JPH01231721A - Sheet kind detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable reporting of the set state of a switch through the low number of signal lines, by a method wherein an analogue voltage by means of which synthetic outputs from a plurality of switches are detected is converted into a digital value, and based on a converted output, the set states of a plural ity of the switches are decided. CONSTITUTION:An analogue/digital converter 2 inputs an analogue voltage Vin from a detecting part 1, converts an inputted analogue voltage Vin into a digital value in 8-bit in synchronism with an analogue/digital converter selec tion signal ADCSL and a clock signal CLOCK from a control circuit 3, and transfers it as serial data SiDT to the control circuit 3. Therefore, the control circuit 3 can detect the serial data SiDT of the digital value of an output from the converter 2. Thus, the detecting part 1 may be situated in the position of a device body provided with microswitches 133a-133c, and an output signal line L1 of the detecting part 1 may be wired to the position of the device body provided with the control device of an electronic photograph recording device, the converter 2, the circuit 3, and the mounted printed board of the circuit 3, and a single data line will suffice for operation of a device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] In a recording device such as a printer or a copying machine, the size and type of paper stored in a paper cassette can be determined by an actuator installed in the paper cassette. Regarding a paper type detection device that detects a paper type by a set switch, the outputs of the switch and the plurality of switches are synthesized for the purpose of providing a paper type detection device that can notify the setting state of the switch with a small number of signal lines. a detection section for detecting the detected analog voltage as an analog voltage; an analog/digital conversion section for receiving the detection output from the detection section and converting it into a digital value; and a determination unit that determines the setting state of the switch.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention is a recording device for printers, copying machines, etc. The present invention relates to a paper type detection device that detects the size, paper quality, and other types of paper stored in a paper cassette in a paper cassette with a switch whose value is set by an actuator provided in the paper cassette.

In a recording device such as an electrophotographic recording device that uses cut sheets such as cut sheets, a photosensitive drum is rotated and a toner image corresponding to a recorded image is formed thereon by well-known means.

On the other hand, the cut paper to be used is stored in the paper drawer.
The paper is fed out one by one in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum, and when this paper reaches the transfer position, the toner image is transferred to this paper.

Thereafter, the cut paper is conveyed to a fixing position, where the toner image is fixed.

After the transfer is completed, the surface of the photosensitive drum is neutralized by a static eliminator, and then residual toner is removed by a cleaner.

In this type of apparatus, it is desirable to be able to identify the type of paper stored in the paper feeder when the paper feeder is installed in the apparatus, and for this purpose a paper type detection device is provided.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional paper type detection device includes a plurality of switches.

Then, the combination of states of the switches rl, , r□ is set according to the type of paper to be stored.

The setting state of this switch is notified to a higher-level control device via a signal line provided corresponding to each switch.

This control device determines the type of paper stored in the paper cassette according to the value of each signal line, and sets the state within the printer or copying machine.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, the conventional paper type R detection device notifies the status of each switch through a signal line provided corresponding to each switch. There was a problem that the number of books increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device such as a printer or a copying machine with a paper cassette that is provided with a paper cassette to determine the size, paper quality, etc. of the paper stored in the paper cassette. In a paper type detection device that detects a switch whose value is set by an actuator,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper type detection device capable of notifying the setting state of a switch using a small number of signal lines.

[Means for solving problems]

This purpose, as shown in FIG.
W2. SW3, and the plurality of switches SW1, SW2 .
a detection section 1 for detecting the output of SW3 as a synthesized analog voltage; an analog/digital conversion section 2 for receiving the detection output from the detection section 1 and converting it into a digital value; and the analog/digital conversion. A paper type detection device is achieved, comprising: a determining section 3 that determines the setting states of the plurality of switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 based on the output of the section 2.

