JPH01296273A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lighten the operating burden of an operator by controlling a containing part traveling means according to the existence or the absence of an empty containing part, when a developing device is not in an image forming means or a developing device containing means. CONSTITUTION:When responding to the color specification, the developing device is not in the image forming means through a pressure lock part, and when the developing device for the specified color is detected to be absent in partitions 151a-151c by detection by a color detecting sensor 167 of color detecting marks 166 of developing device contained in the partitions 151a-151c of the developing device containing part of a containing case 151 of a plural number developing device containing device 150, which is fed vertically, sequentially through a vertical motor 171, which is the traveling means, whether the partitions 151a-151c are empty or not is detected in the same way by developing device detecting sensors 164, 165, etc. When found empty, the partitions 151a-151c are set at a developing device inserting and extracting opening 55a through a motor 171, and the developing device for the specified color is inserted through a horizontal traveling means, and if found to be not empty, the developing device is exchanged in the same way. The burden of the operator is lightened by the automatic judgement of the existence of the developing machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and particularly to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices.

[Related technology]

Some image forming apparatuses of this type include a plurality of color developing devices in the main body and are switched by a rotary mechanism.

On the other hand, it has also been proposed to provide a plurality of color developing devices in a storage device outside the main body. Moving operations such as moving the container into the main body are required.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In such an apparatus, when attempting to form an image using a color developer, if the specified color developer is neither in the image forming apparatus main body nor in the developer storage device, the operator must empty the empty storage space one by one. Search and set the desired developer,
Alternatively, an unnecessary developing device must be found and replaced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that reduces the burden on an operator during operation.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] According to the present invention, an image forming means that forms an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on a recording medium and then developing it, and a plurality of storage sections into which developing devices can be taken in and out are provided. a storage means comprising a storage means, a designation means for designating a desired developing device, transporting the developing device into the image forming means from a storage section designated by the designation means among the plurality of storage sections, and the image forming means a moving means for moving the storage section to store the developing device in an empty storage section; a detection means for detecting the presence or absence and type of the developing device in the image forming means and the storage means; and a designation input from the designation means. and a control means for controlling the moving means according to the detection result of the detecting means, and the control means controls the moving means when the developing device specified by the specifying means is not in the image forming means and the storage means. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus (copying machine) to which a desired seine device is applied by controlling the moving means according to the presence or absence of an empty storage section in the storage means. The image forming apparatus shown here has a structure that enables double-sided image formation and multiple image formation using different colors.

First, before explaining the multiple developer storage device of the embodiment, the main body of the image forming apparatus to which the multiple developer storage device is applied will be described.

The original 2 placed on the original placing glass 1 is illuminated by a lamp 3, and this light source is connected to a reflecting mirror 4°5, 6.7.8.
．． 9 and a zoom lens 10, the photosensitive drum 11 is guided onto the photosensitive drum 11. lamp 3 and mirror 4
The mirrors 5 and 6 each move at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow A to scan N2. On the other hand, since the photosensitive drum 11 is also rotated in the direction of arrow B after its outer surface has been uniformly charged by the primary charger 12, the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 1 has electrostatic potential that corresponds to the original image. An image is formed. Color toner (for example, green) is placed around such a photosensitive drum 11.
A color developing device (green developing device 13c) containing black toner and a black developing device 14 containing black toner are provided. These developing units 13c and 14 are movable in the directions of arrows C and C, respectively, and approach the photosensitive drum 11 to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 according to a desired color image. .

In the case of this figure, the color developer (green developer 13C) is far away and the black developer 14 is close, so a black image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11. This image is transferred onto a transfer material (transfer paper) 17 by a transfer charger 15. Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 reaches a cleaner 16, where residual toner on the outer surface of the drum is removed, and the process proceeds to the next image forming step in the same manner.

The transfer material 17 is supplied as follows, and a document image is formed. The following methods are available for supplying the transfer material 17 to the image forming means mainly composed of the photosensitive drum 11. In the first method, the transfer material 17 loaded in the cassette 18 is fed to the roller pair 20 by the paper feed roller 19. roller vs 2
0 is designed so that when a plurality of overlapping transfer materials 17 are sent in, only the transfer material 17 in the container is separated and fed to the image forming means. Transfer material 1 after passing through the roller pair 20
7, guide plates 21, 22, 28, paper feed roller pair 50,
Registration roller 23 via guide plates 51, 52, 53
leading to. In the second method, the transfer material 17 loaded in the cassette 24 is fed by the paper feed roller 25 to the roller pair 26 .

