JPH0339983A - Cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect loading error of a cartridge to a copying machine main body by adding a logo display which is discriminated by a detecting means to the cartridge. CONSTITUTION:The logo display 2 is constituted from a mark 2a which is a different character, a diagram, or a combination of these two, responding to a type of toner and the logo display 2 formed on an outer surface of the cartridge 1 is detected by a display detecting means 3 to discriminate whether it is the appropriate cartridge 1 or not when the cartridge 1 is loaded to the copying machine main body. Thus each cartridge 1 containing a multiple number of toners can be selected without generating error for each machine type.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a cartridge used in a copying machine in which a plurality of types of toner are housed in a cartridge having a common shape, and the toner is replenished by replacing the cartridge. [Prior art and its problems] In PPC copying machines, the photosensitive drums used to copy images onto copy paper are classified into several types depending on the copying speed, etc., and the toner used also varies accordingly. Several types of toner have been developed, and new toners are being developed one after another even if they are used under the same copying conditions. Cartridge type toners are used for each of the above toners in consideration of ease of handling when replacing toners. Therefore, in a copying machine that stores multiple types of toner in a cartridge and replenishes the toner by replacing the cartridge, the operator can use the toner according to each stored toner so that the operator can use the correct amount of toner. In addition to the shape of the cartridge, measures have been taken such as making changes to the cartridge mounting portion of the copying machine to match the shape of the cartridge. As a result, the problem of incorrect cartridge installation caused by operator misidentification or carelessness is resolved; however, in the copying machine, the cartridge and the cartridge mounting part have a one-to-one correspondence, so For example, even if it is desired to use toner that is newly developed, there is a problem in that it cannot be used because the cartridge containing the toner has a different shape. [Object of the Invention] The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cartridge in which a plurality of types of toners can be selected without making a mistake between different models. This is the purpose. [Structure of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is that a plurality of types of toner are stored in a cartridge of a common shape, and the toner is replenished by replacing the cartridge. In a cartridge used in a copying machine, the type of the cartridge is detected by a detection means provided on the main body of the copying machine, and the cartridge is provided with a logo that can be identified by the detection means. This is a cartridge related to.

[Action of the invention]

When the cartridge is installed in the main body of the copying machine, a display detection means detects a logo display formed on the outer surface of the cartridge corresponding to the type of toner, and it is determined whether the cartridge is a proper cartridge. [Examples] Examples embodying the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following examples are examples embodying the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Here, the first vlJ is a block diagram of a control circuit of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the second rI! J is a schematic side view of the means for preventing erroneous attachment that can be used in the copying machine according to the above embodiment, and FIGS. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure in the same embodiment, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to another embodiment that can be used in the above-mentioned copying machine, and FIG. 6 is a front view of a possible display detection means. is a flowchart showing the same processing procedure, FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the erroneous attachment prevention means according to the embodiment (t) that can be used in the above-mentioned copying machine, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when They are a plan view in the direction of arrows, a front view of a display detection means capable of detecting a discrepancy display portion, and a plan view in direction of B. A copying machine that replenishes toner by replacing cartridges is shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
A logo display 2 formed on the outer surface of the cartridge L and corresponding to the type of toner, a display detection means 3 that detects the logo display 2 when the cartridge L is installed in a copying machine main body (not shown), and serves as a reference. Operation section lO for selecting and specifying the display
, a reference storage means 4 for storing a reference display selected and specified by the operation unit 10, and a comparison means 1 for comparing the signal from the display detection means 3 and the information in the reference display storage means 4.
5, and an erroneous mounting prevention means 6 that permits mounting of the cartridge I only when the signal from the display detection means 3 matches the information in the reference display storage means 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the logo display 2 is composed of a mark 21 consisting of different letters or figures, or a combination thereof, corresponding to the type of toner, and is formed in a cylindrical shape, with an opening for toner supply on the side wall. 1' (sealed with tape when not in use), the bottom wall 1. is attached to. The logo display 2 is composed of various marks, symbols, codes, or combinations thereof in addition to the illustrated trademark. The display detection means 3 is a CCD as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a sensor 31, and is located on the front side of M8, which will be described later, which is a component of the above-mentioned erroneous attachment prevention means 6, and on the cartridge l.
When the cartridge 1 is installed in the main body of the copying machine, it is placed at a position facing the logo display 2 of the cartridge 1. This display detection means 3 is a CPU (described later) which is the +R bottom part of the comparison means 5.
It is connected to the input part of the I10 port 9 (see Figure 1) connected to The type of the cartridge 1 can be determined by the combination of the output signals of the i! It consists of a numeric keypad 10' (see Figure 1) on the panel, and is connected to the input section of the I10 port 9.The numeric keypad 10' is used to select and specify the cartridge containing the toner to be used. ] A setting code corresponding to the logo display 2 is input to the I10 board 9. The reference display means 4 is stored in a non-volatile RAM 4' and connected to the CPU'.
4' is from the numeric keypad 10' to I10 baud)9. C.P.
This is for storing the setting code corresponding to the logo display 2 manually entered via U5'. The above comparison means is ROMI 1. It is composed of memory such as RAM 12 and CPU', and the information from the display detection means 3 inputted through the I10 port 9 and the non-volatile RA
It compares with the setting code in M4', and when they match, outputs an operating signal to a solenoid 13 of the erroneous attachment prevention means 6, which will be described later. The above-mentioned erroneous attachment prevention means 6 is provided near the cartridge attachment opening of the copying machine main body, and as shown in FIG. 2, a cent inch 15 is attached near the cartridge attachment opening 14 of the copying machine body (not shown) . This center switch 15 is for detecting the attachment of the cartridge L to the main body of the copying machine and starts reading information from the display detection means 3, and is connected to the input port of the I10 port 9. There is. A lid 8 for opening and closing the nucleus opening 14 is suspended above the opening 14 by a shaft 16 so as to be openable and closable. This lid 8 has a display detector as described above! i3 is attached, and a secured portion 8' is further formed at its tip (free end). A solenoid 13 having an engaging portion 13' that engages with the engaged portion 8' of the lid 8 and a return spring 17 is attached below the opening 14. This solenoid 13 is connected to the output boat of the I10 boat 9. When the solenoid 13 is in the off state, the lid 8
is prevented from opening by engaging the engaging portion 13' with the engaged portion 8' (the state shown by the solid line in Fig. 2), and when it is in the on state, the lock is released and it can be opened freely. As a result, installation of cartridge 1 is permitted (second
The state shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure>. Next, the operation of the copying machine subjected to the tl warning as described above will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. Note that (7) Slot 5102. in FIG.・・・
・etc. indicate each step. First, as an initial setting, in order to select and designate a cartridge l containing a new type of toner that the operator intends to use, input a setting code corresponding to the logo display 2 of the cartridge 1 by operating the numeric keypad 10'. The setting code is then stored in the non-volatile RAM 4'. Next, when the operator attempts to install the cartridge 1 into the main body of the copying machine, the tip of the cough cartridge 1 contacts the set switch 15 and turns on the set switch 15, and the logo display 2 of the cartridge 1 and the lid 8 are The display detection means 3 face each other (SIOI), and as a result, information on the logo display 2 of the cartridge 1 is transmitted from the display detection means 3! 1
0 port 9 to the CPU 5' (SIO
2). The CPU 5' compares the information on the logo display 2 with the setting code of the non-volatile RAM 4', and when they match (
3103), solenoid 13 via I10 port 9
is turned on (S104), and the corrugated part 8' of the lid 8 is turned on (S104).
The solenoid 13 is disengaged from the engaging portion 13', and the lid 8 becomes openable. As a result, the cartridge 1 presses and releases the lid 8 at its tip and is installed in the copying machine main body (the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). At this time, the set switch 15 remains in the on state. In addition, the display detection means 3t3 attached to the lid 8
detects a part other than logo display 2 (t & describes logo display 2
Same situation as when the information and the setting code of non-volatile RAM 4' do not match! ! Therefore, the solenoid 13 is turned off and the repulsive force of the spring 17 returns to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. On the other hand, when the information on the logo display 2 and the setting code of the non-volatile RAM 4' do not match (S103), the solenoid 13 is not turned on and remains in the off state (S10).