[Function] In other words, in the present invention, a detection section is provided that detects the outputs of a plurality of switches as a synthesized analog voltage,
The detection output from this detection unit is notified to the host device via the signal line, and the obtained analog voltage is
This is converted into a digital value by a digital converter, and the switch setting status is determined based on this digital value. Therefore, this analog/digital converter is installed on the host device side, and the detection unit is placed on the paper strength side. between the two,
It is sufficient to connect only the signal line for sending out the analog voltage, and the number of signal lines can be reduced to just one.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the paper type detection device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory diagram of an electrophotographic recording apparatus to which the paper type detection device according to the present invention is applied.

In the figure, IIA is a photosensitive drum, which is rotationally driven by a rotary motor (not shown) using a belt transmission mechanism.
Image formation is performed by process members disposed around the device, IIB is a front charger for uniformly charging the front side of the photosensitive drum 11A, 14 is a laser optical system unit, and a semiconductor device (not shown) is used. laser, rotating polygon mirror,
15 is a developing device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the Angry Light Drum IIA by driving a semiconductor laser according to the information to be recorded using an f-theta lens, etc.; Developing the electrostatic latent image above with toner, 1
3 is a transfer unit 7, which has a transfer charger on the left side and an AC separator on the right side in FIG.
2 which is urged toward the photosensitive drum IIA by the guide member 23 and comes into contact with the non-image forming area 8Q of the photosensitive drum 11A.
It is equipped with a pair of ports 21 to 21 for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum IIA onto a cut sheet of paper being conveyed, and 16 is a heat fixing roller unit that transfers the toner image onto the paper. It is intended to be permanently established.

Further, I7 is a paper force cent, which includes a support plate 114 on which a large number of sheets of paper on which a toner image is to be transferred is stacked, and a spring 116 for urging the support plate 114 upward. A pinocrawler 27 is provided with a slit 45 to allow the passage of paper fed from another paper cassette (not shown) disposed at the lower stage, and is provided so as to be able to be pulled out toward the left in the figure. 2 is a feed roller for feeding out the paper in the cassette 17, which conveys the fed paper through the conveyance path 29, 30 is a standby roller, and a pinch roller 47 provided on the photosensitive drum unit side. Contact with the photosensitive drum IIA
12 is a pre-transfer sheet guide which is driven to rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the transfer unit 31 to feed the paper to the transfer section 31;
It is for guiding the paper that has passed the standby roller 30 to the transfer unit 31, and is attached to an arm 20 that can rotate around a support shaft 19, and is attached to a locking part 26 provided on the transfer unit 7 13. 32 is a sheet guide that guides the paper after transfer to the heat fixing roller unit 16; 35.36° 37 is a conveyance roller; 41 is an upper frame which is rotatable around a support shaft 40 provided on a lower frame 39. 44. 43 is a paper passage detection sensor, and 42 is a manual feed port. Also, 46
A cleaner is used to remove toner remaining on the photosensitive drum IIA, and the photosensitive drum 11A and the pinch roller 47 constitute a replacement unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of the paper force center.

In the figure, 114 is a support plate that is rotatable about the support part 115, 116 is a spring that urges the support plate 114 upward as indicated by the arrow, 117 is a paper separation claw, and 119, 1
Numerals 20 and 121 are temporary locking pins for positioning the stored paper. The locking plates 119 and 120 are for locking the side edges of the paper, and are located at the bottom of the cassette (guide grooves 122 and 12 provided on the opposite side).
3 and can move in the directions of the arrows.

The locking plate 121 is for locking the rear end of the paper, and is movable in the direction of the arrow while being guided by a guide groove 124 provided in the bottom plate of the cassette.

The actuator unit 112 has a convex portion 125° 126 and a concave portion 127, and is supported by the paper cassette 17 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (arrow A, A'' direction).

The support method for this actuator unit 112 is as shown in FIG.
includes an elastic cantilevered claw 12B and a protrusion 129.

The pawl 128 is formed on the side wall 130 of the paper cassette.
31 and is engaged with the back side of the side wall 130 to bring the actuator unit 112 into pressure contact with the side wall 130.