The roller pair 26 has the same function as the previous roller pair 20, and after the transfer material 17 passes through the roller pair 26, it passes through the guide plate 27.
, 28, 21, paper feed roller pair 50, guide plates 51, 52
．． 53 to the registration roller 23. The registration roller 23 starts rotating at a timing such that the visible image on the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer material 17 match, and transfers the transfer material 17 to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via an upper transfer guide 31 and a lower transfer guide 32. Send it in. As described above, the image on the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to the transfer material 17 by the transfer charger 15, separated from the outer surface of the drum 11 by the separation charger 33, and transferred to the heating roller via the conveyance section 34. and a pressure roller. The image on the transfer material 17 heated and pressurized by the fixing device 35 is fixed as a permanent image. Next, the transfer material 17 is sent to the first ejection roller 36, and then reaches the second ejection roller 39 via flappers 37, 38, and is ejected out of the machine. In this figure, the flapper 38 is blocking the transfer material path, but this flapper 38 is made of a light material and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow. The transfer material 17 is pushed up by the tip of the transfer material 17.
Since the transfer material 17 is in a retracted state, no hindrance occurs to the passage of the transfer material 17.

Next, the flow of the transfer material 17 in the double-sided image forming mode and the multiple image forming mode will be described.

When the double-sided image forming mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus, the original image is transferred and fixed on one side (first side) of the transfer material 17 in the same manner as in the single-sided image forming mode described above, and then the transfer material 17 is transferred to the second ejection. It is sent to rollers 39 and discharged onto a tray outside the machine (not shown). Then, the rear end of the transfer material 17 is detected by a transfer material detection mechanism consisting of a detection lever 40 and an optical sensor 41, and then for a certain period of time (i.e., the rear end of the transfer material 17 is
1 g passes through the flapper 38), the second discharge roller 39 starts rotating in the reverse direction and feeds the transfer material 17 into the machine again. Then, the transfer material 17 is sent to the roller 45 with its rear end first via the flapper 38, the left slope of the flapper 37, the guide plate 42, and further via the guide plates 43 and 44. After that, the transfer material 17 is transferred to the roller 4
6 and reaches the horizontal registration roller 47. At this point, the lateral registration roller 47 has stopped, and after the transfer material 17 has completely abutted against this roller 47, the roller pair 45.
will also stop. The transfer material 17 is now on standby for the image forming operation on the second surface. Then, when an image forming signal for the second side is issued, the lateral registration roller 47 starts rotating and sends the transfer material 17 to the registration roller 23 via the guide plate 49.

Before the transfer material 17 arrives at the registration rollers 23, the side edges of the transfer material 17 are detected by an optical sensor (not shown), and the lateral registration rollers 47 are moved so that the side edges are at the same position as when forming the image on the first surface. The lateral position of the transfer material 17 is corrected by moving in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the transfer material 17, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the drawing. The transfer material 17 is the registration roller 23
The operation after reaching the point is the same as in the case of single-sided image formation, and the transfer material 17 with the image formed on the second side is finally discharged onto a tray outside the machine by the second discharge roller 39. Ru.

Further, when the image forming apparatus is instructed to perform the multiple image forming mode, the operation during the first image forming is performed in the same manner as in the case of single-sided image forming. After the first image formation, the flapper 37 is located in the state shown by the broken line. Therefore, the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 with the front end first, and the right slope of the flapper 37 The paper is sent to guides 42 and 43 along the same line, turned over, and further sent to rollers 45 via guides 43 and 44.

Thereafter, the transfer material 17 passes through the rollers 46 and reaches the horizontal registration rollers 47. The rear end of the transfer material 17 is detected by the detection lever 40 and the optical sensor 41, and after a predetermined period of time, the flapper 37 returns to the position indicated by the solid line. Then, when the second image forming signal is issued, the horizontal registration roller 47 starts rotating, but the movement of the transfer material 17 at this time is the same as in the case of the second image formation of the previous double-sided image formation. It is. The transfer material 17 on which the second image has been formed in this way is finally discharged onto a tray outside the machine by the second discharge roller 39. Note that although the explanation has been given regarding multiple image formation twice, the movement of the transfer material 17 is basically the same even in the case of multiple image formation with a larger number of times. However, in such a case, the return of the flapper 37 from the broken line position to the solid line position is performed before the final image formation.

