JPH04112263U - Developing device identification mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When a developing device is attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus, it is not only necessary to determine whether it is unused or used, but also whether it is attached or not. [Structure] A detected member 27 is located at a first position when the developing device 5 is unused, and is moved to a second position when the developing device 5 is used, and the detected member is located at the second position. and a detection means that detects only when the condition is present.

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

0001

[Industrial application field]

This idea determines the attachment status of the removable developing device to the main body of the image forming apparatus. This invention relates to a discrimination mechanism for a developing device.

0002

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses, when the developing device has reached the end of its lifespan, a new developing device is required. The developing device may be replaced with a different color developing device, or if it is necessary to replace the developing device with a different color. It is made detachable from the image forming body.

0003

[Problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, in the above conventional image forming apparatus, when replacing the developing device, In case of replacement due to service life, when a new unused developing unit is installed, the used developing unit will be replaced. For example, in the case of a two-component developing device, the developer must be distributed uniformly. Moreover, in order to sufficiently charge the battery, operations such as stirring are required. Traditionally, this was done by resetting an electrical switch to determine whether the product was used or not. However, this method had the disadvantage of forgetting the reset operation. Therefore , the applicant of the present application proposed a sensor for determining whether the developing device is unused in the earlier application. A method of providing a sensor (a member to be detected moving from a first position to a second position, and a member to be detected that moves from a first position to a second position, We proposed a sensor that can detect only when the It would be desirable to have a function that can determine whether the item is worn or not (preventing forgetting to put it in) Met.

0004 Therefore, this idea solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and makes it possible to install or not install a developing device. , and a developing device identification mechanism that can determine whether the developing device is used or unused. The challenge is to

[0005]

[Means to solve the problem] The gist of this idea is that the developing device is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. and a new/old detection means for determining whether the developing device is unused or used. In the device discrimination mechanism, the old/new detecting means is in the first position when the developing device is not in use. a detected member that moves from a used position to a second position when used; and a detection means that detects only when the developing device is in the image forming device. When the detecting means detects the detected member when the detecting means is attached to the device main body, it is determined that the detected member is used. If the detection means does not detect the detected member and within a predetermined time after the development device starts driving, If it is detected within the specified time, it is determined that the developing device is not in use, and if it is not detected within the specified time, it is determined that there is no developing device. The reason is that we decided to separate them.

[0006]

[Effect]

Therefore, when the developing device is installed, if the detected member is in the first position, it will be detected. Since the sensing means does not detect it, it is unused, and if it is in the second position, the sensing means will detect it. It is detected and determined to be used. Also, whether the user has installed the developing device or not. If it is not clear, the detection means detects the detected member (the first 2), it means that the developing device is present and not in use, and the predetermined time has passed. If the detecting means does not detect the detected member even if the developing device is not installed (it is not installed) ).

[0007]

【Example】

Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 4 is a picture containing this idea. The overall configuration of the image forming device is shown, including a document table 3, a mirror 4, a photosensitive drum 1, and a band. It consists of an electric appliance 7, a paper cassette 8, a cleaning device 11, a heat fixing device 10, etc. Ru. As shown in FIG. 5, the gear arrangement of the developing device 5 is controlled by a drive device (not shown). From a drive gear 21 driven by a developing roller gear 22, a conveyance screw gear 23, Drive is transmitted to the paddle gear 24 and the elliptical plate gear 25 in this order, and each gear is indicated by the arrow. Rotate in the direction.

[0008] Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one of the gears in the developing device 5, for example In the embodiment of the cigarette, a thread 25a is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft portion of the elliptical plate gear 25. A threaded portion 27a which is threadedly engaged with the threaded thread 25a is formed on the inner circumferential surface. It has a support part 27c consisting of a cylindrical part 27b, and has an outer side parallel to the axis of the elliptical plate gear 25. A detected member 27 that protrudes in the direction is provided. This detected member 27 is In both cases, the screw thread 25a and the thread portion 27a of the elliptical plate gear 25 can start being screwed together ( The cylindrical portion 27b is threaded so that the respective ends of the threaded thread 25a and the threaded portion 27a are in contact with each other. 25a is biased in the direction of the oval plate gear 25 by a spring 32. , and is prevented from rotating around the axis of the elliptical plate gear 25 by the member 31. .

