JPH01205175A - Consumables cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a simple detecting means fit for a use to be thrown by providing a detection means which contacts with a sensing means provided in a main body device and actuates it and a release means which releases the actuated state of the sensing means by interlocking with the starting of the main body device. CONSTITUTION:When an unused cartridge 2 is attached in the main body device from the direction of an arrow, a reset knob 3 functioning as the detection means pushes the projection of a microswitch 1 to be in the actuated state. When the main body device forms an image, a gear 5 constituting the release means of the reset knob 3 rotates and a gear 4 meshing with the gear 5, which is also the release means, rotates about 90 deg. and stops. Therefore, the reset knob 3 drops to get out of the acting position of the microswitch 1. Thus, the replacement of a consumables cartridge 2 can be surely detected on the main body device side and the main body device controls the use amount of the consumables cartridge 2, so that a trouble caused by using the cartridge too much can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a consumable cartridge that is removably attached to a main body apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a detection method for detecting the loading of a cartridge, the user presses a reset button to notify the device controller that the cartridge has been replaced with a new one. Another method is to equip the cartridge with a means to count the amount used (reference:
Special Publication No. 58-152263).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Among the conventional methods described above, the former requires the user to press a reset button.

Furthermore, the latter method requires a mechanical or electrical counter on the cartridge side to count the amount used, which is expensive and has the disadvantage that disposable cartridges are wasteful.

It is an object of the invention to provide a consumable cartridge equipped with simple detection means that can be adapted for disposable use.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the consumable cartridge of the present invention includes a detection means that contacts and operates a sensing means provided in the main body device, and a detection means that drives the detection means in conjunction with activation of the main body device. and a release means for releasing the operating state of the sensing means.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(b) is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1(a), a microswitch 1 as a sensing means is attached to the main unit (path shown).

The consumable cartridge 2 has a reset knob 3 as a detection means, and a gear 4 having teeth as a part that rotates integrally with the knob 3, and the gear 4 is a gear rotated by a motor of the main unit. It meshes with 5. Both gears 4,
5 constitutes a release means for the reset knob 3. In an unused cartridge, the reset knob 3 is in the state shown in FIG. 1(a). When this unused cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit in the direction of the arrow, the reset knob 3 pushes the protrusion of the microswitch 1, and the microswitch 1 is put into an operating state. When the main unit creates an image, gear 5 rotates and gear 4 meshes with it.
rotates about 90 degrees and stops. In this state, Figure 1 (b
), the reset knob 3 falls and is removed from the operating position of the microswitch 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control section on the main unit side.

The output of microswitch 1 is C, which controls the entire main unit.
The information is input to the PU 6, and the CPU 6 determines whether to replace the cartridge, stores the value in the non-volatile memory 7, or outputs a message to the display device 8, if necessary.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control flow on the main unit side. The CPU 6 creates a counter value in the memory 7 that represents the amount of consumable cartridges used, and checks the amount of consumables used each time an image is formed.

When the power to the main unit is turned on, the CPU 6 checks whether the microswitch as a reset switch is pressed, and if it is pressed, the consumable cartridge 2 is turned on.
This means that the counter has been exchanged, so the counter value is initialized to O. Thereafter, the CPU 6 continues to count the usage of this cartridge every time image formation is performed. C.P.L.I.
6, when the counter value reaches a preset value, it displays on the display device that the cartridge has reached the end of its life, stops image formation, and detects that another new cartridge has been installed and the microswitch has been pressed. Image formation will not be performed until At this time, if the user turns off the power to the main unit,
Even if the cartridge is replaced by FF, the microswitch 1 remains pressed until the power is turned on, so the CPU 6 can detect the switch after the power is turned on.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by simply adding simple parts to the cartridge, the main unit can reliably detect the replacement of the consumable cartridge, and the main unit can monitor the amount of the consumable cartridge used. It is effective in managing and preventing problems caused by overuse.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(a) and 1(b) are front views of an embodiment of the present invention showing states before and after operation, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the control flow. FIG. 1... Micro switch 2... Consumables cartridge 3... Reset knob 4, 5... Gear 6...
・CPU 7...Memory 8...Display device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a detection means that contacts and operates a sensing means provided in the main body device, and a release means that drives the detection means in conjunction with the activation of the main body device and releases the operating state of the sensing means. A consumable cartridge characterized by: