed in the common electronic board 108.

In the common electronic board 108 to which the four connectors 86e are fixed, the four connector 86e enter the inside of the cap receiving portion 86 through the through holes 86f, respectively, and the four cap receiving portions 86K, 86C, 86M, 86Y It is fixed in a positioned state along the arrangement direction of. More specifically, the four bolts 112 are attached to the boss portion 86x formed below the wall portions of the four cap receiving portions 86K, 86C, 86M, 86Y via the notches formed in the common electronic substrate 108. Each is screwed, and the common electronic substrate 108 is screwed to the cap receiving portion 86 from the outside.

The connector 86e is composed of a connector main body 86e1, four main body side terminals 86e2 (see FIGS. 20A and 20B), a positioning pin 86e3 which is a positioning protrusion, and the like. The three main body side terminals 86e2 of the connector 86e are made of a plate-shaped or linear conductive material, for example, metal, and are fixedly supported by the connector main body 86e1 with one end side as a fixed end and the other end side as a free end. Further, the three main body side terminals 86e2 are formed with curved portions that are convexly curved toward the printer memory device 48 on the other end side.

With the operation of attaching the cap portion 47Y to the cap receiving portion 86, the curved portion of the main body side terminal 86e2 is displaced upward in FIG. 12, and the toner container side terminal of the printer memory device 48 installed in the cap portion 47Y. While gradually increasing the contact pressure with respect to 48a, the displacement is made from the central portion in the longitudinal direction toward the left side of FIG. The tip of the positioning pin 86e3 is formed in a substantially conical shape so that the printer memory device 48 can be easily and reliably fitted into the notch 48b1.

16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the printer memory device 48 is engaged with the connector 86e, FIG. 17 is an enlarged front view of the printer memory device 48, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the connector 86e. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting operation of the printer memory device 48 to the connector 86e. 20A and 20B are diagrams for explaining the electrical configuration of the printer memory device 48 and the connector 86e, FIGS. 21A and 21B are perspective views showing a toner container 45Y, and FIG. 21A is a printer memory. FIG. 21B is an exploded perspective view showing a state before the device 48 is mounted, and FIG. 21B is a perspective view showing a state in which the printer memory device 48 is mounted. FIG. 22 is a front view showing the toner container 45Y.

The printer memory device of the present embodiment has a substrate 48b in which a notch 48b21 into which the positioning protrusion 86e3 can be fitted is formed, and a positioning protrusion 86e3 fitted in the notch 48b21 when the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted in the notch 48b21. It is made of a ground terminal 48d made of a conductive material so as to be in contact with the substrate 48b, and a conductive material provided on the substrate 48b so as to be in contact with the terminals 86e21 to 86e23 on the main body side when the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the notch 48b21. The printer main body 113 and the toner container are electrically connected to the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3, the ground terminal 48d on the substrate 48b, and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3, and the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted in the notch 48b21. A memory device 48c for storing information transmitted / received to / from the 45Y via the main body side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3 is provided.

As described above, the substrate 48b of the printer memory device 48 has a notch 48b21, a plurality of rectangular toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3, a first toner container side terminal 48a1 and a second toner container side. A ground terminal 48d arranged between the terminals 48a2 is formed.

In the printer memory device 48, a notch 48b21 is formed at a position on one short side, which is closer to the upper side of the center of gravity G of the substrate 48b in FIG. A ground terminal 48d is arranged around the notch 48b21 including the inner circumference. The ground terminal 48d formed on the surface of the substrate 48b is connected to an annular portion surrounding the circular hole of the notch 48b21 and an annular portion, and two extensions extending in parallel toward one side of the substrate 48b. It has a protruding portion 48d1 and.

One rectangular toner container side terminal 48a1 is arranged vertically above the notch 48b21, and two rectangular toner container side terminals 48a2, 48a3 are arranged vertically below the notch 48b21. Will be done.

The toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3 have an elongated rectangular shape along the short side of the substrate 48b, and come into contact with the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 when the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the circular hole of the notch 48b21.

