JPH0264576A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of stopping, to shorten a time necessary for replacing a developing unit and to increase an image forming speed by switching the moving speed of a plural developing units housing device or braking amount for controlling the moving speed over plural stages. CONSTITUTION:In a driving control circuit, a vertical motor M2 is driven to be rotated with UP and DOWN signals in both directions. When a brake signal BLK is inputted in the base of a transistor TR4 of the driving control circuit, a short circuit is formed among a TRTR1, the vertical motor M2 and TRTR5 and a braking action by an induced electromotive force works to the vertical motor M2. Especially, it is effective when a braking force is not so strong to load. In such a case, it is difficult to stop the developing unit on a desired position in a state where the constant braking amount is kept. When the moving speed of a housing case is reduced by switching the braking amount once, an inertial power can be reduced. Then, the accuracy in stopping at a specified position can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a developing device storage device housing a plurality of developing devices is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, and particularly relates to an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method. This can be suitably implemented in a multi-color or full-color image forming apparatus.

Recently, the demand for color copying or color recording has increased rapidly not only in specialized fields but also in general office fields, and a small and simple multicolor image forming apparatus is desired.

Currently, for example, in an electrophotographic copying apparatus, a copying apparatus is commercially available in which two developing devices containing different color developers are installed in the image forming apparatus to obtain two-color copies.
Or proposed.

Although such copiers are extremely useful, if, for example, the operator wishes to obtain a color copy with a color different from the color installed in the copier, the operator must manually change the developer of the desired color. It was necessary and complicated. Furthermore, in order to eliminate this complexity, it was necessary to install developing devices for all the colors that could potentially be used inside the device, which forced the device to be larger and more expensive. .

Furthermore, a copying apparatus having such a configuration has the problem that since a plurality of developing devices are arranged around an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum, the required image growth time becomes longer and the image forming speed becomes longer. That will happen.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present applicant has installed a multi-developing device storage device containing a plurality of developing devices in the image forming apparatus main body, and automatically connects the developing devices in the image forming device main body according to an operator's request. The present invention relates to an improvement of an image forming apparatus having such a configuration.

In such an apparatus, in order to replace the developing device in each storage section with the developing device in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the developing device storage means that stores and carries a plurality of developing devices is frequently operated. In order to increase the image forming speed, it is desirable to shorten the time required to replace the developing device as much as possible.

In order to shorten the time required for replacing the developing device, etc., the driving force of the moving means for moving the developing device storage means can be increased to increase the moving speed of the developing device storage means, or the driving force or the developing device storage means can be increased. Although it is conceivable to limit the inertial force of the means and reduce the constant brake lever in order to obtain a constant speed, such a method also causes a serious deterioration in the accuracy with which the developing device housing means is stopped at a predetermined position. If the developer housing means does not stop at a predetermined position with high precision, the exchange of developer units between the multiple developer housing device and the main body of the image forming apparatus will not be carried out smoothly, which may cause a malfunction. Undesirable.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the stopping accuracy by switching the moving speed of the developing device storage means of a multiple developing device storage device or the amount of brake that controls the moving speed in multiple stages, and to reduce the time required for replacing the developing devices. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of shortening the image forming speed and improving the image forming speed.

eye The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In summary, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus main body that includes an image bearing member that forms a latent image and a developing device that develops the latent image on the image bearing member, and a plurality of developing devices that are used in the developing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device storage means in which a plurality of developing device storage sections are formed, and a multiple developing device storage device is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. , the developing device stored in a desired storage section selected from the plurality of storage sections is moved to a position where exchange is possible between the storage section and the main body of the image forming apparatus or the outside. a moving means for moving the container storing means; a developing device moving means for transferring the developing device stored in the desired storing section between the storing section and the main body of the image forming apparatus or the outside; The developing device accommodating means is characterized by comprising means for controlling the moving speed of the developing device accommodating means or the amount of brake for controlling the moving speed a plurality of times while the developing device accommodating means is moved to the predetermined position. It is an image forming apparatus.

Practical Example Next, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied in an electrophotographic copying apparatus which is capable of forming two-color or more multiple images and also capable of forming double-sided images.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the electrophotographic copying apparatus of this embodiment, a photosensitive drum II, which is an image bearing member, is supported rotatably in the direction of the arrow, is uniformly charged by a charger 12, and then is charged by an exposure means. A document image is irradiated onto the image carrier 11.
A latent image is formed thereon.