Next, the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration is explained.
The multiple developing device storage device 150 of this embodiment, which is optionally installed outside the device, will be described.

This multiple developer storage device 150 is provided as an option in the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus when it is desired to form a color image using a color developing device other than the black developing device 14 fixedly installed in the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. It is installed outside the image forming apparatus 100 and supplies and transports a desired color developing device to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 inside the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus.

Storage case 15 which is the main body of multiple developer storage device 150
1 includes a partition (developing device housing section) 151 that divides the interior.
a, 151b, and 151c are provided, and the partition 151
On the a, 151b, and 151c, there are color developing devices containing different color toners, for example, a red developing device 13a containing red toner, a red developing device 13b containing blue toner, and a green developing device 13c containing green toner. It is removably stored R in the side direction of the main body 100. In the case shown, the edge developer 13
c is not in the storage case 151, but is supplied and transferred to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 in the main body 100, and is in a state of preparation for developing an electrostatic image. Such a color developer (green developer 13
The supply and transfer of c) is performed by a developing device transfer means X shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later. In this case, the developing devices of each color in the storage case 151 are carried into the main body ioo through a loading port (developing device loading/unloading port) 55a provided in the main body 100.

Such a multiple developer storage device 151 is further provided with case moving means Y shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later.
The storage case 151 is moved to the main body 1 by the case moving means Y.
It is movable in the vertical direction with respect to 00. Therefore, the partitions 151a to 151c on which the desired color developing devices are mounted by the case moving means Y coincide with the loading opening 55a on the main body 100 side, and in the illustrated case, the partitions! 51C), thereby allowing a desired color developing device to be carried into the main body 100. For example, in the case where the image forming apparatus selects the red developing device 13a, first, the green developing device 13c is transferred and placed on the partition 151c of the storage case 151 by the developing device transfer means X shown in FIG. The green developing device 13c is stored in the storage case 151c.
When the green developing device 13c is returned, the presence of the green developing device 13c is confirmed by a developing device lock sensor shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later. When the presence of the green developing device 13c is confirmed, the storage case 151 starts moving vertically (downward in this case) with respect to the main body 100 by the case moving means Y shown in FIG. When the partition 151a on which the developing device 13a is mounted moves to a position (developing device loading/unloading section 55b) that coincides with the loading port 55a of the main body 100, it stops. Next, the red developing device 13a is transferred to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 by the developing device transferring means X shown in FIG. 3, and becomes ready for developing an electrostatic image. Note that even when another color developing device in the storage case 151 is selected, the same operation as when this red developing device 13a is selected is performed.

The third section describes the means for guiding the green developing device 13c shown in FIG.
This will be explained using figures.

Developing device horizontal moving means A and B shown in FIG. 3 move the color developing device 13c in the F direction (Forward) and B direction (Back) shown in the figure by rotation of color developing device driving gears 178c and 179c. It is configured to do this. In the horizontal movement means A, B, the drive transmission gears 173a, 173b are rotated by the rotation of the horizontal motor 172, and the color developing device 13 is horizontally moved using the rotation of the gear 173a using the gears 178a, 178b. Rotation of gear 173b is transmitted to gear 178C, and similarly, rotation of gear 173b is transmitted to gears 179a and 179.
b is used to transmit the information to the gear 179C. Gears that transmit the rotation of the horizontal motor 172 to the gears 173a and 173b are not shown.

The developer horizontal moving means A and B are pressed against the color developer 13c in the storage case 151C by springs (not shown). The developing device vertical moving means Y moves the developing device in the up direction shown in FIG.

When moving the developing device storage case 151 in the down direction, the horizontal moving means A and B move the solenoids 169a and 169a.
69b is driven and separated from the storage case 151. This configuration prevents the horizontal moving means A and B from interfering with the color developing unit vertical moving means Y. Sensors 170a and 170b are arranged to detect that the horizontal moving means A and B have been sufficiently separated from the storage case 151. The sensors 170a and 170b are known photointerrupters,
The separation of the horizontal moving means A and H is detected.