On the back side of the substrate 48b, which is the side facing the cap portion 47Y, a protective member 48e made of a hemispherical resin material such as epoxy and covering and protecting the memory device 48c is provided. The protective member 48e has a memory device 48c such as an IC inside, and has the largest weight on the back surface. Therefore, by arranging the notch 48b21 above the protective member 48e, the positional relationship that the notch 48b21 is vertically above the center of gravity of the printer memory device 48 is realized. Specifically, referring to FIG. 17, in the printer memory device 48, the center position of the circular hole of the notch 48b21 is upward in FIG. 17 by a distance L1 from the center of gravity of the printer memory device 48, that is, the substrate 48b. It is formed in an eccentric position near one short side.

In FIG. 18, the connector 86e has a connector main body 86e1 which is a hollow box made of resin, and a positioning pin 86e3 having a hollow cylinder and a substantially conical tip at the tip of the connector main body 86e1 holds a toner container 45Y. It is provided so as to stand up in the horizontal direction while being attached to the device main body 113. The main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding is connected to the positioning pin 86e3. The main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding is made of a metal member which is a plate-shaped conductive material, and a part thereof is housed in a hollow portion of a positioning pin 86e3 integrally formed with the connector main body 86e20, and the curved portion thereof is housed. It is exposed from a slit-shaped opening formed in a part of the peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder.

One main body side terminal 86e21 is provided at a position vertically above the positioning pin 86e3, and two main body side terminals 86e22 and 86e23 are provided at a position vertically below. These main body side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 are plate-shaped metal members, and are configured in substantially the same manner except that the installation positions are different.

Below the connector body 86e20, on both sides of the positioning pin 86e3, a pair of ribs formed so that the tapered surfaces inside the tips of each other are line-symmetrical are formed, and are both end faces of the printer memory device 48. A runout prevention member 86e24 is provided as a pair of restricting members facing a portion vertically below the center of the notch 48b21.

With reference to FIG. 16, when the toner container 45Y is attached to the device main body 113, the positioning of the connector 86e on the device main body 113 side and the printer memory device 48 is completed, and the main body side terminals 86e2, 86e25 and the above-mentioned. The toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3 and the ground terminal 48d are connected.

In a series of mounting operations of the toner container 45Y, the positioning pin 86e3 is guided to fit into the notch 48b21 of the cap portion 47Y as shown by a virtual line, and the taper at the tip of the positioning pin 86e3 guides the printer memory. The horizontal and vertical positions of the device 48 are simultaneously positioned.

Further, a pair of runout prevention members 86e24 of the connector 86e2 are fitted to the lower edges on both the left and right sides of the substrate 48b, which are below the center of the notch 48b21. At this time, even if the position of the printer memory device 48 is displaced, the tapered surface of each runout prevention member abuts on the long sides of both sides of the board 48b of the printer memory device 48, so that the posture is vertical with the center of gravity as the center of rotation. The substrate 48b rotates in the direction of the plumb bob, and the deviation of the posture can be corrected.

As a result, the printer memory device 48 can be easily positioned, and the ground terminal 48d of the printer memory device 48 comes into contact with the grounding main body side terminal 86e25 of the positioning pin 86e3 and is electrically connected to the printer memory. The device 48 can be grounded. Further, as shown in FIG. 20A, the three toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 of the printer memory device 48 come into contact with the three main body side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 of the connector 86e, respectively, and the printer memory device 48 And the main body side connector 86e, and therefore the device main body 113, are connected, and information can be transmitted between the printer memory device 48 and the device main body 113.

According to this embodiment, since the notch 48b21 is formed on the substrate 48b of the printer memory device 48, the substrate 48b can be easily processed, and the printer at the time of mounting the toner container 45Y on the apparatus main body 113. A reliable electrical connection between the memory device 48 and the device main body 113 can be obtained. Further, since the main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding is provided around the positioning pin 86e3, the distance between the main body side terminal 86e3 and the main body side terminal 86e25 can be made substantially 0, and the ground terminal 48d can be positioned with respect to the main body side terminal 86e25. The accuracy can be improved.

In the mounting completed state, the notch 48b21 and the curved portion of the main body side terminal 86e2 are aligned with the hole center of the notch 48b21 on the line connecting the curved contact portions of the three main body side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 on the connector 86e side. The arrangement relationship of is set. As a result, the horizontal distance from the notch 48b21, which is the positioning portion, to the contact portion is reduced to substantially 0 mm, and the three toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the main body side terminal 86e2 are in contact with each other. Positioning accuracy is improved.