The exposure means may have any configuration, but in this embodiment, it includes a lamp 3 for illuminating the original 2 placed on the original IILH glass lj:, and an optical system for scanning and exposing the image of the original 2 onto the photosensitive drum ll. system, ie reflective mirrors 4, 5.6.7.
8.9 and an optical system consisting of a zoom lens lO. The lamp 3 and the mirrors 4, 5, 6 move together at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow to scan the original 2. Exposure means equipped with such an optical system are well known to those skilled in the art, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

A developing device for visualizing the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is provided around the photosensitive drum 11. In this embodiment, the developing device includes a color developing device 13. which stores color toner. In FIG. 1, a line ring device 13c containing green toner and a black developing device 14 containing black toner are provided. Developer 13C11
4 is movable in the directions of arrows C and C'', respectively, so that it can take a developing operating position close to the photosensitive drum and a developing non-operating position spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 11. In the figure, the line ring device 13C is in the non-developing position, and the black developer 14 is in the developing operative position close to the photosensitive drum 11, so that the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is visualized with black toner. A black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to a transfer material 17 such as transfer paper by a transfer charger 15.

Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 reaches a cleaner 16, where residual toner on the drum surface is removed, and the process proceeds to the next image forming step in the same manner.

The transfer material 17 is supplied from a selected one of a plurality of, in this example two, cassettes 18.24 provided in the lower part of the device.

The transfer material 17 loaded in the cassette (cassette) 18 is sent to the roller pair 2o by the paper feed roller 19, and then to the guide plate 21, 22, 28, and the feed roller pair 50. Guide plate 51
．． It reaches the registration roller 23 via 52 and 53. Similarly, the transfer material 17 loaded on the cassette 24 is fed by the feed roller 25 to the roller pair 26, and then to the guide plate 27, 28, 21, the feed roller pair 50. It reaches the registration roller 23 via guide plates 51, 52, 53.

The registration roller 23 is connected to the photosensitive drum 11. The rotation is started at a timing such that the toner image of 1 and the transfer material 17 match, and the transfer material 17 is sent to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via the upper transfer guide 31 and the lower transfer guide 32. As shown in FIG.
The toner is separated from the surface of the drum 11 and sent to a fixing device 35 having a heating roller and a pressure roller via a conveyance section 34. Transfer material 1 heated and pressurized by the fixing device 35
The image on 7 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.

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

When the double-sided image forming mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus, the transfer material 17 is transferred and fixed on one side (first side) in the same manner as in the single-sided image forming mode described above. is first sent to the second discharge roller 39 and onto a tray (not shown) outside the machine. At this time, transfer material 1
When 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 a predetermined period of time has passed since then, that is, when the rear end of the transfer material 17 passes the flapper 38, the second discharge roller 39 starts to reverse the transfer material 17
was sent back into the plane.

As a result, the transfer material 17 is transferred to the flapper J8 with the rear end first.
and via the left slope of the flapper 37 and the guide plate 42,
Furthermore, it is sent to the rollers 45 via guide plates 43 and 44 with its front and back sides reversed and the second side facing up.

Thereafter, the transfer material 17 passes through the rollers 46 and reaches the horizontal registration rollers 47. At this point, the lateral registration rollers 47 have stopped, and after the transfer material 17 has completely abutted against the rollers 47, the rollers 45 and 46 also stop. The transfer material 17 is now in a standby state for the image forming operation on the second surface.

Next, when an image forming signal for the second side is issued, the Maki registration roller 47 starts rotating and sends the transfer material 171 to the registration roller 23 via the guide plate 49.51, and the transfer material 17 arrives at the registration roller 23. Transfer material 1 before
The side edges of the transfer material 17 are detected by an optical sensor (not shown), and the lateral registration rollers 47 are moved in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the transfer material 17 so that the side edges are at the same position as when forming an image on the first surface. That is, the transfer material 1 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
Correct the lateral position of 7. The operation after the transfer material 17 reaches the registration roller 23 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 removed from the machine by the second discharge roller 39. is ejected onto the tray.

Next, a case will be described in which the multiple image forming mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus. When the multiple image formation mode is instructed, the first image formation is performed in the same manner as in the case of single-sided image formation. However, the flapper 37 is located in the state shown by the broken line after the first image formation, and therefore, the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 with the front end first, and the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 to the right of the flapper 37. It is fed along the slope to guides 42.43 and then via guides 43.44 to rollers 45. 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 the detection lever 40 and the optical sensor 4/l.
is detected, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the flapper 37 returns to the position indicated by the solid line. Then, when the second image forming signal is issued, the lateral registration roller 47 starts to rotate, but the movement of the transfer material 17 at this time is similar to that of the second image formation in the previous double-sided image formation.
This is similar to the case of surface image formation.

Transfer material 1 on which the second image formation was performed in this way
7 is finally discharged onto a tray outside the machine by the second discharge roller 39.

Note that although the explanation has been made regarding the formation of multiple Idi images twice, the movement of the transfer material 17 is basically the same even when multiple images are formed more frequently. 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 image forming apparatus main body 100 configured as described above will be described.
A multiple developer storage device 211 is removably installed on the outside of the
10 will be explained.

In this embodiment, the multiple developer storage device 110 is configured to store a desired color image when forming a color image using a color developer other than the black developer 14 fixedly installed in the developer of the main body lOO of the image forming apparatus. The color developing device is supplied and transported to the developing device of the main body lOO of the image forming apparatus, that is, near the photosensitive drum 11.