A case will be described in which the green developing device 13c is guided from the partition 151c of the storage case to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11. (6th
(See figure) It is assumed that the partition 151c of the storage case is stationary at the position of the main body entrance 55a. The green developer 13c is fixed to the partition 151c of the storage case by developer locks 230a and 230b. The developing device locking pawls 230a and 230b have a mechanism for releasing the color developing device 13c using a color developing device opening solenoid 180 (see FIG. 4). After driving the color developer lock release solenoid 180, the horizontal motor is rotated, and the horizontal moving means A is rotated.

Drive B. At this time, the horizontal moving means A and B are
The edge developing device 13c inside the storage case 151 is pressurized. (By releasing the drive of the solenoid, the horizontal moving means A and B are pressurized by the spring against the green developing device 13c in the storage case 151.) The wheels 178c and 179c are rotated in the f direction without being driven. By doing so, the pre-recording and developing device 13c is transferred to the main body loading port 55a. After being transferred to the main body entrance 55a, the photosensitive drum 11 is moved by the gear 56 inside the main body.
will be transported to the vicinity of

The gear 56 rotates through the drive transmission gear 181 due to rotation of the horizontal motor 172.

The horizontal motor 172 drives the gear 181 by controlling a clutch 183.

At this time, the developer pressure levers 60a and 60b inside the main body
pressurizes the black developing device inside the main body, and does not interfere with the transportation of the green developing device. In this state, the developer connector 57 in the main body and the green developer 13c are connected (see Fig. a), and a human power signal from the developer connector 57 is transmitted to the main body control section 203, which will be described later. After that, when the main body control section 204 performs image formation with the green developing device 13c, the black developing device 14 is separated from the photoreceptor 17 by rotating the pressure levers 60a and 60b, and the green developing device 13c is moved away from the photoconductor 17. Pressurized.

Next, a case will be described in which the green developing device 13c existing near the photoreceptor 11 inside the main body is transferred to the partition 151C of the developing device storage case.

(See FIG. 8) If the prerecording developing device 13c is pressurizing the photoreceptor 11 inside the main body, the pressure levers 60a and 60b are rotated to release the pressure on the green developing device 13c. Horizontal motor 17
2, and the developing device transport gear 56 is rotated by the clutch 183.

Along with the rotation of the developing device conveying gear 56, the horizontal moving means A and B also rotate to convey the pre-recording developing device 13c into the storage case 151. developer lock lever 230a,
230b detects by the developer lock sensor 175 that the green developer 13c moves from the inside of the main body in the direction B shown in the figure, and that the claw of the storage case 151 is pressed against a predetermined position of the developer by a spring, and then green developer 1 in condition
3c is fixed to the storage case 151. The horizontal home sensor 160 is connected to the color developing unit 1 by the horizontal moving means A and H.
3 in the directions B and F shown in the figure. This horizontal home sensor 160 is configured to detect passage of the developing device 13 using a photointerrupter.

Next, a case will be described in which the color developing device 13 is manually carried in through the door 152. (See FIG. 9) When the color developing device 13 is manually placed in the storage case 151, the opening and closing of the door 152 is detected by the door switch 161 and inputted to the control section 200, which will be described later. The door 152
When the color developing device 13 is closed, the developing device detection sensors 164a and 164b detect whether the color developing device 13 has been manually carried in (see Figure A), and if the color developing device 13 has been carried in manually, the conveying gear 16
It is transferred into the storage case 151 in steps 3a and 3b. The sequence shown in FIG. 9 is always executed as a protection sequence immediately before the vertical sequence. Also, when the door opens,
The drive source for each motor is cut off and it becomes immobile.

Next, a case will be described in which the color developing device 13 is taken out of the multiple developing device storage device of this embodiment.

(See FIG. 10) The horizontal moving means A and B move the object a predetermined distance in the B direction. In this way, by moving the color developing device 13 to the vicinity of the door 152, the color developing device can be easily replaced.

FIG. 3(b) shows a developing device detection sensor 164a.

164b, 165a, 165b (7) The configuration is shown below. Reference numeral 177 denotes a photointerrupter, which detects the presence or absence of the color developing device 13 based on the movement of the developing device detection lever 176.

The storage case moving means Y will be described using FIG.

