JPH0720676Y2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of copying different colors by simply replacing a developing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional copying machines of this type, black,
There is one that makes it possible to copy these colors by exchanging the developing device units for red, blue and yellow. These developing device units have toners corresponding to the respective colors therein. Since the toner has different components depending on its color, the fixing temperature and its consumption amount are not constant. Therefore, it is necessary to change the fuser temperature and the toner supply motor rotation speed according to the color of the developing unit.

Table 1 shows an example of the data.

[0004]

[Table 1] Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, button switches 11 to 14 corresponding to the colors of the developing device units are provided, and by turning them on, what color developing device is set in the CPU 15? I am trying to enter. The CPU
When a color signal of the set developing device unit is input from the button switches 11 to 14, the fuse 15 and the toner are set to values corresponding to the color shown in Table 1. Controls the supply motor speed.

[0005]

In the above conventional device,
It is necessary to manually input the color signal of the developing unit. For this reason, if the user depresses the button switch by mistake, the fuser temperature and the toner supply motor rotation speed will be incorrect, resulting in problems such as fixing error (offset) and toner supply error. Further, if a toner supply error occurs, there is a problem that the copy becomes too dark or too light. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when the developing unit is mounted, the fuser temperature is automatically controlled to a suitable value to prevent fixing errors. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not wake up.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention discriminates a color of a developing device based on a color developing device unit and a signal generated by replacing the developing device unit. It is characterized in that it is provided with a color discrimination means and a control means for controlling the fuser temperature according to the toner color based on the discrimination signal of the color discrimination means.

[0007]

According to the present invention, when the color developing unit is replaced, the color discriminating unit automatically discriminates the color of the developing unit, and the control unit automatically adapts the fuser to the toner color. Controlled by temperature. For this reason,
An image forming apparatus that does not cause a fixing error can be provided.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, A indicates an electronic copying machine, and B indicates a replaceable developing device unit. D is a cassette containing copy paper. The developing device unit B is provided with a drawer connector C that is detached when it is replaced. And
The drawer connector is composed of a developing device connector and a main body side connector provided on the main body side of the copying machine.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, the developing device connector and the main body side connector, which are essential parts of one embodiment of the present invention, will be described. Note that FIG. 1 shows these perspective views. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a developing device connector connected to the developing device unit, and 2 is a main body side connector fixed to the copying machine, which is provided so as to face the developing device connector.

A female connector 3 is provided below the developing device connector 1, while a male connector 4 is formed above the main body side connector 2. Then, these connectors are configured to be fitted to each other.
On the female connector 3, pins fixed to the respective tips of the lead wires 5 drawn out from the developing device unit are arranged at predetermined positions. On the other hand, the male connector 4 has a pin 7a connected to the tip of a lead wire 6 connected to the body side.
~ 7e etc. are arranged. Therefore, when the developing device connector portion 1 and the main body side connector 2 are fitted to each other, the corresponding lead wire 5 on the developing device unit side and the corresponding lead wire 6 on the main body side are electrically connected. It will be.

The developing device connector section 1 is further provided with a resistor 8 which is a feature of the present invention. The resistance 8 has a resistance value corresponding to the color of the developing device unit. For example, a resistance of 1 KΩ for a black developing device unit, 2 KΩ for red, and 3 KΩ for blue and yellow. Are connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device for an electronic copying machine. In the figure, 21 is a replaceable copying machine unit, and 22 is a resistor (corresponding to the resistor 8 in FIG. 1) fixed to the copying machine unit. That is, when the copying machine unit 21 is replaced, the resistor 8 fixed to the copying machine unit 21 is connected to the position of the resistor 22. Further, 23 is a CPU, and in this embodiment, A
NEC87A / D, which is a CPU with a built-in / D conversion circuit, can be used.

Therefore, when the copying machine unit 21 is replaced, the value of the resistor 22 changes, so that the input voltage Vin of the CPU 23 varies depending on the color of the copying machine unit 21. For example, when a black developing unit is used, the resistance value of the resistor 22 is 1 KΩ, so that the Vin voltage is about 1.
It becomes 5V. On the other hand, if you change to the blue developer unit,
The resistance value of the resistor 22 is 3KΩ, and Vin is about 2.25V.
Becomes Therefore, the CPU 23 can determine the color of the copying machine unit 21 based on the magnitude of Vin.

When the CPU 23 determines the color of the copying machine unit connected to the copying machine, the CPU 23 determines the fuser temperature and the toner based on the data shown in Table 1 stored in advance in the ROM or the like. -Control the supply motor speed.
For example, when a black developing unit is installed, C
The PU 23 controls the fuser temperature at 185 ° C. and the toner supply motor rotation speed at 3 rpm. When the blue developing unit is installed, the fuser temperature is controlled to 170 ° C. and the toner supply motor rotation speed is controlled to 6 rpm.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 24 is a solid state relay (SSR), which receives a signal from the CPU 23.
Turns on and off. When SSR24 is turned on,
Electric power from the AC power supply 25 is supplied to the fuser lamp 26. The temperature of the fuser heated by the fuser lamp 26 is detected by a soft touch sensor (STS) 27. The STS 27 is a thermistor sensor, which lightly contacts the fuser to detect its temperature. The resistance of the STS 27 changes according to the temperature of the fuser, and a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the STS 27 is sent to the CPU 23.
Is taken into. The CPU 23 compares the signal concerning the planned temperature of the fuser which it has in advance with the signal fetched by the CPU 23. If the temperature of the fuser is higher than the planned temperature, the CPU 23 shortens the on-time of the SSR 24. Conversely, if it is low, the on-time of the SSR 24 is controlled to be long.

The rotation speed of the toner supply motor 31 is the CPU
The driver 30 is driven by the signal from the CPU 23, and the signal detected by the tachometer 32 or the like is fed to the CPU 23.
It is controlled by driving back. And CPU
The data is compared with the data stored in advance in 23 and controlled to rotate at a stable predetermined rotation speed. The toner supply motor 31 is a motor that is provided in the developing device and supplies the toner from the developing toner box to the carrier chamber in the developing device, and provides stable toner supply by constant rotation. . Since the control of the fuser lamp 26 and the toner supply motor 31 is the same as the conventional one, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the developer unit is replaced by the user, the color of the developer is automatically determined, and the fuser temperature corresponding to the toner color is determined. Since it is automatically controlled, there is an effect that a fixing error (offset) does not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer connector of a developing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the copying machine showing a state where the developing device unit is housed in the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Developer connector part, 2 ... main body side connector, 3 ... female connector, 4 ... male connector, 8 ... resistor, 21 ... copier unit, 22 ... resistor, 23 ... CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A color developing unit, a color discriminating unit for discriminating a color of the developing unit based on a signal generated by replacing the developing unit, and a toner color based on the discriminating signal of the color discriminating unit. And a control unit for controlling the fuser temperature according to the above.