When each of the toner containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K is stored as a single item, foreign matter enters the holding member 47k and is caught between the printer memory device 48 and the facing portion around the printer memory device 48. Even if the position is displaced, the notch 48b21 of the printer memory device 48 is vertically above the center of gravity. The tapered surface of the prevention member 86e24 can rotate the printer memory device 48 with its center of gravity as the center of rotation so that its posture is along the vertical direction, and can correct the misalignment. Thereby, even if there is only one notch 48b21, the positioning of the plurality of toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 with respect to the plurality of main body side terminals 86e2 can be performed with high accuracy.

A clock signal for communication control is input to the toner container side terminal 48a1 at the uppermost level. The serial communication method, which is slow but low cost due to sequential communication, is adopted, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is adopted as the serial bus, and the serial clock (SCL) is input while connected to the main unit connector. Form a signal line. The toner container side terminal 48a1 corresponds to the terminal on the clock signal input direction side, but since the signal flow of the clock signal is one-way, the printer memory due to a short circuit with the toner container side terminal 48a3 connected to the power supply described later. It is predicted that the possibility of destruction of the device 48 is high as compared with other terminals. Therefore, in order to avoid the destruction of the printer memory device 48, even if it is arranged in a place away from Vcc and short-circuited with the ground terminal 48d, there is no possibility of damage.

The toner container side terminal 48a2 is also used for signal transmission / reception in a serial communication method, adopts I2C as a serial bus, and forms a signal line to which serial data (SDA) is input / output while connected to a main body side connector. Since this pad is bidirectional for input and output, the possibility of damage to the printer memory device 48 due to a short circuit is smaller than that of the toner container side terminal 48a1 for one-way input.

The toner container side terminal 48a3 is a power input unit (Vcc), and a voltage of 5V or 3.3V is input while connected to the main body side connector. In order to reduce the risk of failure for the entire device due to a short circuit between the power supply and GND, a toner container that is a serial data input terminal is located between the ground terminal 48d (GND) and the toner container side terminal 48a1 that is a serial clock input terminal. It is arranged so as to sandwich the side terminal 48a2. The toner container side terminal 48a3, which is a power input unit, overlaps with the protective member 48e on the back side of the printer memory device 48 via the substrate 48b, and is close to the IC drive circuit in the protective member 48e. As a result, the power supply line can be shortened and thickened, malfunctions due to noise and the like can be reduced, and the power supply can be stabilized.

Regarding grounding, in the mounting operation of the toner container 45Y, after the ground terminal 48d of the printer memory device 48 comes into contact with the grounding main body side terminal 86e25 of the positioning pin 86e3 of the connector 86e, the three toners of the printer memory device 48 The container-side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 are configured to start contacting the three main body-side terminals 86e2 of the connector 86e. In other words, in the detachment operation of the toner container 45Y, after the contact of the three toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 of the printer memory device 48 with the three main body side terminals 86e2 of the connector 86e is released, the printer memory The ground terminal 48d of the device 48 is configured so that the contact of the positioning pin 86e3 of the connector 86e with the main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding is released. Specifically, referring to FIG. 20A, in the connector 86e, the contact start position of the main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding is closer to the side of the memory device 48 for the printer than the three main body side terminals 86e2. Is formed in.

FIG. 21A shows the toner container 45Y in the state before the face plate 47p is installed, and FIG. 21B shows the vicinity of the toner container 45Y in the state where the printer memory device 48 and the face plate 47p are installed. A recess is formed on the end surface of the cap portion 47Y to hold the printer memory device 48 so that the printer memory device 48 can move in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toner container 45Y. With the printer memory device 48 loosely inserted in the recess of the cap portion 47Y, a face plate 47p for preventing the printer memory device 48 from falling off from the recess is installed. The face plate 47p is screwed to a part of the substrate 48b of the printer memory device 48 so as to be in contact with the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the ground terminal 48d of the printer memory device 48. The memory device 48 is held so that the position can be adjusted.