The multiple developer storage device 1110 has an outer housing Ill provided with mounting means (not shown) that can be attached to and detached from one image forming apparatus, and is movable in the vertical direction (Y direction) with respect to the outer housing 111. It has a developing device storage means, ie, a storage case l12, which is supported and has a plurality of storage portions for storing a plurality of developing devices.

As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage case 112 has four vertical frames 113a, b, c.
, d, and both side plates 114a, b provided between 7L/-mu 113a, d and 113b, d,
Predetermined openings are formed as necessary to achieve various functions to be described later, but the detailed shapes of the side plates are omitted in the accompanying drawings.

Furthermore, the storage case 112 is divided into three parts M by partition plates 115a, b, and c arranged between the side plates 114a and b.
In this embodiment, three developing device storage sections are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in some cases, two developing device storage sections, Or formed with four or more.

On the developer storage portions 151A, 151B, and 151c, there are color developers storing different color toners, for example, a red developer 13A storing red toner.

A blue current device 13B containing blue toner and a line ring device 13c containing green toner are housed so as to be movable in the left and right direction in FIG. In order to facilitate smooth movement within the storage case, each developing device is preferably provided with a guide member 116 at the bottom and configured to move within a guide rail 117 provided on a partition plate. .

As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the multiple developer housing W1110 is moved in the vertical direction by a storage case moving means Y, and a desired color developing device is loaded by this case moving means Y. The storage section 151 placed therein is stopped in line with the loading port 55 on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and then the desired color developing device is moved to the main body 100 by the developing device moving means X.
will be brought inside.

The case moving means Y for moving the developing device storage case 112 in a downward direction will be explained using the second tooth and FIG.

The storage case 112 has vertical frames 113 & 113b
A rack 118 is provided on the side facing the image forming apparatus main body 100.
a and 118b are fixed.

On the other hand, pinions 119 are provided in the racks 118a and 118b.
a and 119b are in mesh, and both pinions rotate fth
They are connected at L20. Further, the pinion 119b meshes with the output gear 122 of the vertical motor M2 via the gear 121. Therefore, the rotational output of the vertical motor M2 is transmitted to the racks 118a and 118b of the storage case 112,
The storage case 112 moves in the illustrated upward (up) and downward (down) directions.

The vertical home position of the storage case 112 is.

It is controlled by a home position sensor 125 consisting of a flag 125a provided on the storage case 112 and a sensor attached to the outer housing ill, that is, a photointerrupter 125b.

The position of each stage of the storage case 112 is determined by the output count of the encoder of the vertical motor M2 from the position of the home position sensor 125, or by the count of a timer.

As will be described in more detail, the color developing devices 13A, 13B, and 13C placed on each stage within the storage case 112
What is the color development function of the color developer, that is, the color recognition of the color developer,
And whether or not a developing device is stored in each stage, that is, the presence or absence of a developing device, can be determined by moving the storage case 112 up and down using the case moving means Y by checking the color detection marks 180A, B, and C attached to the side of each color developing device. The color detection sensor 181 provided on the outer housing 111 detects the color by moving the color in the direction. The color detection sensor 181 is configured to read and output information on the -k 180 by color detection using a reflective photointerrupter.

Next, regarding the developing device moving means X for moving the developing device in the selected developing device storage section from the developing device storage case 112 into the image forming apparatus main body 100 or from the outside to the developing device storage case 112. explain.

Particularly with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the developing device moving means
The developing device 13 is 1*developing 111 in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Storage of 30'y-, 2, 1i2 storage 1allL5IC
and a moving means 131A for horizontally moving the developing device 13c carried into the image forming apparatus main body 100 between the developing device near the photosensitive drum 11 and the storage section 151B of the storage case 112. The moving means 131B that is horizontally movable and the storage section 15 of the storage case 112.
Moving means 131c for horizontal movement between 1b and the outside
I like that.

As can be understood from FIG. 4, the developing device moving means 131A is a developing device placed in a storage section corresponding to the entrance 55 to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and in FIG. They are provided symmetrically at positions corresponding to the respective parts. The developer moving means 131A includes color developer drive gears 132a and 132b that mesh with racks 135a and 135b provided on the side surface of the developer 13C. The developer driving gears 132a and 132b are gears 133a and 133, respectively.
b, l! i wheels 134a, 134b, bevel gears 135a, 1
35b, bevel gears 136a and 136b, and the belt WIA dynamic transmission device 137, the rotational force of the horizontal motor Ml is transmitted. Incidentally, the developing unit driving gear 13 is connected to the horizontal motor Ml.
Clutch C controls the intermittent rotational force transmitted to 2a and 132b.
Controlled by L2.

Further, in the developing device horizontal moving means 131A, the developing device driving gears 132a and 132b are connected to the developing device 13c (7) rack 135.
The developing device storage case 112 is biased by a spring means (not shown) so as to mesh with the developer storage case 112a and 135b in the up and down directions shown in FIG. When moving the horizontal moving means 134
The developer horizontal moving means 13LA is connected to the solenoid 5Ll so that the color developer horizontal moving means 13LA does not interfere with the color developing device vertical moving means Y.
a, separated from the storage case 112 at 5Llb (FIG. 4).

Therefore, sensors 170a and 170b are arranged on the horizontal movement means 131A to detect when the means is sufficiently separated from the storage case 112. sensor 170
a and 170b are known photointerrupters.

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the developing device horizontal moving means 131B is a rack 1 provided on the upper surface of the developing device 13c.
Color developer drive gear 56a meshing with 38a and 138b
, 56b. The developing device driving gears 56a, 56b
The rotational force of the horizontal motor M1 is transmitted through the gears 57a, 57b and the belt drive transmission device 58, respectively.

Incidentally, the developing unit driving gears 56a, 56 are connected to the horizontal motor M1.
The on/off of the rotational force transmitted to b is controlled by clutch CLI.

Similarly, the developing device horizontal moving means 131c moves the developing device 1
It has color developer driving gears 161a and 161b that mesh with racks 138a and 138b provided on the upper surface of the color developing device 3c. The rotational force of the horizontal motor M1 is transmitted to the developing device driving gears 161a, 161b via the belt drive transmission device 162, and the developing device driving gears 161a, 161b are transmitted from the horizontal motor M1 to the developing device driving gears 161a, 161b.
The on/off of the rotational force transmitted to 161b is controlled by clutch CL3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control section of an image forming apparatus equipped with a multiple developer storage device according to the present invention configured as described above. Only relevant parts are specified.

The control unit is the control unit of the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the “main body control unit”).
) 203 and the control unit 200 of the multiple developer storage device 150, the six main body control unit 203 and the control unit 200 communicate abnormal data and Control is performed by exchanging color information, etc. of color developing devices.

The main body control section 203 includes a pressure drive clutch for pressurizing the color developing device 13 transferred into the main body by the control section 200 onto the photosensitive drum 11, and a pressure driving clutch for pressurizing the color developing device 13 transferred into the main body by the control section 200, and a pressure driving clutch for pressurizing the color developing device 13 transferred into the image processing apparatus. The color code signal CN of the color developing device 13 is input by connecting to the developing device connector CN.
a, CN7b, CNc, and the main body operation section 204.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body operation unit 204 is a man-machine interface for inputting a start key (copy key) for image formation and inputting/outputting various information.
This will be explained in more detail later.

The control unit 200 of the multiple developer storage device includes a main body control unit 20
3, the color developing device 13 is controlled to be carried into the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 of the main body, and the color developing device 13 near the photosensitive drum 11 of the main body of the image forming apparatus is transferred to the storage case 112 of the multiple developing device storage device. control for transporting the color developer 13 to the vicinity of the door 171 of the multiple developer storage device and control for taking out the two-color developer 13; and control for transporting the color developer 13 manually to the vicinity of the door 171. control to transfer and fix the container to the storage case 112; control to read the color detection mark 180 of the color developing device 13 in the storage case 112 from the output from the color detection sensor 181; and control to transmit the data to the main body control section; Storage case 112 (7) storage sections 151A, 151B, 1 to display operation section 205 (described later)
LEDs 224a, 224b, 2 that display colors in 51c
It performs control such as lighting up lights 24c and 224d.

Further, the control unit 200 controls the motor M1. It also performs control to detect abnormalities in M2 and transmit error data to the main body control section.

The control unit 200 includes human power and solenoids for each of the sensors,
A known input circuit and drive circuit for controlling the clutch, an I/F (interface) circuit with the controller 201 of the horizontal motor M1 and the controller 202 of the vertical motor M2, a circuit for communicating with the main body control section, It also includes an LED drive circuit and a key input circuit for the operation unit 205.

The horizontal motor controller 201 includes a well-known PLL circuit that controls the speed of the horizontal motor M1 and the horizontal motor M1.
It consists of a circuit that drives Control signals from the control unit 200 to the horizontal motor controller 201 include a start signal ON to rotate the motor, a signal F/B to determine the rotation direction of the motor, a BLK signal to brake the rotation of the motor, and a signal such as a signal F/B to brake the rotation of the motor. A clock signal CLK of a determined frequency is input. The F/B signal that determines the rotational direction of the motor is the F/B signal of the developing device horizontal movement means.
This corresponds to the d direction (the direction from the developer storage device to the main body of the image forming apparatus) and the Back direction (the direction from the developer storage device to the outside).

The vertical motor controller 202 receives an ON signal from the control unit 200 to drive the vertical motor M2, and a signal to determine the rotation direction of the motor (the U/D signal corresponds to the up and down directions of the developing unit moving means Y). ), and BLK and CLK signals similar to the horizontal motor controller 201 are input.

FIG. 6 shows the operation section 204 of the main body image forming apparatus and the operation section 205 of the multiple developer storage device.

Input switches (keys) in the main body operation unit 204 include a power switch 213, a numeric keypad 205, and a clear/stop key 2 for stopping input values and image formation.
09, key for inputting special modes such as multiple copy mode, reset key 206 for canceling the mode etc. entered by Canilia 214, developer color selection key 217, storage capacity of transfer material 17) 18 .24 paper source selection cassette (selection) key 208. It is made up of.

In addition, an operation unit 204 as a man-machine interface
A liquid crystal display section 215 displays the paper size stored in the cassette 18 and 24, the copying (image formation) status, etc., and an LE display section 215 displays the color of the selected developing device.
D210 (black), 211a (red), 211b (blue),
It consists of 211c (brown) and 211d (green).

The operation unit 225 shown in FIG. 6 includes 5 select keys 220 . Eject instructs to transfer the developing device to the vicinity of the drum 171 of the multiple developing device storage device
key 221, 5elect display LEDs 223a, 22 that display the storage section specified by the 5eled key 220
3b, 223c, a color display LED 2 that displays the color of the developing device in the storage section specified by the 5 select key 220;
24a (red), 224b (blue), 224c (brown), 2
24d (green), and LED 2 to indicate that the color developing device is being transferred.
It consists of 22.

Next, the main operating mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained.

・Horizontal loading sequence Referring to FIG. 8 and FIGS.
A case will be described in which the image is guided to a developing device provided near 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage section 151c is brought to rest at the position of the main body entrance 55 by the action of the vertical movement means Y. Each developing device, therefore, the developing device 13C also has a developing device locking pawl 165a provided on one side plate 114a, 114b.

165b is a recess 166 formed on the upper surface of the developing device 13c.
It is fixed to the storage portion 151c by engaging with the portions a and 166b.

First, the developer lock pawls 165a and 165b are released from the color developer 13C by the developer lock release solenoids 5L2a and SL2b (step 50.0), after driving the color developer lock release solenoids 5L2a and 5L2b. , rotates the horizontal motor 140 to drive the horizontal moving means 131A. At this time, solenoid 5Lla
, 5LIb is also deactivated, and the horizontal movement means 131A
is applied to the developing device 13c in the storage section 151c.

Drive gears 132a, 132bI: By rotating in the f direction, the developing device 13c is transferred to the main body loading port 55.0 The developing device 13c transferred to the main body loading port 55 activates the horizontal home position sensors 175a, b. The passage of the developing device is detected (step 504), and as a result, the clutch CLI is actuated, and the horizontal moving means 131B is actuated by the horizontal motor Ml (step 505).
3C is transported to the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 and to the developing device by the II wheels 56a and 58b.

At this time, the developing unit pressure lever 60a and Bob inside the image forming apparatus main body 100 pressurize the black developing unit 14 inside the apparatus main body, and do not interfere with the transfer of the developing unit 13C.

The developer 13c moved into the image forming apparatus main body 100 is in this state connected to the developer connector CN in the main body, and an input signal CNc from the developer connector CN is transmitted to the main body control unit 203. .

Thereafter, the developing device 13 is
When image formation is performed at C, the pressure lever B
oa and Bob are rotated, and the black developing device 14 is connected to the photosensitive drum 11.
The developing device 13c is moved further away, and the developing device 13c is pressurized and set to the developing operating position.

・Horizontal direction unloading sequence Next, with reference to FIG. 9 and FIGS. 2 to 4, the developing device 13C located near the photosensitive drum 11 inside the apparatus main body 100 is transferred to the developing device storage section 151c of the storage case 112. We will explain the case of transferring to.

If the developing device 13C is pressurized against the photosensitive drum 11 inside the apparatus main body lOO and set at the developing operation position, the pressure levers 60a and 80b are rotated.

The developing device 13C is released. Next, the horizontal motor Ml is rotated, and the developing device transporting gears 56a and 58b of the horizontal moving means 131B are rotated by the clutch CLI (step 50B). The developing device 13C is moved toward the storage case 112. move horizontally to

Along with the rotation of the developing unit conveying gear 56, the horizontal moving means 13
1A also operates, and the developing device 13c is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
Then, it is transported into the storage part 151C of the storage case 112.

The developer 13c is detected to have been carried into the storage case by a horizontal home position sensor 170 such as a photointerrupter (step 509), and is stopped after moving a predetermined distance (step 511). At the same time, the developer lock release solenoid is activated. By releasing 5L2a and 5L2b, the developer lock levers 185a and 165b lock the developer 13c.
is fixed in the storage portion 151 (step 512), and the developer lock sensor 167a indicates that the developer 13c is fixed.
, 167b.

-Horizontal Door Closing Sequence As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-sheet developing device storage device is provided with a door 171 on the outer housing ill so that the developing device can be carried into the storage device from the outside. The door 1
71 is detected by the door switch 172 and input to the control unit 200.

Next, a case in which the color developing device 13c is manually carried into the multiple developing device storage device 1110 through the door 171 will be described with reference to FIG. 1θ and FIG.

After the door 171 is opened and the developer 13c is manually carried into the storage section 151C of the multiple developer storage device, the door 171 is opened.
When the developer detection sensor 17 is closed (step 513), the developer detection sensor 17
4a and 174b detect whether or not the developing device 13C has been carried in (Step 514). If it has been carried in, the horizontal motor Ml and the clutch CL3 are driven to move the conveying gear 16.
1a and 161b, and at the same time solenoid 5LI
a, 5Llb is released and the horizontal moving means 131A is activated, whereby the developing device 13c is transferred into the storage portion 151c (steps 515 to 517).

The horizontal home position sensor 175 detects the horizontal IJ position of the developing device 13C carried into the storage case 112 (step 51B).
is reversed (step 519), and the developing device 13C is moved a predetermined distance according to the horizontal discharge sequence described with reference to FIG. 9 and then stopped (step 520).
).

The horizontal door closing sequence described here is necessarily executed as a protection sequence immediately before the vertical east direction sequence for moving the storage case in the vertical direction. Further, when the door is opened, the drive source of each motor is cut off and becomes immobile.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the configuration of the developing unit detection sensors 174a, b and the horizontal home position sensors 175a, 175b. According to this embodiment, these sensors are directly connected to the operating piece 176a by the developing unit 13. The developing device detection lever (flag) 176b is moved, and the photointerrupter 177 is activated by the flag.

- Horizontal Direction External Removal Sequence Next, with reference to FIG. 11 and FIGS. 2 to 4, a case in which the developing device 13c is taken out from the multiple developing device storage device 110 of the present invention will be described.

Step 522) to drive the developer lock release solenoids 5L2a and 5L2b, the developer lock lever 165a,
165b from the developing device (Step 523), then the horizontal motor Ml is driven, and the solenoid 5L is released.
la, 5Llb are released and the horizontal movement means 131A, 13
1B, the developing device 13C is driven a predetermined distance toward the door 171 (steps 524 to 5).
26), as a result, the developing device 13c is transferred to the vicinity of the door 171 (step 527), making it easy to take it out from the storage device.

-Developer Replacement Sequence In particular, with reference to FIG. 12, the operation of the developer exchange sequence when a copy color is specified on the image forming apparatus main body side will be explained.

When a color is designated using the developer color selection key on the main body operation section 204 (step 528), the designated color developer is carried into the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the developer exchange sequence shown in FIG.

The color of the color developing device in the main body determined by the color code signals CNa, Nb, and CNc input to the main body control unit 203 and the color of the developing devices in each stage housed in the storage case 112 are compared with the designated color ( Step 529) If the color of the developer in the main unit is equal to the specified color, the developer exchange sequence ends. If there is no color developer in the main unit, the process proceeds to step 534, from step 534 onwards. will be explained later.

If the apparatus main body has a color developer different from the specified color, an empty stage is searched for in the storage case 112 (step 530).
), there is a method of preferentially searching from the upper and lower tiers, but searching from the lower tier has the advantage that the moving distance of the storage case 112 is shorter.

Next, the storage case 112 is moved in the vertical direction according to the vertical movement sequence described above, and the heavy film is stopped at a position that corresponds to the exit 55 (stay 531).Subsequently, the developing device in the main body is moved. After storing the storage case 112 in the storage section of the predetermined storage case 112 in the unloading sequence shown in FIG. 21, the storage case 112 is returned to the vertical home position (steps 532 and 533).

Next, the storage case is moved in the vertical direction, and the storage section containing the designated color developing device is aligned with the developing device loading position (step 534).Then, the developing device is loaded into the main body according to the loading sequence shown in FIG. (step 535).

a! Since the exchange of iW/ between the forming apparatus main body 100 side and the multiple developer housing 71110 ends here, the image forming 91 main body 100 side may start the image forming operation.

After that, the multiple developer storage device allO is used for the home positive,
(step 53B).

With this method, all the developers stored in the multiple developer storage device 110 can be installed in the main body in sequence, so multicolor copying such as blue, red, black, and brown is also possible. be.

- Sequence for taking out the developing device from the outside Next, the sequence for taking out the developing device from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the multiple developing device housing 21110 will be described with reference to FIG.

Select the color of the developing device to be taken out using the 5 select key 220 on the storage device operation section 225 (step 537
), by pressing the Eject key 221, the color developer to be taken out is determined, and it is determined whether it is in the image forming apparatus main body 100 or in the multiple developer housing 1i 1110 (step 53B).