The vertical positioning of the actuator unit 112 is performed using grooves 132 formed vertically at equal intervals on the cassette body side.
This is done by engaging the protrusion 129 at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sensor 113 is composed of a plurality of microswitches 133a, 133b, and 133c arranged vertically in parallel, and is adjacent to the paper cassette 17 installed in the apparatus at a position facing the actuator unit 112. It is provided.

Convex portion 125.1 of the above-mentioned actuator unit 112
26 and recess 127 are these microswitches 133
It has a function of operating 133a, 133b, and 133c.

When the paper cassette 17 is installed in the main body of the apparatus, first, paper of a predetermined type (size, paper quality) is stored in the paper cassette 17.

During this storage, each locking plate 119, 120, 121 is positioned at a position corresponding to this size.
In this case, the leading edge of the paper on the support plate 114 is locked by a claw 117.

On the other hand, the actuator 112 is moved to a predetermined position in the vertical direction corresponding to the type of paper.

In this state, when the paper cassette 17 is installed into the device,
The sensor 113 identifies the paper type using a detection pattern unique to the type of paper stored.

These three points will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 6 as follows.

When the stored paper is A4 size and high quality, the actuator unit 112 is positioned at the top position as shown in FIG. 6(a).

At this time, the topmost microswitch 133a is turned on, and the other microswitches 133b are turned on.

133C is turned off.

In addition, if the storage paper is A-sized tracing paper, the actuator unit 112 is positioned one step lower than in FIG. 6(a), as shown in FIG. 6(b).
At this time, only the microswitch 133b is turned on.

Thereafter, as the actuator unit 112 is positioned one step lower in the same manner, the detection pattern of the sensor 113 changes as shown in FIGS. 6(C) to 6(f), and as shown in FIG. (C) shows the case of A5 size high quality paper, Figure 6 (d) shows the case of A5 size tracing paper, and Figure 6 (e) shows the case of B5 size high quality paper.
The 6th [1U (f) in which the actuator unit 112 is positioned at the bottom shows the case of B5 size tracing paper.

2, by changing the position of the actuator unit 112 according to the type of paper stored, the sensor 11
It becomes possible to identify the type of paper by changing the detection pattern No. 3.

Next, a method for identifying this switch setting pattern will be explained using FIG.

In the figure, SW1, SW2, and SW3 correspond to microswitches 133a, 133b, and 133c, respectively.
It is connected in series to the '@ source (+5V) via the resistor R1.

The detection unit l includes switches 133a connected in series.

Diode D1 connected in parallel to 133b and 133c
~D3. A set of constant voltage diodes zDl and a diode D
D3, resistor R1 provided to limit the current so that the constant voltage diode ZDI etc. are not damaged, and SWI
- It is constructed including resistors R2 and R3 to prevent the analog voltage Vin from exceeding the human power permissible voltage of the analog/digital converter and 2 when all SW3 are off.

The analog/digital converter 2 receives the analog voltage Vin from the detection section 1, and receives the analog/digital converter selection signal *ADC3L and clock signal C from the control circuit 3.
In synchronization with LOCK, the input analog voltage Vin is converted into an 8-bit digital value and serial data 5ID is generated.
This is for transferring the data to the control circuit 3 as T.

The configuration of this analog/digital converter 2 and control circuit 3 is, for example, NIKKEI? IECHANICAL
1984°6.4, pages 190-191.

In the configuration described above, assuming that the voltage drop of the diodes D1 to D3 is 0.7■ and the voltage drop of the constant voltage diode ZD1 is 2.8■, each switch SW1. SW2. SW
The analog voltage Vs corresponding to the setting state 3 is as shown in FIG.

Here, analog/digital converter 2 is set to full scale 2
．． 5■ and 8 pinto, and if resistor R2=R3, then Vin=%Vs.

Therefore, the control circuit 3 can detect the digital value real data 5IDT output from the analog/digital converter 2 as the value shown in FIG.

