JPH0462564A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically instruct optimum conditions corresponding to the types of toner to a device main body and to discriminate whether or not the toner is a toner to be originally used to the device main body by providing a means setting/instructing a operating state on the side of a toner cartridge, a means discriminating instructing information on this image forming device and a control means. CONSTITUTION:The toner cartridge 10 is composed of a container 10A and a attaching/detaching part 10B, and a bar code 10C as an instructing means 10 is attached to the bottom surface of the attaching/detaching part 10B. Then, for attaching the toner cartridge 10 to the device main body, a seal 10E stuck to a toner discharging part 10D is peeled off, and fitted in the cartridge receiving part of the device main body. On the other hand, on a place corresponding to the bar code 10C of the toner cartridge receiving part 15A provided on the transfer part 15 of the device main body, an optical sensor 15B is attached, and its detecting signal is sent to the driving and control parts of the device main body. Thus, the supplying of unsuitable toner is prevented, and optimum supplying conditions corresponding to the used toner are automatically selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement of an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner cartridge.

(Prior Art) Most image forming apparatuses such as electronic copying machines and laser beam printers are equipped with a toner cartridge in which a transfer agent (toner) is housed in a removable container in the main body of the apparatus.

That is, when it becomes necessary to replace or replenish toner, as shown in FIG. 4, the front cover of the apparatus main body is removed and the transfer device 15 is pulled out from the apparatus main body in the direction of arrow A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 10 is removed from the container receiving portion 15A in the direction of arrow B, replaced with a new or different toner cartridge, and then reinstalled into the main body of the apparatus to replace the toner. This is intended to simplify the replenishment process.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the recent spread of color printing using electronic copying machines, it has become necessary to use various types of toner.

In addition, it is necessary to set and store optimal supply conditions (for example, toner replenishment time and amount) in the device itself according to the type of toner (for example, color). In this case, it is common to select supply conditions specific to the toner and to always maintain the same supply conditions.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus, since the main body of the apparatus cannot distinguish between different types of toner,
For example, if you mistakenly install a toner cartridge containing red toner when using black toner, it is easy to cause an error in which copying continues under the incorrect supply conditions. Even if a toner cartridge containing toner with different lofts such as particle size is installed in the device by mistake, the different supply conditions will continue, resulting in unstable toner supply and poor copy quality. There is a problem in that variations occur in the images, making it impossible to obtain a uniform copy image.

Furthermore, in recent years, the number of toner cartridge manufacturers has increased rapidly, and many toner cartridges with similar structures are on the market, or when using a toner cartridge manufactured by another manufacturer other than the manufacturer specified by the device manufacturer, the device The main body can only discern this.

However, if the toners are manufactured by different manufacturers, the colors and quality of the toners may vary, and even if there is no problem with the performance when applied to the main body of the device, it may cause problems in terms of maintenance, sales, and warranties, and the color and quality of the toners may vary. If the quality is different even if the toners are the same, there is a problem that not only a desired copy image cannot be obtained because the supply conditions do not match, but also errors such as toner scattering are likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional image forming apparatus.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically instruct the apparatus main body/body the optimum conditions according to the type of toner contained in the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the apparatus main body, and to An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of determining whether or not a toner cartridge has a built-in toner cartridge.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In other words, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is removably installed in an apparatus main body. an instruction means for instructing settings; a determination means provided in the image forming apparatus for determining information instructed by the instruction means;
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for setting an operating state of the image forming apparatus based on information determined by the determination means.

(Function) When a new toner cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, not only can the image forming apparatus instruct the main body of the apparatus the optimum supply conditions for the toner contained in the new toner cartridge, but also the image forming apparatus can instruct the main body of the apparatus about the optimum supply conditions for the toner contained in the new toner cartridge. When a toner cartridge containing a built-in toner cartridge is installed, the operation of the main body of the apparatus can be stopped.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is installed in the apparatus main body, the optimum conditions according to the type of toner contained in the toner cartridge can be automatically instructed to the apparatus main body, and It is possible to determine whether or not the toner cartridge contains the appropriate toner, and it is possible to effectively eliminate errors and mistakes during image formation, malfunctions and breakdowns of the apparatus main body, and the like.

(Embodiments or Exclusions) Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an electronic copying machine to which an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied, FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are perspective explanatory views of a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. a) and (b) are perspective explanatory views of the same toner cartridge receiving section.

First, an overview of the configuration and functions of a typical electronic copying machine to which the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the top surface of the copying machine body is provided with a document placement table 11 that moves back and forth during the copying process. A photoreceptor drum 12 serving as a drum-shaped developing portion that rotates in synchronization is pivotally supported.

An exposure device 13 consisting of a lamp, a lens, a mirror, etc. is provided between the photoreceptor drum 12 and the original platen 11, and it irradiates the original on the original platen 11 and directs the reflected light onto the photoreceptor drum 12. It is designed to guide the image upward and form an image of the document.