4'), the engagement between the engaged part 8' of the lid 8 and the engaging part 13' of the solenoid 13 is not released; as a result, the lid 8 can be pressed open with the tip of the cartridge 1; Therefore, the cartridge 1 cannot be installed in the main body of the copying machine. In other words, all cartridges other than the cartridge containing the toner to be used are prevented from being attached to the copying machine main body. Next, when the operator pulls out the cartridge 1 in the direction of arrow 18 in an attempt to remove the cartridge 1 from the copying machine main body, the lid 8 returns to its original state due to its own weight. It swings downward in an attempt to return to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2. Then, when the display detection means 3 of the lid 8 reaches a position facing the logo display 2 of the cartridge 1 again, the information on the cough logo display is again read from the display detection means 3 into the CPU 5', and is stored in the non-volatile RAM 4'. Because it matches the configuration code,
Solenoid 13 turns on. After the cartridge 1 is completely removed, the lid 8 completely returns to its original state, the solenoid 13 is turned off again, and the repulsive force of the spring 17 returns the lid 8 to its original state. In other words, the engaged portion 8' of the lid 8 and the engaging portion 13' of the solenoid 13 are engaged, and the lid 8 is maintained in an unopenable state. As described above, in the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to freely select and specify the logo display 2 corresponding to each cartridge containing a plurality of types of toner using the numeric keypad 10' of the operation unit 10. In addition, once a selection is made using the operating section IO, all cartridges other than the specified cartridge are prevented from being installed in the copying machine main body. In addition, in the above embodiment, the operation unit 10 and the reference display memory hand
&4 (see Figure 1) is the numeric keypad 10' and the non-volatile R
AM4', but as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to input the setting code using the DIP switch 19 and store it in hardware. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, even if the cent switch 15 is on, the solenoid 13 is turned off while the cartridge 1 is installed in the copying machine main body; In other words, it is also possible to keep the solenoid 13 on at all times while the set switch 15 is on. The processing procedure in this case is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this flowchart, when the center switch 15 is in the OFF state, the solenoid 13 is also instructed to be OFF. Next, another embodiment of the erroneous attachment prevention means 6 (see FIG. 2) according to the above embodiment will be described based on FIG. 7. The erroneous attachment prevention means 6' according to this embodiment has substantially the same basic structure as the erroneous attachment prevention means 6 described above. In the erroneous attachment prevention means 6', the engaging portion 1 of the solenoid 13
3. A sloped portion 13I is formed on the upper surface of. Furthermore, a spring 20 for returning the M8 is attached to the suspension portion of the lid 8 by the shaft 16. The streaks 9 fufu 200
The elastic biasing force is set to be larger than the elastic biasing force of the spring 17 attached to the solenoid 13. As mentioned above, since the erroneous attachment prevention means 6' has been removed, the lid 8 remains in its original state! m (as shown by the solid line in Figure 7!@)
When returning to the state, it is not necessary to turn on the solenoid 13 as in the case of the erroneous attachment prevention means 6, that is, the lid 8 does not need to be turned on.
The elastic urging force of the spring 20 causes the engaged portion 8' of the lid 8 to be pushed into the engaging portion 13. of the solenoid 13. The engaged portion 8' presses the inclined portion 13 downward to return to its original state. The processing procedure when the above-mentioned erroneous attachment prevention means 6' is used is shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the setting code in the nonvolatile RAM 4' does not match, the solenoid 13 is turned off. Furthermore, the logo display 2 and display detection means 3 (
FIG. 3(a) (see BL) shows a logo mark 2b having an uneven shape and a plurality of microsinches 31 installed side by side for detecting the uneven shape of the logo mark 2b. 3b, -
(See FIG. 9 fat, (bl, (C1, +d)) etc. In the cartridge used in a copying machine, the toner is replenished by replacing the cartridge, and the type of the cartridge is detected by a detection means provided on the main body of the copying machine. Since the cartridge is characterized by being marked with a logo that can be identified by a means, it is possible to detect incorrect installation of the cartridge into the main body of the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a means for preventing erroneous attachment that can be used in the copying machine according to the above embodiment, and FIG. 31!7+
a) and (b) are a perspective view of a cartridge equipped with the display section and a front view of a display detection means capable of detecting the display section, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to another embodiment that can be used in the above-mentioned copying machine, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the same processing procedure, and FIG. 7 is another embodiment that can be used in the above-mentioned copying machine. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the erroneous attachment prevention means according to FIG. 7, and FIG.
al, (bl, tel, fdl are a perspective view of a cartridge equipped with a display section according to still another embodiment that can be used in the above-mentioned copying machine, a plan view taken in the direction of arrow A, and a view capable of detecting the display section. They are a front view and a plan view in the direction of arrow B of the display detection means. [Explanation of symbols] l...Cartridge 2...Logo display 3...Display detection means 4...Reference display storage means 5... Comparison means 6...Mirror installation prevention means O...Operation unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of types of toner are housed in a common-shaped cartridge, and the toner is replenished by replacing the cartridge, and the type of the cartridge is detected by a detection means provided on the copying machine main body. A cartridge for use in a copying machine according to the present invention, characterized in that the cartridge is provided with a logo that can be determined by the detection means. 2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the logo display is printed on the cartridge or on a sheet attached to the cartridge. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the logo display is a concave/convex logo mark.