[0009] On the other hand, a side plate 29 fixed to the main body side has a A photointerrupter 30, which is a detection means, is attached. This photoi The interrupter 30 and the detected member 27 constitute a new/old detecting means for the developing device 5. It is.

0010 In the above configuration, for example, when an unused developing device 5 is attached to the device main body, In this case, the detected member 27 is in the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. The interrupter 30 does not detect this. This photo interrupter 30 detects If the only criterion for judgment is the state in which the developing device 5 is not used, It is not possible to determine whether the device is installed or not. In this state, the drive of the developing device 5 is opened. When started, the elliptical plate gear 25 rotates and at the same time, the thread 25a and the thread portion 27a are rotated. After being screwed together, the support portion 27c moves in the direction of the elliptical plate gear 25 (in the direction of arrow B), and Member 27 comes to the second plate shown in dashed lines. This movement is supported as shown in Figure 3. The threaded portion 27b of the portion 27c is detached from the threaded thread 25a, and the concave portion 25b of the elliptical plate gear 25 is removed. It is completed by falling down to (without returning to the first position again). At this time, When the photo interrupter 30 detects the detected member 27, the mounted current is detected. It is determined that the imager 5 is not in use, and necessary operations such as stirring the developer are performed. Move on to action. Here, the detected member 27 does not come to the second position within a predetermined time. If this is detected, it is determined that the developing device 5 is not installed, and the subsequent operation is as follows. Interrupted. Further, if the detected member 27 is in the second position when the developing device 5 is attached, , when the photo interrupter 30 detects this, the developing device 5 is used. , and the operation necessary for the unused case described above is not executed.

[0011] Note that the time required for the detected member 27 to move from the first position to the second position, that is, , the predetermined time is based on the number of rotations of the elliptical plate gear 25 and the pitch dimension of the thread 25a (in one rotation). distance traveled).

0012 In this way, the developing device 5 is attached and the member to be detected 27 is transferred to the photointerrupter 30. If it is not detected and it is detected within the specified time after starting driving, it is unused. If it is not detected even after a predetermined time, it means that it is not installed, and the developing device 5 is not installed. If the photo interrupter 30 detects the detected part 27 after the It is used to determine whether

[0013]

[Effect of the idea]

As explained above, according to this invention, when the detected member is in the first position, The developing device is not detected by the detection means, but is detected by the detection means when it is in the second position. Since we have installed new and old detection means, when the developing device is attached to the main body of the device, the detected member If it is in the second position, it is used, and if the detected part is in the first position, it is current. If the detected member comes to the second position within a predetermined time after starting to drive the imaging device, it is considered unused. If it does not come, it can be determined that there is no developing device, and it can be determined that the developing device is not used or used. This has the effect that it is possible to simultaneously determine whether or not the device is attached.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a discrimination mechanism of a developing device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including this invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of each gear showing the drive mechanism of the developing device of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 Developing device 27 Detected member 30 Detection means (photo interrupter)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Claims: 1. A developing device discrimination mechanism comprising a developing device that is removably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body and a new/old detecting means for determining whether the developing device is unused or used; The developing device includes a detected member that moves from a first position when not in use to a second position when used, and a detecting means that detects only when the detecting member is in the second position. , when the developing device is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, when the detecting means detects the detected member, it is used; the detecting means does not detect the detected member, and after the developing device starts driving; A developing device discrimination mechanism, characterized in that when it is detected within a predetermined time, it is determined that the developing device is not in use, and when it is not detected within the predetermined time, it is determined that there is no developing device.