Further, around the photoreceptor drum 12, developing devices 14 are arranged in order from this image forming position along the rotational direction of the photoreceptor drum 12.
, a transfer device 15, a peeling device 16, a static eliminating device 17, a cleaning device 18, a static eliminating lamp 19, and a charging device 20 are arranged, and toner is supplied from a toner cartridge 10 to the developing device 14.

Further, a transfer paper transport path 21 is provided inside the main body, passing between the photoreceptor drum 12, the transfer device 15, and the peeling device 16. A paper feeding device 24 independently feeds paper from a paper cassette 23, and its end faces a paper discharge tray 26 via a fixing device 25.

First, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed on the photoreceptor drum 12 by the charging device 20 and the exposure device 13.

Next, this electrostatic latent image is developed with toner applied by the developing device 14, thereby forming a toner image on the photoreceptor drum 12.

This toner image is transferred by a transfer device 15 onto a transfer paper fed by a paper feed device 24, and the transfer paper to which this toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 12 by a peeling device 16, and then fixed. The toner image is fixed by the device 25, and the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 26.

On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 12 without being transferred onto the transfer paper is neutralized by the static eliminator 17 and then removed by the cleaning device 18, and the photoreceptor drum 12 from which the toner has been removed is The charge is removed by the lamp 19, and the next process begins.

In the electronic copying machine having the above configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a toner cartridge 1 in the transfer device 15.
0 is removably attached.

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the toner cartridge 10 has a container 10A and a detachable part 10B relative to the main body of the apparatus.
A bar code 10C as an indicating means is attached to the lower surface of the detachable portion 10B.

To attach this toner cartridge 10 to the main body of the apparatus, simply peel off the seal IOE pasted on the toner outlet 10D and fit it into the toner cartridge receiving part of the main body of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2(a). Stable toner supply is performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the toner cartridge receiving portion 15 provided in the transfer portion 15 of the main body of the apparatus
An optical sensor 15B as a discrimination means is attached to a location corresponding to the barcode 10C in A, and this sensor 15B is configured to send its detection signal to the drive section and control section of the main body of the device. ing.

Then, the barcode IO of the toner cartridge 10 is
For example, the following information is stored in C.

■Toner color type ■Toner rod (particle size, density, etc.) ■Toner manufacturer ■Toner compatible model ■Optimum toner supply conditions Also, sensor 15B of toner cartridge receiving part 15A
has a detection function corresponding to the information in the barcode 10C above, and the detection signal for the information in the above ■ to ■ is sent to the drive section of the device main body, and the detection signal for the information in the above ■ is sent to the control section of the device main body. It is now sent as

That is, when the toner in the toner cartridge 10 runs out and it is replaced with a new toner cartridge containing toner of the same color and type according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above, a toner rod of a different color is replaced. If a toner cartridge containing a different type of toner or a toner cartridge manufactured by another manufacturer is mistakenly installed in the main body of the apparatus, the sensor 15B detects this and sends a stop command to the drive section of the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, supply of non-conforming toner can be effectively prevented.

Furthermore, if the sensor 15B detects that the toner cartridge contains the correct toner stored in the main body of the apparatus, the drive of the main body of the apparatus continues, and at the same time, the sensor 15B reads the above information (■) of the barcode 10C. The optimum supply conditions suitable for the toner used are automatically selected.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, when a new toner cartridge is installed, not only can the optimum supply conditions for the toner contained in the new toner cartridge be instructed to the main body of the apparatus, but also it is possible to avoid mistakes. If a toner cartridge containing toner of different colors or qualities is installed, the operation of the main body of the apparatus can be stopped.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is installed in the apparatus main body, the optimum conditions according to the type of toner contained in the toner cartridge can be automatically instructed to the apparatus main body, and It is possible to determine whether or not the toner cartridge contains the appropriate toner, and it is possible to effectively eliminate errors and mistakes during image formation, malfunctions and breakdowns of the apparatus main body, and the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of an electronic copying machine to which an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied, FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are perspective explanatory views of a toner cartridge in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of an image forming apparatus in a conventional electronic copying machine. 10... Toner cartridge 10A... Container 10B... Attachment/removal section 10C... Indication means (barcode) 10D... Toner outlet 10E... Seal 15... Transfer device 15A...Toner cartridge receiving part

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is removably installed in an apparatus main body, an instruction means provided on the toner cartridge side for setting and instructing the operating state of the image forming apparatus, and an instruction means provided on the image forming apparatus for instructing the operation state of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determining means for determining information instructed by the determining means; and a controlling means for setting an operating state of the image forming apparatus based on the information determined by the determining means. Device. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction means is a bar code. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means is an optical sensor.