JPH0948544A - Recording material residual quantity detector of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable efficient detection of residual quantity without wastefulness regardless of the difference of thickness of recording material and the diameter of core, by installing a plurality of residual quantity detection means corresponding to the thickness of the recording material and the diameter of the core to wind the recording material. SOLUTION: Roll-shaped recording material 3 wound on a core 2 is carried in the direction of a white-scribed arrow by a carry roller 1, and an image is made gradually on the recording material 3 by an image making means. For the recording material 3, when the thickness is detected by a paper thickness detecting sensor 4 during carriage, the signal is inputted into a group of residual quantity detecting sensors 5 equipped with six pieces of residual quantity detecting sensors 51-56 via a controller 6. Moreover, the detection signals from the core diameter detecting sensor for detecting the core diameter are also inputted into the sensor group 5. This way, when the core diameter and the thickness of the recording material 3 are detected and the signals reach the sensor group 5, only the sensor corresponding to the core diameter signal and the paper thickness signal is driven out of the sensors 51-56. When the residual quantity of the rolled paper comes to the specified residual quantity, the selected sensor operates, and it indicates the residual quantity by proper method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a plotter, and an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of the recording material in an apparatus using a long recording material wound in a roll shape. is there.

[Prior art and problems to be solved]

In this type of image forming apparatus, the recording material is replaced with a new one in a timely manner so that the work can be continued smoothly. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the recording material set in the apparatus becomes small, A remaining amount detecting means for notifying the operator is provided.

As the remaining amount detecting means for this purpose, a sensor is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the recording material wound in a roll shape, and the remaining amount is known from the change of the roll diameter which decreases as it is used. It is well known that means for forming marks, holes, slits, etc. at the final portion of the recording material and detecting these to know the remaining amount has already been proposed.

However, in the former method, the recording material is usually formed by winding it around a core made of cardboard or the like, and there are some cores having different diameters (usually 2 inches and 3 inches). Since there are differences in the thickness of the material, the difference in the amount of the recording material that can be actually used at the time when the remaining amount is detected varies. Further, in the latter method described above, the marks for detecting the remaining amount cannot be unified, and it is unavoidable that the marks are different depending on the manufacturer. Therefore, one image forming apparatus is provided with a detecting means adapted to various marks. It is difficult to say that.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by installing a plurality of remaining amount detecting means corresponding to the thickness of the recording material and the diameter of the core around which the recording material is wound, It is an object of the present invention to provide a remaining amount detecting device capable of efficiently detecting the remaining amount without waste irrespective of the difference in the thickness and the core diameter of the recording material.

[0006]

Configuration of the Invention

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a roll-shaped image forming apparatus in which a long recording material wound in a roll is used while being sequentially unwound. It has a means to detect the outer diameter of the recording material, in order to support roll-shaped recording material with different paper thickness and core diameter,
A recording material remaining amount detecting device (1) for an image forming apparatus, comprising a plurality of means for detecting the outer diameter of the roll-shaped recording material, and the detection areas are arranged so as to be different from each other, or In an image forming apparatus that uses a long recording material wound in a roll while unwinding it in sequence, the roll has a means for detecting the outer diameter of the recording material in a roll shape, and a roll having different paper thickness and core diameter. Recording material for an image forming apparatus, which has means for moving an outer diameter of the roll-shaped recording material to a predetermined position in order to detect a constant remaining amount corresponding to the recording material in the shape of a sheet. Remaining amount detection device (2), or
In the above (1) or (2), a recording means for an image forming apparatus is provided, which has means for detecting a core diameter of a recording material, and judges the remaining amount of the recording material based on the detected core diameter. The material remaining amount detecting device (3) or any one of the above (1) to (3) has a means for detecting the paper thickness of the recording material, and the remaining amount of the recording material is determined by the detected paper thickness. A recording material remaining amount detecting device (4) of an image forming apparatus characterized by making a judgment, or an image forming apparatus which uses a long recording material wound in a roll while unwinding the recording material in sequence. A recording material remaining amount detecting device of an image forming apparatus, which is capable of arbitrarily selecting a remaining amount warning content.

With such a configuration, the remaining amount can be detected accurately at all times regardless of the difference in the paper thickness and the core diameter of the recording material, and the appropriate remaining amount warning desired by the user can be issued.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. The roll-shaped recording material 3 wound around the core body 2 is conveyed by the conveying roller 1 in the direction of the white arrow, and the recording material 3 is conveyed by the image forming means (not shown).
An image will be formed on.

During conveyance, when the thickness of the recording material is detected by the paper thickness detection sensor 4, the signal is sent to the control section 6 and, in the illustrated case, the six remaining amount detection sensors 51 to 56.
It is assumed that one of the sensors is selectively activated by an input signal, as will be described later.

Now, the core diameter detecting means will be described.
2 (a) and 2 (b) are cross-sectional views showing the end portions of the wound recording material, respectively showing a core having a diameter of 2 inches and a core having a diameter of 3 inches. Plugs are mounted in the hollow cores, and the diameters D _F2 and D _F3 of the flanges formed on the plugs are set such that D _F2 <D _F3 .

When a recording material roll having such a plug mounted thereon is placed at a predetermined position, the solenoid 9 is oscillated by the energizing force of the solenoid 9 at a position facing the flange portions 81 and 82 on the apparatus main body side. A moving arm 10 is provided.
When the image forming start button is turned on, the solenoid 9 is urged and the arm 10 swings to come into contact with either of the flange portions 81 and 82 of the plug. However, when the core diameter is 2 inches, the arm is oscillated. When the tip of 10 engages with the photo interrupter 13 and the core body diameter is 3 inches, the swing amount is small and the photo interrupter 13 does not output. Therefore, the core body diameter is detected, and the result is also the sensor group. 5
Shall be entered in.

The thickness of the recording material detected as described above,
From the core diameter, the remaining amount of this roll-shaped recording material 3 (how many meters,
The remaining amount detecting sensor for detecting the remaining number of sheets is brought into contact with the surface of the recording material as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as described above, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the remaining amount detecting sensors 51 to 5 are provided at the winding portion of the recording material.
6, the sensor 51 is a 2-inch core, the recording material has a thickness of 80 μm and the remaining amount is 2 m, the sensor 52 has a thickness of 95 μm and the remaining amount is 2 m, and the sensor 53 has a thickness of 120 μm.
m and the remaining amount of 2 m are respectively detected, and the sensors 54, 55 and 56 are adapted to detect the same thickness and the remaining amount when the core diameter is 3 inches. .

As described above, when the photo interrupter 13 detects the core diameter and the paper thickness detection sensor 4 detects the thickness of the recording material and the signal reaches the sensor group 5, the core of the sensors 51 to 56 is detected. Only the sensors corresponding to the body diameter signal and the paper thickness signal are driven, and the other sensors are deenergized.

When the roll paper is unwound and the selected remaining amount reaches a predetermined remaining amount (2 m in the case of this device), the selected sensor is activated to display the remaining amount in an appropriate manner. Of course, the display means can display, for example, the number of sheets after A0 size. Further, the apparatus of this embodiment is provided with a means for detecting the paper thickness and the core diameter, but even if they are not provided, if the user inputs the paper thickness and the core diameter into the remaining amount detecting device, It can be easily understood that the remaining amount detection method is possible.
It goes without saying that the number of remaining amount detection sensors, the paper thickness at which each sensor should operate, the core diameter, the remaining amount setting, etc. are not limited to those described above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a recording material remaining amount detecting device showing another embodiment of the present invention, which has basically the same structure as the device shown in FIG. Portions corresponding to those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals,
A description of them will be omitted unless necessary.

The detection of the paper thickness and the core diameter may be the same as in the case of the above-mentioned apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, the rack 101 is attached to the remaining amount detection sensor 16 that comes into contact with the recording material roll and follows the decrease of the roll diameter due to use, and these are attached to a support portion (not shown). It is supported by and can be moved in the direction of the outlined arrow in the figure. The rack is attached to a pinion 14 driven by a drive source (not shown).

When the paper thickness and the core diameter are detected, the sensor 16 moves to the position where the set remaining amount should be detected.
For the position, for example, a position of a predetermined paper thickness, a 2-inch core, and a set remaining amount of 2 m is determined on the linear sensor by the linear sensor 102 and the reading sensor 15 provided on the sensor, and the reading sensor 15 determines this position. The pinion 14 is driven to the reading position to determine the position of the remaining amount detection sensor 16.