The storage case 151 is driven by a vertical motor 171. The rotation of the vertical motor 171 is transmitted to a pinion 185 by a gear 184. Rack 18 (not shown) on the side of the storage case
6 and pinion 185, the storage case 151 moves in the illustrated up force direction and down direction. The vertical home position sensor 159 positions the storage case 151. The position of each stage is determined by the output count of the encoder of the vertical motor 171 or the count of the current timer from this sensor position.

Color detection marks 166 are provided on the color developing devices 13a, 13b, and 13c for color recognition. Each time the color developing devices 13a, 13b, 13c pass the color detection sensor 167 by the case moving means Y, the partition 151a of the storage case is removed.

The colors of the developing devices 13 in 151b and 151c are recognized.

The sequences described below are assembled by sequential operations in the horizontal and vertical directions.

First, the operation of the developer exchange sequence when the copy color is specified on the main body side will be explained. Main body operation section 20 in Fig. 5
When a color is specified using the developer color selection key 4, the designated color developer is inserted into the main body according to the developer exchange sequence shown in FIG.

Color code signals 57a, 5 input to the main body control unit 203
The color of the in-body color developing device determined by 7b and 57c is compared with the specified color. If the color is equal to the designated color, this developer replacement sequence ends (step 529). If there is no color developing device in the main body, the process jumps to 534 in the figure. If the main unit has a color developer different from the specified color, storage case 1
51 (step 530). At this time, there is a method of preferentially searching from the upper and lower stages, but searching from the lower stage has the advantage that the travel distance of the storage case 151 is shorter. Subsequently, an unloading sequence is performed (step 53).
2). Next, carry the color developing device into the main body (step 5).
35). Since the communication between the main body side and the multiple developer storage device 150 ends here, the main body side can start moving independently. Thereafter, the storage case 151 is returned to the vertical home position. If the developing devices are replaced using this method, all the developing devices stored in the multiple developing device storage device 150 can be sequentially installed in the main body.
Multicolor copies such as blue, red, black, and brown are also possible.

Next, the sequence of taking out the developing device from the main body and storage device will be explained based on FIG. 12. Select the color of the developing device to be taken out using the 5 select key 220 (see FIG. 5) on the storage device operating section 225, which will be described later. E
By pressing the eject key 221, the color developing device to be taken out is determined, and it is determined whether it is in the main body or in the storage device (step 538). If it is inside the main body, the vacant space in the storage case 151 is moved to the carry-out position (developing unit loading/unloading section) 55b using the vertical moving means (step 539), and the horizontal carry-out sequence shown in FIG. (
The developing device is moved into the storage case 151 by step 540). If the item is in the storage device, move the corresponding item in the same way. In both cases, the horizontal extraction sequence shown in Figure 10
Move it to the front.

Next, when the power is turned on and the door 152 is opened/closed, an initialization sequence operation is performed to check the color of each stage or the presence or absence of a developing device when there is a possibility that a developing device has been replaced or newly inserted. The explanation will be based on FIG. 13. First, the developer is fixed at a predetermined position within the storage case by following the door closing sequence shown in FIG. Next, it is determined by the vertical home sensor 159 whether the storage case is at the home position (step 545), and if it is not, the vertical motor 171 is driven vertically upward to return it to the home position. Next, the vertical motor 171 is driven downward until the count up, and at this time the color detection sensor 167
The color of the developing device at each stage is detected and inputted to the control section 200. Finally, the vertical motor 171 is driven upward to return the storage case to the home position.

As described above, the basic sequence of the developing device storage device is that if the home sensor cannot detect the occurrence of an abnormal situation within a predetermined time during vertical or horizontal movement, the main unit is notified of the occurrence of an abnormal situation and the operation of the storage device is stopped. Contains sequences.

Next, a case will be described in which it is operated in conjunction with a copying operation.

A color is selected using the color selection key 217 on the main body operation section 204, and a copy mode is set using other keys. If the color developer is replaced at this point, there is a possibility that the color will be changed before the copy key 207 is pressed.
When you press 7, confirm the color developer to be used and select the 11th color developer.
The process moves to the developing device replacement sequence shown in the figure. When using two or more colors, priority is given to the color developing devices in one main body, thereby reducing the time required to replace the developing device. In addition, only when the main unit is in a wait-up period such as immediately after power-on, the color developer selected with the color selection key can be replaced, or the color developer in the main unit can be pressurized and pre-stirred. It is also effective to shorten the time required to use the developing device.