In the mounting operation of the toner container 45Y, the connection between the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the main body side terminal 86e2 is started while the printer memory device 48 is always grounded, and the toner container 45Y is attached. In the detachment operation, the contact release between the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the main body side terminal 86e2 is started while the printer memory device 48 is always grounded. Therefore, it is prevented that the electric circuit on the printer memory device 48 side is not grounded and becomes electrically floating, and the printer memory device 48 is less likely to be electrically damaged.

When the electric circuit on the memory device 48 side of the printer is in a state of being electrically floated without being grounded, the electric circuit is in a state of being grounded with a very large impedance, and the toner container side terminal 48a and the main body side terminal 86e2 are in a state of being grounded. When even a small amount of static electricity generated at the time of contact with or at the time of contact with the electric circuit flows into an electric circuit, a high voltage almost equal to the product of the current and the impedance is generated. This high voltage causes dielectric breakdown inside the IC in the printer memory device 48, and the IC is damaged. As shown in FIG. 20B, such a problem is caused so that the contact start positions of the three main body side terminals 86e2 and the main body side terminal 86e25 for grounding with respect to the printer memory device 48 are formed at the same position in the connector 86e. It tends to occur in such cases.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the terminals 86e21 to 86e23 on the main body side are exposed from the notch 48b21 which is the slit-shaped opening of the positioning pin 86e3 rather than the curved portion which is the most protruding portion toward the printer memory device 48 side. The curved portion of the main body side terminal 86e25 is arranged so as to be closer to the printer memory device 48. As a result, the circuit is grounded first at the time of contact, and the circuit at the time of separation is grounded last. Therefore, the impedance is always theoretically zero, and even if static electricity flows into the electric circuit, dielectric breakdown inside the IC is caused. Can be prevented.

Further, as described in FIG. 17, the printer memory device 48 in the present embodiment is provided with two extending portions 48d1 on a part of the outer periphery of the ground terminal 48d. By providing the extending portion 48d1 on one surface of the substrate 48b of the printer memory device 48 in this way, energization is performed in an inspection process at the time of manufacturing in a factory, for example, in a process of inspecting the quality of the printer memory device 48. It is possible to facilitate the contact work of the probe for inspection.

At this time, since the extended portion 48d1 of the ground terminal 48d has a sufficient area for the tip of the probe to come into contact with the ground terminal 48d, it is necessary to prevent the energization inspection failure due to the contact failure of the probe and improve the reliability of the inspection. Can be done. Further, since the tip of the probe is brought into contact with the extending portion 48d1 of the ground terminal 48d from above and the energization inspection is performed, the energization inspection is performed for each inspection as compared with the case where the probe is inserted into the notch 48b21 and the energization inspection is performed. It is possible to improve the resistance of the probe itself that is used repeatedly, and it is also possible to prevent a problem that the notch 48b21 of the printer memory device 48 is worn by the energization inspection.

As described above, the virtual plane in which the contact type printer memory device 48 is substantially orthogonal to the moving direction when the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 approach and contact the main body side terminals 86e21 to 86e24. It is held by the holding member 47k so that it can move on the top. As a result, even when the contact-type printer memory device 48 is installed in the toner container 45Y detachably installed with respect to the printer main body 113, the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e24 of the connector 86e of the printer main body 113 Poor contact due to poor positioning with the printer is less likely to occur.

Further, even when the contact type printer memory device 48 is installed in the toner container 45Y detachably installed with respect to the printer main body 113, one formed on the substrate 48b of the printer memory device 48. Since the notch 48b21 is formed with a ground terminal 48d that engages with the grounding printer side terminal 86e25 formed on the positioning pin 86e3 of the connector 86e, it is difficult for the printer memory device 48 to be electrically damaged. be able to.

FIG. 23 is a front view showing a printer memory device 48A according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to the above-described embodiments. In the printer memory device A of the present embodiment, the substrate 48b is opened on the long side of either of the two long sides of the substrate 48b, and the notch 48b21 is formed.

Also with such a notch 48b21, when the toner container 45Y is attached / detached to / from the printer main body 113, the printer side terminals 86e21, 86a22, 86e23 are connected to the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the ground terminal 48d. , 86e24 is contacted and pressed, or even if the positioning pin 86e3 is contacted and pressed around the notch 48b21 of the substrate 48b, no large stress is generated on the substrate 48b, and the residual stress and residual strain of the substrate 48b are not generated. Can be significantly reduced. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of poor connection of the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 to the printer side terminals 86e21, 86a22, 86e23, 86e24.

