JPH0614203B2 - Counter reset mechanism - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a counter reset mechanism that resets a counter for measuring the life of a cartridge containing an expendable item or the like in an image forming apparatus or the like when the cartridge is attached or detached.

<Prior art and its drawbacks> In image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, from the viewpoint of realizing the recent trend toward downsizing and maintenance-free, it is possible to replace the photosensitive drum and its peripheral parts so that they can be replaced when a predetermined life is reached. It is integrated into a cartridge structure. For example, by integrating the charging device and the cleaner unit, which are the peripheral parts, with the photosensitive drum to form a cartridge structure, when the photosensitive drum is replaced, or the waste toner is full in the cleaner unit, There is the convenience that all that is required is to replace the entire cartridge without calling the service person on the user side. That is, there is an advantage that maintenance by a service person is unnecessary and the user can easily deal with it.

By the way, in this kind of cartridge, the life of the photosensitive drum is measured by a counter provided in the main body of the copying machine based on the usage frequency of the copying machine, and the state is displayed on the operation panel etc. every time the predetermined usage frequency is reached. I prompt the operator to replace it, but in the case of the type that the counter can not be reset, even if you forget to record the displayed value of the counter at the time of previous replacement or have a counter reset mechanism using a resettable counter , There were cases such as forgetting to reset. In order to avoid these problems, conventionally, a projecting piece that can be damaged is provided at the end of a magazine that is a cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and a counter is provided in the copying machine main body that faces the projecting piece so that the magazine can There is known a device that surely operates a reset mechanism of a counter when it is mounted on the device and further damages the projecting piece so that the reset mechanism cannot be operated again (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-176059).

However, in this type of device, when the magazine is mounted, the protruding piece is pressed against the counter side to break it, so that, for example,
If the protrusion is made of a synthetic resin material, if it falls into the main body of the copying machine, it mixes with the contained liquid to cause a chemical reaction, or if the protrusion is made of a metal material, There was a problem that it got caught in the rollers and damaged. Also,
Once the magazine is installed, the same magazine will not be reset again and will not be removed until the next replacement period. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation of the reset mechanism of the counter cannot be checked in the production process.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention includes a cartridge in which at least a photosensitive member and a cleaner unit are integrated with a movable reset plate to reset a counter of an image forming apparatus when the cartridge is mounted. In addition to enabling the operation check of the counter reset mechanism in
An object of the present invention is to provide a counter reset mechanism which can ensure the operation of the counter and can avoid the danger inside the main body of the image forming apparatus.

<Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view of a copying machine to which a counter reset mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

First, the structure of the copying machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The counter reset mechanism according to the present invention includes a reset plate 3 as a main part, which is housed in a cartridge 2 which is detachably attached to the copying machine 1, and a counter 4 which is attached to the main body of the copying machine 1. Is disposed in the section. A cabinet 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) whose lower end is pivotally supported by a supporting portion is mounted on the front surface of the main body of the copying machine 1. The cabinet 5 can be opened and closed with a supporting portion as a fulcrum, and a convex portion 5a is provided on the main body of the copying machine 1 as described later (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

A document table 6 is mounted on the upper surface of the main body of the copying machine 1 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and a removable paper cassette 7 is mounted on the lower surface. Further, an optical system unit 8 including a light source 8a and a converging light transmission body 8b, a developing device 9, a transfer charger 10, a fixing roller 11 and the like are provided around a cartridge 2 which will be described later in the approximate center of the main body of the copying machine 1. It is arranged.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a cartridge mounted in the copying machine. The cartridge 2 includes an upper frame 2a and a lower frame 2
b, both frames 2a and 2b are assembled by fitting the ends. Both frames 2
The photoconductor drum 12 and the main corona charger 1 are attached to a and 2b.
3, peeling unit 14, and cleaning unit 15
Is provided. A partition plate 15a, a cleaning blade 15b, a toner collecting rotary plate 15c, and the like are provided inside the cleaning unit 15 so that the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 12 can be scraped off and accommodated. In the upper frame 2a of the cartridge 2, as shown in FIG. 1, a pressed plate 16 having a bent end portion and a flat plate-shaped return plate 17 are arranged downward at a predetermined interval and will be described later. The reset plate 3 is applied with a pressing force. Further, the lower frame 2b is provided with a plate receiving portion 2c protruding horizontally. Also, the cabinet 5
While a front opening 2d is formed on the opposite surface of the counter, a rear opening 2e is formed on the reset pin 4a side of the counter 4 arranged inside the main body of the copying machine 1. Furthermore, the lower frame 2b
A hole 2f is formed on the lower surface, particularly on the right end portion at a position corresponding to the reset plate 3. In addition, each of the openings 2d and 2e
Is formed in a corner portion of the cartridge 2 with a sufficiently small diameter and is covered with a shielding plate (not shown), so that waste toner does not leak into the copying machine 1.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a reset plate housed in a cartridge. The reset plate 3 is a substantially rectangular flat plate, and at one end,
A first protrusion 3a facing the front opening 2d of the cartridge 2 and pressed by the protrusion 5a of the cabinet 5.
And a projecting piece 3c facing the plate receiving portion 2c side of the lower frame 2b of the cartridge 2. On the opposite side of the protruding piece 3c and the first protruding portion 3a, a second protruding portion 3b facing the reset pin 4a side of the counter 4 described later is formed. When the reset plate 3 is housed in the cartridge 2, the projecting piece 3c is placed on the plate receiving portion 2c of the lower frame 2b, the second projecting portion 3b projects from the rear opening 2e, and the return plate 17 While the movement is regulated, the pressing plate 16 is urged downward with a pressing force.

The counter 4 is provided inside the main body of the copying machine 1 because it measures the number of times the copying machine 1 is used and gives a signal when the predetermined number is reached to notify the user of the replacement time of the cartridge 2. Then, a reset pin 4a is provided on the upper part, and when the cartridge 2 is mounted, the reset pin 4a is pressed in the horizontal direction to reset the counter 4,
When the pressing force is deenergized, it can return to the fixed position.

<Operation> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The cabinet 5 of the main body of the copying machine 1 is opened and the cartridge 2 is attached to the main body of the copying machine 1.

When the cabinet 5 is rotated and brought into close contact with the cartridge 2 to be closed, as shown in FIG. 2, the first protrusion 3 a of the reset plate 3 previously accommodated in the cartridge 2 becomes the convex portion of the cabinet 5. 5a is pressed.

When the reset plate 3 is pressed, it moves to the left, and the second protrusion 3b presses the reset pin 4a of the counter 4 to move it to the left, thereby resetting the counter 4.

The protrusion 3c is disengaged from the plate receiving portion 2c by the movement of the reset plate 3, and the reset plate 3 is pushed by the pressing force of the pressing plate 16.
Falls down. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the pressing force applied to the return plate 17 causes the reset plate 3 to move.
Is returned to the cabinet 5 side, and the second protrusion 3b is separated from the reset pin 4a of the counter 4.

The counter 4 is reset, the reset pin 4a is returned to the fixed position, and the measured count number is returned to zero.

As described above, according to the counter reset mechanism of this embodiment, when the cartridge 2 is mounted on the copying machine 1, the stored reset plate 3 is moved to operate the reset pin 4a of the counter 4. The reset operation of the counter 4 becomes reliable. Moreover, since the operation of the counter 3 can be checked only by moving the reset plate 3, the operation of the counter 4 can be checked in the production process. For example, when the operation check is performed, as shown in FIG. 3, the reset plate 3 in the cartridge 2 is moved to the non-operating position of the counter 4. This reset board 3
As shown in FIG. 1, if the counter 4 is returned to an operating position where the reset operation of the counter 4 is possible, the reset operation of the counter 4 can be checked again by the cartridge 2. To this end, the cartridge 2 is taken out from the main body of the copying machine 1 (see FIG. 4), and the protrusion 3c of the reset plate 3 is pushed rightward against the return plate 17 through the hole 2f provided in the lower surface of the cartridge. Push it. At this time,
At the position where the tip of the protrusion 3c of the reset plate 3 comes off the plate receiving portion 2c of the cartridge 2, if the reset plate 3 is pushed upward as shown in FIG.
The protruding piece 3c of the reset plate 3 is the plate receiving portion 2c of the cartridge 2.
Located on top. As a result, the reset plate 3 becomes the return plate 1
It is moved to the right by the urging force of 7, as shown in FIG.
The protruding piece 3c of the reset plate 3 is the plate receiving portion 2c of the cartridge 2.
Return to the reset operation position in the upper position. The hole 2f which is the opening, the plate receiving portion 2c and the projecting piece 3c constitute a returning means for returning the reset plate 3 to the reset operable position.

This counter reset mechanism is not limited to the one that operates when the cabinet of the copying machine body is closed, but in a copying machine that opens and closes the upper unit of the copying machine body to attach and detach the cartridge, While the counter reset mechanism is provided, the upper unit may be provided with a protrusion to reset the counter.

<Effect> According to the counter reset mechanism of the present invention, when the cartridge of the image forming apparatus is mounted, the reset plate is moved and the reset pin of the counter is actuated to reset the counter so that the counter does not operate again. Since it is set, the reset of the counter becomes reliable. In addition, since the reset plate is moved to the non-reset operation position after the reset operation of the counter in the cartridge to perform the reset operation of the counter, and the reset plate is returned to the reset operation position again, the counter is reset. Since it is possible to check the operation of the counter each time, it is possible to check the operation of the counter in the individual image forming apparatus with a specific cartridge without the need to prepare a dedicated cartridge for each image forming apparatus in the production process. It is possible to Furthermore, since the counter is operated by the plurality of protrusions provided on the reset plate, a damaged portion does not occur, and the problem of damaging the inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus unlike the related art is avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a counter reset mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are views for explaining the action of the reset operation of the mechanism, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the action of the reset operation of the reset plate of the counter reset mechanism to the reset operation position, FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine provided with the counter reset mechanism of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a cartridge. . 1: Copier, 2: Cartridge, 2d, 2e, 2f: Opening (hole), 2c: Plate receiving part, 3: Reset plate, 3a: First
Protrusions, 3b: second protrusions, 3c: protrusions, 4: counter, 5: cabinet

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-61-56370 (JP, A) JP-A-58-195854 (JP, A) JP-A-60-32065 (JP, A) Actual development 61-94864 (JP , U) Actual development Sho 59-176059 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 60-159469 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus main body is detachably provided,
A cartridge supporting at least a unit including a consumable item having a life, and a life of the cartridge provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus is measured and a life of the cartridge reset by mounting the cartridge is measured. A counter reset mechanism including a counter, which corresponds to a first protrusion that is movably provided in the cartridge and is pressed by a cabinet of the image forming apparatus when the cartridge is mounted, and a reset pin of the counter. A reset plate provided with a second protrusion for performing a resetting operation of the counter by pressing the first protrusion, and a position provided in the cartridge for accommodating the reset plate, The second protrusion of the reset plate, which is pushed by the cabinet, resets the counter. After Tsu,
A means for moving the reset plate to a position where the first protrusion is not pressed by the cabinet and a position where the second protrusion is incapable of resetting the counter; Means for returning the reset plate to a position where the first protrusion can be pressed by the cabinet and the second protrusion so as to face the resettable position of the counter. Counter reset mechanism.