When a new developing device is brought in when replacing the developing device, the movement of the storage case 150 becomes unrelated to the copying sequence of the main body. Therefore, the copying sequence can be started before the storage case 150 returns to the vertical home position. If it becomes necessary to replenish copy paper and toner during the copying sequence, the color selection key 217 of the main body operation section 204 and the color selection key 217 of the storage device 150 are pressed to prohibit the replacement of the developing devices in the main body 100 and the storage device 150. [:jecL of the operation unit 225
Input of the key 221 is prohibited. This is to ensure a developer for the designated color when restarting the copying sequence.

The multiple developer storage device 150 includes paper feed rollers 157, 158 and guide plates 154, 15 for manual paper feeding.
5,156 are provided, and a wooden bristled paper feed roller 5 is provided.
The configuration is such that paper that is manually fed to No. 4 is sent. A door 153 and a door opening/closing detection switch 162 are provided for maintenance of the manual paper feed section.

The manual feed paper detection sensor 168 shown in FIG. 2 detects that paper has been inserted into the manual feed tray 167 (see FIG. 14), drives the horizontal motor 172, and uses a clutch (not shown) to drive the paper feed roller. 157 and 158 are driven. During manual feed drive, the drive of the horizontal motor 1 and 2 is not transmitted to the color developer transfer gear 56 and the horizontal moving means X by a clutch (not shown).

Also, vertical motor 171. When driving the horizontal motor 172, it is always driven after the determination shown in FIG. 15 is made. This makes it impossible to drive the developing device in the horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously, but it becomes possible to drive the manual feed roller and the vertical direction simultaneously.

If the specified color developing device is not in the main body, the paper feed roller 157 pulls the manually fed paper to the position of the paper feeding roller 158, and then the driving of the horizontal motor 172 is switched to the developing device conveying side, and then the drive of the horizontal motor 172 is switched to the developing device conveying side, as shown in FIG. Replace the developer using the developer replacement sequence shown in . After preliminarily stirring the color developing device, manually fed paper is fed into the main body by paper feeding rollers 157.15B.

In the case of FIG. 15 above, the interlock is applied by software within the control unit 200, but the interlock may be applied by hardware using a switching element as shown in FIG. 16.

In the figure, 565 is the horizontal motor controller 201
Alternatively, when an ON signal input to the vertical motor 202 is input to the terminal 3, it is a switching element that has a function of cutting off the conduction between 1 and 2. In this configuration, if an ON signal is manually applied to one of the motor controllers, the ON signal of the other motor controller is cut off, so the two motors will never operate at the same time. This also serves as a protection measure in case the control unit 200 that controls the motor ON signal goes out of control.

Note that in both Figures 15 and 16, drive sources such as motors are interlocked, but only gears are used.

It goes without saying that the interlock may be applied by shifting the moving means such as rollers.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus including the multiple developer storage device of this embodiment and the control section of the multiple developer storage device as an option. Regarding the control of the image forming apparatus, only the part related to this embodiment is specified.

Control unit 203 (hereinafter referred to as main body control unit 20) of the image forming apparatus
3) and the multiple developer storage device 15 in this embodiment.
0 control section 200. The main body control section 2
03 and the control unit 200 perform control by exchanging abnormal data, color information of the color developing device, etc. through known data communication (serial communication). The main body control unit 203 receives color development information input by connecting the pressure drive clutch 216 and the developer connector 57 for pressurizing the color developer 13 transferred into the main body by the control unit 200 to the photoreceptor drum 11. Color code signals 57a, 57b, 57c of the device 13
and monitors and controls the main body operation section 204. The main body operation section 204 is a man-machine interface for inputting and outputting the human power of the image forming start key (copy key) and various information, and the configuration is shown in FIG. 5(a).

The control section 200 of the multiple developing device storage device of this embodiment carries out control 1 near the main body photoconductor drum 11 to carry the color developing device 13 into the vicinity of the main body photoconductor drum 11 based on the communication data sent from the main body control section. control for carrying out the color developing device 13 to the storage case 151.
control for transferring the color developing device 13 to the vicinity of the door 152 and taking out the color developing device 13; The color detection mark 166 of the color developing device 13 is read from the output from the color detection sensor, and the data is transmitted to the main body control unit and to the display operation unit 205, which will be described later.
LEDs 224a, 224b, 2 that display colors in 51c
Control is performed to turn on lights 24c and 224d. The control unit 200 also detects abnormalities in the motors 171 and 172 and sends error data to the main body control unit 203. The color code sensor 167 is configured to read and output the information of the color detection mark using a reflective photointerlacer.