FIG. 24 is a front view showing a printer memory device 48B according to an embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to the above-described embodiments. As shown in FIG. 24, the printer memory device 48B of the present embodiment is a circular hole into which a positioning protrusion 86e3 can be fitted into a substrate 48b which is a vertically elongated rectangular shape in a front view, and the center position of the circular hole is the center of gravity. A circular hole near the short side above by a distance L1 from the substrate and an opening on the long side side (left side in FIG. 24) of either of the two long sides of the substrate 48b, and close to the long side of the one. As a result, a notch 48b21 having an inclined portion extending downward toward the short side is formed and formed. As shown in FIG. 24, the inclined portions are formed so that their inner surfaces facing each other are parallel to each other. The notch 48b21 is above the center of gravity.

Also with such a notch 48b21, when the toner container 45Y is attached / detached to / from the printer main body 113, the printer side terminals 86e21, 86a22, 86e23 are connected to the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the ground terminal 48d. , 86e24 is contacted and pressed, or even if the positioning pin 86e3 is contacted and pressed around the notch 48b21 of the substrate 48b, no large stress is generated on the substrate 48b, and the residual stress and residual strain of the substrate 48b are not generated. Can be significantly reduced. As a result, the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 4 with respect to the printer side terminals 86e21, 86a22, 86e23
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of poor connection of 8a3.

FIG. 25 is a front view showing a printer memory device 48C according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to the above-described embodiments. The printer memory device C of the present embodiment has a notch 48b21 that opens in the substrate 48b on the long side of one of the two long sides of the substrate 48b and extends in parallel with the short side of one and the other. Is formed.

Also with such a notch 48b21, when the toner container 45Y is attached to and detached from the printer main body 113, the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23, 86e24 are connected to the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 and the ground terminal 48d. Is touched and pressed, or even if the positioning pin 86e3 is touched and pressed around the notch 48b21 of the substrate 48b, no large stress is generated on the substrate 48b, and residual stress and residual strain of the substrate 48b are generated. Can be significantly reduced. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of poor connection of the toner container side terminals 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 to the printer side terminals 86e21, 86e22, 86e23.

The present invention is capable of the following embodiments.

(1) The present invention is a printer memory device provided in a toner container that is detachably attached to a printer main body having a main body side terminal and a grounded positioning protrusion.
A substrate having a notch into which the positioning protrusion can be fitted, and a substrate.
When the positioning protrusion is fitted into the notch, a ground terminal made of a conductive material provided on the substrate so as to come into contact with the positioning protrusion fitted in the notch, and a ground terminal made of a conductive material.
A toner container-side terminal made of a conductive material provided on the substrate so as to come into contact with the main body-side terminal when the positioning protrusion is fitted into the notch, and a toner container-side terminal.
The printer body and the toner container are electrically connected to the ground terminal and the toner container side terminal on the substrate, and the positioning protrusion is fitted in the notch. A printer memory device including a memory device for storing information transmitted / received via a toner container side terminal.

(2) Further, the present invention has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front.
The notch is characterized in that it opens on one long side of the substrate and is formed at a position eccentric to one short side of the center of gravity of the substrate.

(3) Further, in the present invention, the ground terminal has a portion surrounding the notch and the surrounding portion toward the other long side of the substrate opposite to the long side of the one. It is characterized by comprising two extending portions.