With such a configuration, it is possible to deal with various types of recording materials having different paper thicknesses and more recording material remaining amount set values with a single remaining amount detecting sensor. Become.

When the remaining amount of the recording material reaches the set amount, the remaining amount detection sensor 16 outputs a signal indicating that the recording material reaches the predetermined remaining amount and displays it by an appropriate means. It is the same.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an essential part of an image forming apparatus showing still another embodiment, the structure and operation of which are basically the same as those shown in FIG.
Corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this device, the core diameter is detected
As shown in FIG. 8, when the core body detection sensor 12 having a microswitch or the like as a constituent element is configured to abut the flange 81 or 82 on the recording material roll side, and the core body diameter is 2 inches. In the first embodiment, the sensor 12 is inoperative, and the sensor 12 is activated only in the case of a 3-inch core body to detect the core diameter.

When the thickness of the recording material is detected by the paper thickness detecting sensor 4 and the core diameter is detected by the core diameter detecting sensor, those signals select the sensors to be operated from the plurality of remaining amount warning sensors 11. To do.

When the recording material is consumed and, for example, the remaining amount becomes 1 recording material size or less (as viewed in the recording material conveying direction), the remaining amount warning sensor selected operates to turn on the warning lamp. Appropriate means such as turning on or stopping the device is executed.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The method of detecting the roll-shaped recording material is performed within the scope of the invention described above or a known technique, and the remaining amount to be warned can be arbitrarily selected by the user by key input. According to the present invention, when a large size such as A0 size is frequently used, the remaining amount for issuing a warning is set to, for example, 2 m, and A3 size is set.
When a small size such as a size is frequently used, a warning remaining amount is set to 0.5 m, for example, so that each user issues a warning at a desired remaining amount close to a frequently used size. Since it is possible to set the value to, an appropriate remaining amount warning can be performed, and inconvenience such as issuing a warning even when the remaining amount is sufficient can be prevented.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an image forming device that uses a long recording material wound in a roll, the remaining amount of recording material is always accurately detected regardless of the difference in the paper thickness of the recording material and the diameter of the core around which the recording material is wound. It is possible to

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an end portion of a wound recording material with a plug attached.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a core diameter detection portion of the embodiment apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a means for detecting the roll diameter.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an image forming apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a means for detecting the roll diameter.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of an image forming apparatus showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a means for detecting the core diameter of the same as above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyor Roller 2 Core 3 Recording Material 4 Paper Thickness Sensor 5, 16 Recording Material Remaining Detection Sensor 6 Control Unit 9 Solenoid 10 Arm 12 Core Detection Sensor 13 Photointerrupter 14 Pinion 15 Reading Sensor 81, 82 Flange 101 101 Rack 102 Linear sensor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kei Naosuke Yosuke 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo Within Copier Corporation (72) Inventor Kunitoshi Hayashi 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo No. Copia Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yosuke Tachimi 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo No. 3 Copier, Inc. (72) Inventor Kiyoichi 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo No. Copy Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for sequentially winding and unwinding a long recording material wound in a roll, having means for detecting an outer diameter of the recording material in a roll,
In order to deal with roll-shaped recording materials having different core diameters, there are a plurality of means for detecting the outer diameter of the roll-shaped recording material,
A recording material remaining amount detection device of an image forming apparatus, wherein the detection regions are arranged so as to be different from each other. 2. An image forming apparatus that uses a long recording material wound in a roll while unwinding the recording material in sequence, having means for detecting the outer diameter of the recording material in a roll,
In order to detect a constant remaining amount corresponding to roll-shaped recording materials having different core diameters, a means for detecting the outer diameter of the roll-shaped recording material is provided to move to a predetermined position. A recording material remaining amount detecting device of an image forming apparatus. 3. A "claim 1" or a "claim 2" characterized in that it has means for detecting the core diameter of the recording material, and determines the remaining amount of the recording material based on the detected core diameter. A recording material remaining amount detecting device of any one of the image forming apparatuses. 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the thickness of the recording material, and determining the remaining amount of the recording material based on the detected thickness of the recording material. A recording material remaining amount detecting device of the image forming apparatus described. 5. An image forming apparatus which uses a long recording material wound in a roll shape while being unwound one by one, wherein the content of the recording material remaining amount warning can be arbitrarily selected. Material remaining amount detection device.