The control unit 200 includes inputs from each of the sensors and a solenoid;
A known input circuit and drive circuit for controlling the clutch, controller 201 of the horizontal motor 172. It is composed of an I/F (interface) circuit 2 with the controller 202 of the vertical motor 171, a circuit for communicating with the main body control section, an LED drive circuit of the operation section 205, and a key input circuit.

The horizontal motor controller 201 includes a known PLL circuit that controls the speed of the horizontal motor 172 and the horizontal motor 1.
It consists of a circuit that drives 72. Control unit 20
0 to the horizontal motor controller 201 as a control signal to turn ON the signal to start rotating the motor, No. 3 F/B that determines the direction of rotation of the motor, signal BLK to brake the rotation of the motor, and clock frequency that determines the rotation of the motor. A signal CLK is input. a signal F/B that determines the rotational direction of the motor, and a signal F/B that determines the rotation direction of the motor;
, corresponds to the Back direction.

The vertical motor controller 202 receives the following information from the control unit 200:
A signal ON for driving the vertical motor 171, a signal U/D that determines the rotation direction of the motor (this signal corresponds to the up and down directions of the moving means Y), and a signal BLK similar to the horizontal motor controller. , CLK is manually operated.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show the operation section 2 of the main image forming apparatus.
04 and the operation unit 205 of the multiple developer storage device of this embodiment
shows.

fJ5 The input switch (
Keys) include power switch 213, numeric keypad 205
．． A clear/stop key 209 for stopping input numerical values and image formation, and a reset key 206 for canceling modes input by the person Canilia 214, keys for entering special modes such as multiple copy mode, etc.
゜Developer color selection key 217. It is comprised of a cassette (selection) key 208 and the like for selecting the paper feed of the storage cassette 18 and 24 for the image transfer material 17.

Also, as a man-machine interface, it displays the size of paper stored in the cassette 18, 24, copies (
A liquid crystal display section 2159 displays the status of image formation, etc.; LEDs 210 and 211a display the color of the selected developing device;
red), 211b (blue), 211c (green), and 211d (brown).

Operation section 2 of the multiple developer storage device shown in FIG. 5(b)
25 denotes each partition section, that is, the storage section 151 of the storage case.
Key 5ele for selecting a, 151b, 151c
ct key 220. Door 15 of case 150 storing the developing device
Eject key 211 .
5 select display LEDs 223a, 223b, 22 that display the storage section specified by the 5 select key 220
3c, a color display LED 224a that displays the color of the developing device in the storage case specified by the 5 select key 220;
(red), 224b (blue), 224c (edge), 224
LFD222 that displays d (brown) and color developing device being transferred
It consists of

FIG. 7(a) shows the color developer 13 and main body developer connector 57.
The relationship between the connector 6 of the developing device 13 and FIG.
0 circuit is shown.

The connector 60 of the developing unit 13 makes contact with the connector 57 inside the main body to read the color code.

Connect the toner ■ and developing bias signal to the main unit. The color detection mark 166 is formed on the side surface of the color developing device 13 by a reflective part 166-a and a non-reflective part 1, like a known barcode code.
66-b, and as described later, the storage case 1
51 is moved up and down by a moving means Y, and the code of the color detection mark is read to identify the color of the developing device 13. As is known in the known electrostatic image forming process, the developing sleeve 61 is used to uniformly place color toner on the surface, apply a developing bias, and perform the image forming process.

FIG. 9(b) shows the connect signal within the connector 60. The signal line 62 is for adding the image bias, and is output from a high voltage generation power source (not shown). The signal lines 63 to 65 are signal lines for detecting the remaining amount of toner, and the light emitting elements 70 . This is a signal line for a reflection sensor composed of a light receiving element 71.

Signal lines 66-69 are output signals for color code identification, and switches 72-74 enable eight different types of discrimination.

Next, the means for detecting the color detection mark 166 will be described using FIG. 17. The signal in FIG. 17 is the output signal P from the color detection means (color detection sensor 167). The color detection sensor 167 is constituted by a known reflective sensor, and outputs an output signal "1" when there is a reflective mark and "0" when there is a non-reflective mark. Also shown is a pulse output (encoder output) E proportional to the rotation speed of the vertical motor 171.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of developing device color detection by code analysis of the color detection sensor output signal P.