(4) The present invention
(A) Toner detachably attached to the printer main body 113 provided with printer-side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 and a grounded positioning protrusion 86e3 having a horizontally standing hollow cylinder and a substantially conical tip. A printer memory device 48B (FIG. 24) provided in the containers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K.
(B) It is a rectangle that is elongated vertically (Fig. 24) when viewed from the front.
A notch 48b21 is formed, and this notch 48b21 is
A circular hole into which the positioning protrusion 86e3 can be fitted (paragraph [0058, 0069]), wherein the center position of the circular hole is closer to the short side above the center of gravity by a distance L1.
A series of circular holes is opened on the long side of one of the substrates 48b (left side in FIG. 24), and is inclined toward the lower short side as it approaches the long side of one side (left side in FIG. 24). It has an elongated inclined portion (paragraph [0083]) and
The notch 48b21 includes the substrate 48b above the center of gravity and the substrate 48b.
(C) A ground terminal 48d provided on the substrate 48b and made of a conductive material.
When the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the circular hole of the notch 48b21, the annular portion surrounding the circular hole and the annular portion so as to come into contact with the fitted positioning protrusion 86e3.
A ground terminal 48d which is connected to the annular portion and has an extending portion 48d1 extending toward the long side of the other side (right side of FIG. 24) of the substrate 48b.
(D) It is provided on the substrate 48b, is made of a conductive material, is arranged above and below the notch 48b21, and has an elongated rectangular shape along the short side (in the left-right direction of FIG. 24), and is notched. When the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted into the circular hole of 48b21, the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3 that come into contact with the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23, and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3.
(E) The printer main body 113 and the toner container 45Y, 45M are electrically connected to the ground terminal 48d and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3 on the substrate 48b, and the positioning protrusion 86e3 is fitted in the circular hole of the notch 48b21. , 45C, 45K, a memory device for a printer, comprising a memory device 48 for storing information transmitted / received via the printer side terminals 86e21 to 86e23 and the toner container side terminals 48a1 to 48a3. be. Reference points are shown in parentheses ().

18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K Printer 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K Image forming unit 21 Intermediate transfer belt 28 Intermediate transfer unit 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K Toner container 46Y Container body 46c Gear 46d Grip part 47d Shutter member 47k Holding member 47Y Cap part 48 Printer memory device 48a1, 48a2, 48a3 Terminal 48b Board 48b21 Notch 48c Memory device 48d Ground terminal 48d1 Extension part 73Y, 73M, 73C, 73K Toner replenishment device 83 Toner container storage part 84 Insertion part 85 Bottle Receiver 86e Connector 86e1 Connector body 86e21 to 86e23 Printer side terminal 86e3 Positioning pin 86e25 Printer side terminal for grounding 103 Control unit 113 Printer body G Center of gravity

Claims (2)

(A) A cylindrical toner container moves along its longitudinal axis and is detachably attached to the printer body.
The printer body is provided with a grounded positioning protrusion that faces upstream in the mounting direction of the toner container, is a hollow cylinder that stands up horizontally and has a substantially conical tip, and a terminal on the printer side.
The toner container is a memory device for a printer, which is held at an end downstream of the mounting direction so as to be movable and position-adjustable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
(B) It is a rectangular shape that is elongated vertically when viewed from the front.
A notch is formed, and this notch is
A circular hole into which a positioning protrusion can be fitted, and a circular hole whose center position is closer to the short side above the center of gravity by a distance L1.
It has an inclined portion that is continuous from the circular hole and opens on one long side of the substrate, and is inclined toward the lower short side as it approaches the long side of the one.
The notch is the substrate above the center of gravity and
(C) A ground terminal provided on the substrate facing downstream in the mounting direction and made of a conductive material.
When the positioning protrusion is fitted into the circular hole of the notch, the annular part surrounding the circular hole and the annular portion so as to come into contact with the fitted positioning protrusion.
A ground terminal that is connected to an annular portion and has an extending portion extending toward the other long side of the substrate.
(D) A circular hole in the notch, which is provided on the substrate facing downstream in the mounting direction, is made of a conductive material, is arranged above and below the notch, and has an elongated rectangular shape along the short side. When the positioning protrusion is fitted into the toner container side terminal, which comes into contact with the printer side terminal,
(E) It is provided on the surface of the substrate on the upstream side in the mounting direction, is arranged below the notch, is electrically connected to the ground terminal and the toner container side terminal, and the positioning protrusion is fitted into the circular hole of the notch. A memory device that stores information transmitted and received between the printer main unit and the toner container via the printer side terminal and the toner container side terminal in this state.
(F) A memory device for a printer, which is made of a resin material and includes a protective member that covers and protects the memory device on the surface of the substrate on the upstream side in the mounting direction. The printer memory device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion has inner surfaces facing each other formed in parallel.

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