JPH04358650A - Device to detect amount of remaining recording sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording paper remaining amount detecting device which detects a supply timing of recording papers before the recording papers run short. CONSTITUTION:A device to detect an amount of remaining recording sheets comprises an optical fiber 4 having an input terminal fixed in the moving spot of a recording paper placing plate 2 rocked and elevated with the decrease of recording papers P and a light irradiating means 10 to irradiate each of different light irradiation ranges, set throughout the moving range of the input terminal surface of the optical fiber 4, with light in a different color. Based on a color of light inputted to the light input end of the optical fiber 4, an amount of the remaining recording papers P is detected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper remaining amount detection device for an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventional copying machines generally detect when all the recording paper in a recording paper storage such as a paper cassette or paper feeding deck is used up, but how much recording paper is left in the recording paper storage? It is not detected whether there are any leftovers.

0003

[Problem to be solved by the invention] For this reason, the user
It is common for a user to suddenly run out of recording paper during a copying operation, stop the copying operation, and then find out that the recording paper has run out and replenish the recording paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper remaining amount detecting device that can determine when to replenish the recording paper before the recording paper runs out.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A recording paper remaining amount detection device according to the present invention uses an optical fiber whose optical input end is fixed at a moving position of a recording paper mounting plate that swings or moves up and down as the number of recording papers decreases. and a light irradiation means for irradiating light of a different color for each of a plurality of different light irradiation ranges set over the moving range of the light input end face of the optical fiber, the light input end face of the optical fiber The remaining amount of recording paper is detected based on the color of the paper.

[0006]

[Operation] Since the optical input end of the optical fiber is fixed at the moving location of the recording paper mounting plate, which swings or moves up and down as the number of recording papers decreases, the remaining amount of recording paper can be determined by knowing the position of the light emitting means. I understand. Different colors of light are emitted for each of the multiple different light irradiation ranges set over the moving range of the optical fiber's optical input end, so the optical fiber can be adjusted based on the color of the light input to the optical fiber's optical input end. The position of the optical input end is detected, and the remaining amount of recording paper is thereby detected.

[0007]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, a recording paper mounting plate 2 is supported in a paper feed cassette 1 mounted on a copying machine main body (not shown) so as to be swingable about its rear end. The front part of the recording paper mounting plate 2 is always urged upward by a spring 3 provided between the front part of the recording paper mounting plate 2 and the bottom wall of the paper feed cassette 1. A plurality of recording papers P are placed on the recording paper mounting plate 2 in a superimposed state, and as the number of recording papers P decreases, the recording paper mounting plate 2 is moved by the force of the spring 3 so that the rear end of the recording paper P is lifted. It swings clockwise (direction shown by arrow A in FIG. 1) about the center.

At the center of the width of the front end of the lower surface of the recording paper mounting plate 2, there is a
The optical input end of the optical fiber 4 is attached with the optical input end face facing forward. When the recording paper mounting plate 2 swings clockwise around its rear end as the number of recording papers P decreases, the light input end of the optical fiber 4 moves upward.

A window is provided in the center of the front wall of the paper feed cassette 1 for allowing light to enter the light input end of the optical fiber 4 from the front of the paper feed cassette 1 throughout the movement range of the light input end of the optical fiber 4. 5 is formed. The optical output end of the optical fiber 4 is connected to an optical connector 6 fixed to the front wall of the paper feed cassette 1 in a penetrating manner.

On the copying machine main body side, a light irradiation device is provided in front of the window 5 to irradiate light of a different color to each of a plurality of different light irradiation ranges set over the moving range of the light input end face of the optical fiber 4. Means 10 are provided. In this example, the movement range of the light input end face of the optical fiber 4 is divided into three light irradiation ranges.

The light irradiation means 10 includes three light projecting elements 11 to 13 arranged in a vertical direction, and each of the light projecting elements 11 to 1.
Different types of color filters 21 to 23 provided for each
It is composed of. As the light projecting elements 11 to 13,
For example, a light emitting diode is used. color filter 2
1 is a color filter that allows only red light to pass through, for example, color filter 22 is a color filter that allows only green light to pass through, and color filter 23 is a color filter that allows only blue light to pass through, for example.

An optical connector 31 is attached to the main body of the copying machine to be connected to the optical connector 6 when the paper feed cassette 1 is attached to the main body of the copying machine. Optical connector 3
1 is connected to an optical fiber 32, one end of which is connected to the display section of the operating section, and the other end of the optical fiber 32.

The light irradiation means 10 is driven when the copying machine is powered on and the paper feed cassette 1 is installed in the copying machine. When the recording paper P is almost full, the light input end of the optical fiber 4 is located at a lower position within its movement range, at the height of the lower light emitting element 13. In this case, the blue light emitted from the light projecting element 13 and passed through the color filter 23 enters the light input end of the lower optical fiber 4. The light incident on the optical input end of the optical fiber 4 is
, optical connector 6, optical connector 31 and optical fiber 32
is sent to the display section via.

When the recording paper P decreases from its full state and the light input end of the optical fiber 4 comes to the height of the light projecting element 12 in the middle stage, the green light emitted from the light projecting element 12 and passing through the color filter 22 Light enters the optical input end of the lower optical fiber 4. The light incident on the optical input end of the optical fiber 4 is transmitted through the optical fiber 4, the optical connector 6, the optical connector 31, and the optical fiber 3.
2 to the display section.

Furthermore, when the amount of recording paper P decreases and the remaining amount of recording paper P becomes very small, and the light input end of the optical fiber 4 comes to the height of the upper light emitting element 11, the light emitting element 11 The red light emitted from the color filter 21 and passed through the color filter 21 enters the optical input end of the lower optical fiber 4. The light incident on the optical input end of the optical fiber 4 is sent to the display section via the optical fiber 4, the optical connector 6, the optical connector 31, and the optical fiber 32.

That is, as the remaining amount of recording paper P decreases, the color of the light incident on the optical input end of the optical fiber 4, that is, the color of the light displayed on the display section changes from blue to green to red. To go. Therefore, this display allows users to
You can know the remaining amount of recording paper P in the paper cassette 1,
It is possible to know when to replenish the recording paper P before the recording paper P runs out.

In the above embodiment, light of a plurality of colors is obtained by the color filters 21 to 23, but the light of a plurality of colors may be obtained by a plurality of semiconductor laser devices that generate light of different colors.

[0019]

According to the present invention, it is possible to know when to replenish recording paper before the recording paper runs out.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the paper feed cassette seen from the light projecting element side. 1 Paper feed cassette 2 Recording paper mounting plate 4 Optical fiber 10 Light irradiation means 11 Light projecting element 12 Light projecting element 13 Light projecting element 21 Color filter 22 Color filter 23 Color filter

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] An optical fiber whose optical input end is fixed at a moving location of a recording paper mounting plate that swings or moves up and down as the number of recording papers decreases, and an optical fiber whose optical input end is set over a moving range of the optical input end face of the optical fiber. A recording paper comprising a light irradiation means for irradiating different colors of light for each of a plurality of different light irradiation ranges, and detecting the remaining amount of recording paper based on the color of light input to the light input end of an optical fiber. Remaining amount detection device.