Step 11-b is a control in which the storage case 151 is vertically moved to a predetermined home position and then stopped.

Next, at step 11-C, the storage case 151 begins to move in the down direction until the partition 151a of the developer storage case moves to the developer loading/unloading section 55b, that is, the main developer loading port 55a. When the down stop is detected in 11-d,
The storage case 151 is moved to the home position of 11-h and the process ends. When a predetermined encoder pulse count (predetermined position) is reached at 11-e, the width of the color detection output signal "l" is counted by the encoder pulse E, and the S, L, and M marks shown in FIG. is being detected. The color code and the number of color developing units 13 are memorized by the marks S, L, and M.

Next, the operation when an image forming mode using a color developer is designated will be described with reference to FIG. 19.

First, it is determined whether the designated color developing device is present in the main body and in the multiple developing device storage device 150 (step 600).
. If so, the operation ends. If not, it is determined whether there is an empty stage in the storage device 150 (step 601). If there is, step 604) returns the developing device storage section to the vertical home position, and moves the storage section to align the empty space with the unloading position (step 605).

Also, if there is no vacant space in (step 601), search for a color developing device other than the specified color.Step 602) Execute the external removal sequence (Fig. 10) and eject the color developing device other than the specified color.Step 603 ), and a message is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 215 to notify the operator to insert the designated color developing device into this stage (step 606).

After performing the above processing for all designated colors, image formation is performed.

In this way, if the designated color developing device is not in the main body or in the developing device storage device, and if there is still a storage section in the developing device storage device that can be stored, that storage section is moved to the unloading position and In addition, if there is no empty storage space in the developer storage device, any developer that is not used for the specified image formation can be ejected from the developer storage device, and the specified development device can be loaded. It is possible to request the operator to insert the container into the container, thereby reducing the burden of operation on the operator.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator when a desired developing device is not in the image forming apparatus or the storage device, and to significantly improve the operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a "multiple developing device storage device" according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the same embodiment in longitudinal section, and FIG. (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the same embodiment, FIG. 3(b) is a configuration diagram of the developing unit position sensor, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section, and FIG. 5(a) is the main body. Operation keys on the operation panel, layout diagram of the display,
FIG. 5(b) shows the operation keys of the multiple developer storage device operation section;
6 is a flowchart showing the horizontal loading sequence, FIG. 7(a) is a relationship diagram between the color developing device and the main body connector, FIG. 7(b) is a circuit diagram of the developing device connector, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the horizontal unloading sequence, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the horizontal door closing sequence, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the horizontal external removal sequence, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the developer replacement sequence. , FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the developing device external extraction sequence, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the initialization sequence, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the initialization sequence.
The figure is a flowchart showing the manual feed sequence, Figure 15 is a flowchart of the horizontal and vertical simultaneous drive prohibition operation, and Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the manual feed sequence.
6 is a block diagram of the interlock mechanism, FIG. 17 is a time chart of the color detection output signal, FIG. 18 is a flow chart of the color detection operation, and FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the specified color request sequence.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An image forming means that forms an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on a recording medium and then developing it, a storage means equipped with a plurality of storage sections into which developing devices can be taken in and out, and a specification for specifying a desired developing device. Means: transporting a developing device from a storage section designated by the specifying means among the plurality of storage sections into the image forming means, and storing the developing device from the image forming means into an empty storage section; a moving means for moving the image forming means and the developing unit in the storing means, a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence and type of the developing device in the image forming means and the storing means, and a moving means for moving the moving means in accordance with a specification input from the specifying means and a detection result of the detecting means. control means for controlling, when the developing device specified by the specifying means is not in the image forming means and the storage means, the control means controls the storage device according to whether or not there is an empty storage section in the storage means. An image forming apparatus characterized by controlling a moving means. (2) In claim 1, if there is an empty storage section in the storage means, the control means controls the moving means so that the storage section can be loaded with a developing device. An image forming apparatus characterized by: (3) In claim 1 or 2, if there is no empty storage section in the storage means, the control means selects a developing device from a storage section storing a developing device not specified by the specifying means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the moving means is controlled to enable the image forming apparatus to take out the image. (4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means includes a notification means for notifying removal of the undesignated developing device.