If it is inside the image forming apparatus main body, the storage case 112
(step 539), and move the developing device into the storage case 112 according to the horizontal unloading sequence shown in FIG. 9 (step 540). If the desired developing device is in the multiple developing device storage device 110, the storage section in which the desired developing device is stored is similarly moved to the unloading position that coincides with the unloading port 55 (step 541).

Next, in both of the above cases, the developer is moved to the front of the door 171 by the horizontal extraction sequence shown in FIG. 11 (step 542), and then the operator opens the door 171 and takes the developer outside. and can be taken out.

・Initialize sequence Next, referring to FIG. 14, this is performed when the power is turned on.

The operation of the initialization sequence for confirming the color of the developer stored in each storage part of the multiple developer storage device and the presence or absence of the developer will be described.

First, the developer is fixed at a predetermined position in the storage case 112 by the door closing sequence explained in FIG.
Step 544), Next, the vertical home position sensor 125 determines whether the storage case 112 is at the home position or not (Step 545). If it is not at the home position, the vertical moving means Y is driven to move the storage case 112 to the vertical home position. Return to position (steps 546, 547).

Subsequently, the vertical motor M2 of the vertical moving means Y is driven to drive the storage case 112 downward until the count is counted up (step 548).

In accordance with the present invention, as will be explained in more detail below, color detection marks 180A are provided on the side of each developer.

B and C are bound, and the color detection mark is detected by the color detection sensor 181 (step 550), and the detection signal 1i is input to the control section 200.

Finally, the vertical motor M2 is driven upward to return the storage case 112 to the home position (step 552.
553).

- The cooperative operation method of the image forming apparatus and the developing device storage device describes the cooperative operation of the image forming device and the developing device storage device during image formation.

A color is selected using the color selection key 217 on the operation section 204 of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a copy mode is set using other keys. At this point, if the color developer is replaced, the color may be changed before the copy key 207 is pressed, so determine the color developer to be used at the time the copy key 207 is pressed. The process moves to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG.

When using two or more colors, the time required to replace the developing device can be shortened by giving priority to the color developing device located within the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the image forming apparatus main body lO
Only when the O is in the wait-up period, such as immediately after the power is turned on, it is possible to replace the color developer selected with the color selection key, pressurize the color developer in the main body, or even change the color developer Performing operations such as pre-stirring is effective in shortening the time when using a one-color developing device.

When a new developer is brought in when replacing the developer, the movement of the storage case 112 becomes unrelated to the copying sequence of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the copying sequence can be started before the storage case l12 returns to its vertical home position.

If transfer paper and toner need to be replenished during the copying sequence, color selection on the main body operation unit 204 is performed to prohibit the replacement of the developing devices in the main body of the image forming apparatus and in the multiple developing device storage device 110. Input of the key 217 and the EJECT key 221 of the operating section 225 of the storage device M110 is prohibited.

This is to ensure a developer for the designated color when restarting the copying sequence.

-Manual feed sequence According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multiple developer storage device 1110 includes a paper feed roller 19 for manual paper feed.
1.192 and guide plate 193.194.195.19
The transfer paper manually fed by the manual paper feeding section is fed to a manual paper feeding roller 54 provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus, and then fed to the image forming process. A door 197 and a door opening/closing detection switch 198 are disposed on the outer housing 111 of the multiple developer storage device atio for maintenance of the manual paper feed unit.

Referring to FIG. 15, when the manual paper detection sensor 190 provided in the manual paper feed section detects that paper has been inserted into the manual paper feed section, it drives the horizontal motor M1 (step 554) and clutch CL4. (not shown) drives the paper feed rollers 191 and 192 (step 55).
6) Also, while the manual paper feeding section is in operation, the drive of the horizontal motor M1 is not transmitted to the horizontal moving means 13LA, 131B by the clutch CL2.

Further, when driving the vertical motor M2 and the horizontal motor Ml, the motors are always driven after making the determination shown in the horizontal and vertical simultaneous drive prohibition flow shown in FIG. This makes it impossible to drive the developing device in the horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously, but it becomes possible to drive the manual paper feed section and move the storage case 112 in the vertical direction simultaneously.

If the specified color developing device is not in the main body, the manual feed paper is pulled in by the paper feed roller 191 to the position of the paper feed roller 192, and then the drive of the horizontal motor Ml is switched to the developer conveyance side, and the drive of the horizontal motor Ml is switched to the developer conveying side, as shown in FIG. After pre-stirring the zero-color developing device whose developing device is to be replaced according to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
The developer storage means of the multiple developer storage device 110, ie, the storage case 112, is moved in the vertical direction by the vertical movement means Y in various sequences. Also, vertical movement means Y
is driven by a vertical motor M2, the vertical motor M2
is controlled in the control manner illustrated in FIG.

That is, the vertical motor controller 202 that controls the vertical motor M2 has a start signal ON for driving the vertical motor M2 from the control unit 200, and a signal U/U that determines the rotational direction of the motor (up and down directions of the developing device moving means Y). D.
A brake signal BLK that applies a brake to the rotation of the motor;
and a clock signal CLK with a frequency that determines the rotation of the motor.
is input.