In this way, in this embodiment, three switches SW
1, SW2. The state of each switch can be determined by simply detecting the state of SW3 as an analog voltage Vin whose output is synthesized and transmitting it to the analog/digital converter 2.

Therefore, the detection section 1 is replaced by the microswitch 133a.

133b and 133c, and a control device for controlling the output signal line L1 of the detection section 1 to the electrophotographic recording device, the analog/digital converter 2, and the control circuit 3 are installed. It is sufficient to wire the wiring to the position of the main body of the device where the printed board is placed, making it possible to use only one data line.

Further, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for regulating the amount of paper stored in the paper cassette 17.

For example, in the paper cassette 17 shown in FIG. 3, the number of sheets that can be stacked on the support plate 114 is determined.

For example, when paper is fed out from the paper cassette 17 by a friction method such as a big roller 27 as shown in FIG.
During the rotation operation of step 7, the support plate 114 moves downward, so that the pressing force of the paper against the big roller 27 is always constant, and it is necessary to keep the frictional force applied to the paper constant. This is because the vertical stroke of the sub-ring 116 must not be disturbed.

For this reason, in conventional paper cassettes, a red line is drawn on the side wall 130 of the paper storage center 17, etc., and it is written that paper should be stored within the range below the red line.

However, some operators may not notice or ignore these indicators and load paper beyond this red line, causing a problem that jams may occur when paper is fed out after being installed in the main body of the device. was there.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The height of the mooring plates 119, 120, and 121 from the bottom plate is,
It is sufficient to set the height L2 to be the same height as the maximum loading amount so that no jam occurs during paper feeding operation.

Therefore, if the operator attempts to set sheets along the locked side, the sheets cannot be stacked higher than that height.

Therefore, the support plate 114 can be moved downward without any problem even if the paper is fed out by the Bickrow.
It becomes possible to feed out the paper with a predetermined frictional force.

In FIG. 9, a case has been described in which a big roller is used as the feeding means, but the invention is not limited to this, and any device using a friction method can be applied.

In addition, by making the side wall 130 of the paper cassette 17 higher than the height of the locking plate, it is possible to provide support when installing it in the main body of the apparatus.
, 114 can be prevented from coming into contact with the apparatus housing.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of signal lines for notifying a higher-level control device of the detection output from the detection unit that detects the type of paper.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the paper type detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of an electrophotographic recording device to which the paper type detection device according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a paper FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts of the paper cassette shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an overview of the paper type detection mechanism, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the paper type detection mechanism. 7 is a diagram showing the analog voltage corresponding to the state of the switch, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the digital signal corresponding to the analog voltage, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the locking plate of the paper cassette. It is. In the figure, 1 is a detection section, 2 is an analog/digital converter, 3 is a control circuit, and SW1, SW2 and SW3 are switches. Front view showing the outline of the paper type W4 test structure Figure 5 (d) (e) (f)
Explanation diagram of the operation of paper type detection II ellipse Figure 6 Akuq [Yes] Part 9 ■

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of switches (SW1, SW2, SW3) whose values are set by a plurality of actuators provided in a paper cassette loaded into the device, and outputs of the plurality of switches (SW1, SW2, SW3) a detection unit (1) for detecting the synthesized analog voltage; an analog/digital conversion unit (2) for receiving the detection output from the detection unit (1) and converting it into a digital value; A paper type detection device comprising: a determination section (3) that determines the setting states of the plurality of switches (SW1, SW2, SW3) based on the output of the digital conversion section (2). (2) a plurality of switches to which binary values are set; a detection unit for detecting the outputs of the plurality of switches as a synthesized analog voltage; and a detection unit that receives the detection output from the detection unit and converts it into a digital value. an analog/digital converter for converting the analog/digital converter;
A switch setting state detection device comprising: a determination unit that determines the setting states of the plurality of switches based on the output of the digital conversion unit.