As described above, in the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG. 12, for example, the storage case 112 is moved up and down by the vertical motor M2 of the vertical movement means Y in order to align the desired developing device with the entrance 55 of the main body of the image forming apparatus. direction. In the developer replacement sequence, the storage case 112tf is first moved to a position detected by the vertical home position sensor 125 and then stopped.
The storage case is lowered to stop the selected developing device 13, ie, the storage section 151, at a predetermined position. The amount of descent to the predetermined position is determined by starting to count the encoder output of the vertical motor M2 from the point where the vertical home position sensor 125 is passed, and when the counted amount matches the fixed value of the predetermined storage section.

In FIG. 17, the selected developer is held in the upper storage part of the storage case 112, and the movement of the developer storage case 112 is caused by the drive of the storage case 112 that is moved downward. For motor M2 multiple times, in this example, 2 times.
A mode of controlling the movement of a storage case according to an embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the movement of the storage case is controlled by switching the brake amount in stages.

In this embodiment, the fixed count value is Vu, and the two types of brake amounts are B 1 , BZ (B 1 <BZ ),
The count value of the brake amount switching timing is set to Vc (V
Let u>V c).

Set the brake amount to B and the counter to vu (steps 301, 302), start the vertical motor M2 downward (step 303), and wait for the storage case 112 to pass through the vertical home position sensor 125 (step 304). ), each time the encoder output of vertical motor M2 is input, the countdown starts (steps 305 and 306), and when the counter value becomes equal to VC (step 307).
), the brake amount is greatly increased to Bz to decelerate.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the vertical motor M2 is driven until the counter value becomes 0, and when the counter value becomes 0, the motor drive signal is turned OFF and the vertical motor is stopped (
Steps 311.312).

Although the brake for the movement of the storage case can be applied by any method, FIG. An example of a drive control circuit for M2 is shown. As understood in the drive control circuit, the vertical motor M2 is rotationally driven in both directions by the UP and DOWN signals, but when the brake signal BLK is input to the base of the transistor TR4 of the drive control circuit, the transistor TRI , vertical motor M2, and transistor TR5, and a short circuit is formed between vertical motor M2 and transistor TR5.
2 has a braking effect due to induced electromotive force.

The present invention having the above configuration is most effective when the braking force is not very large with respect to the load.Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the brake force is not very large with respect to the load.Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the developing device in the upper storage section of the developing device storage case is selected as in this embodiment. This is particularly effective when In other words,
In such a case, the inertial force applied to the remoter that moves the storage case over a long distance becomes large, making it difficult to stop the storage case at the desired position if the brake cage remains constant. By switching the brake pad, the moving speed of the storage case can be reduced, thereby reducing the inertial force, and the stopping accuracy at a predetermined stopping position can be improved.

Furthermore, the principle of the present invention is that the developing device storage means can move in any direction as long as it has a positive inertia force when stopped, that is, in the downward direction, horizontal direction, circumferential direction, etc. as in this embodiment. If so, the same applies. Further, the number of switching stages of speed or brake amount is not limited to two stages, and by further increasing the number of stages, smoother stopping can be achieved.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of switching the moving speed of the developing device storage means of the multiple developing device storage device or the brake that controls the moving speed in multiple stages. This has the advantage of improving stopping accuracy, shortening the time required to replace the developing device, and improving the image forming speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the multiple developing device storage device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a drive system of the multiple developing device storage device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a drive system of the multiple developer storage device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control mode of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation section of the image forming apparatus main body and the multiple developing unit storage device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view showing one embodiment of the developing device detection sensor. 8 to 16 are flowcharts illustrating the main operating modes of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart f showing a control mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a drive control circuit for a vertical router. 1: Image carrier 3A, B, C: Color developer 4: Black developer 00: Image forming apparatus main body 10: Multiple developer housing device 11: Outer housing 12: Developer housing means 151A, B, C: Developer Storage parts 180A, B, C: Color detection mark X: Developing device moving means Y: Developing device storage means moving means FIG. 4 FIG. 8 FIG. 10 FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An image forming apparatus main body having an image carrier that forms a latent image and a developing device that develops the latent image on the image carrier, and a plurality of developing devices capable of accommodating a plurality of developing devices used in the developing device. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device storage means in which a container storage section is formed, and a multiple developing device storage device attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the multiple developing device storage device comprising:
The developing device stored in a desired storage section selected from the plurality of storage sections is moved to a position where exchange is possible between the storage section and the main body of the image forming apparatus or the outside. a moving means for moving the storage means; a developing device moving means for transferring the developing device stored in the desired storage section between the storage section and the main body of the image forming apparatus or the outside; and means for controlling the moving speed of the developing device accommodating means or the amount of brake for controlling the moving speed a plurality of times while the developing device accommodating means is moved to the predetermined position. Forming device.