JPH10175350A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable conversion of a voltage level without changing a base even when the voltage level of a signal of a controller for communication with a computer differs from that of a signal of a controller for control of a main body, in an image forming device of a laser printer or the like which conducts printing on the basis of data communication with an external computer. SOLUTION: In this device, data communication of a DC controller base 24 for control of a main body with a host computer 25 is conducted through a video controller base 26. The DC controller base 24 is provided with a voltage conversion means for which IC or the like is used, and a voltage level of a signal of the video controller base 26 is detected and made to accord with the voltage level of a signal of the DC controller base 24. The voltage conversion means is provided also between options 31 and 32 so that communication between the options 31 and 32 can be conducted without changing bases.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a voltage level converting function for converting voltage levels of different signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image recording apparatus, a video controller (VIDEO CONTROLLE) has been used to perform data communication with, for example, an external host computer.
R) is used.
In some cases, the voltage level of the signal of the video controller is different from the voltage level of the signal of the controller of the image recording apparatus. In this case, a voltage level conversion IC is provided on the controller board of the image recording apparatus. Communication is performed via this voltage level conversion IC.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, when the voltage level of the control controller of the present apparatus and the voltage level of the signal of the video controller are the same, the control controller is not used. A conversion IC is not required for the board, and if the voltage level is different, a conversion IC is required for the control controller board. Therefore, there is a problem that the board must be changed according to the voltage level of the signal of the video controller. Was.

Further, when options having different power supply voltages are connected, it is difficult to perform communication because it is not known whether the power supply voltages are the same or different.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the voltage level of a signal of a controller for communication with an external device is different from the voltage level of a signal of a controller for controlling the main body. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that does not need to change the substrate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily performing communication between options even when options having different power supply voltages are connected.

[0007]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a main body controller for controlling the inside of the main body of the apparatus, and a data controller for performing data communication with an external device. A conversion means for detecting and converting the voltage level of the signal of the data controller is provided on the control board, so that the voltage level of the signal of the data controller and the voltage level of the signal of the main controller are matched.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, a conversion means for detecting and converting the voltage level of an input signal is provided on an option board having a power supply so that the voltage levels of signals between different options are adjusted. Things.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and here shows a case of a laser printer connected to an external computer.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote an upper cassette and a lower cassette, each containing a recording sheet SH as a recording medium. Reference numeral 3.4 denotes a paper feed roller for feeding the recording paper SH from each of the cassettes 1 and 2 to the position of the registration roller 5, and the registration roller 5 is fed by the paper feed rollers 3 and 4 or a re-feed roller 19 described later. The recording sheet SH thus conveyed is conveyed at a predetermined timing to a subsequent image recording section.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a primary charger for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 11 before exposure, and reference numeral 7 denotes a developing device, which performs jumping development of an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by, for example, one-component toner.

Reference numeral 8 designates the developed toner image on a recording paper SH.
, A cleaner 9 for collecting toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11, and a photosensitive drum 1
1 is a neutralization lamp for exposing 1 to neutralize residual charges.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a laser unit, which is a polygon mirror 13 rotated at a constant speed by a scanner motor 13a.
Is irradiated with laser light to form an image corresponding to the image information on the photosensitive drum 11 via the return mirror 13b to form the above-described electrostatic latent image. A fixing unit 14 applies heat and pressure to the recording sheet SH on which the above-described transfer process has been completed to apply the recording sheet S.
H to fix the toner image.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a flapper for switching and controlling the conveying direction of the recording paper SH after the fixing process has been completed. Reference numeral 16 denotes an exit roller. Reference numeral 17 denotes a reversing roller. Of recording paper SH
When the recording mode is double-sided, the recording paper SH rotates in the forward direction, and immediately rotates in the reverse direction immediately after the rear end of the recording paper SH after the fixing process has passed the reversing sensor 21. To pull the recording paper SH into the main body again.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a relay roller for relaying the recording paper SH inverted by the reversing roller 17 to the position of the re-feed roller 19, and reference numerals 20 and 22 denote paper path sensors for detecting the passing state of the recording paper SH. And 23, a stacking tray for stacking and discharging the recording paper SH on which printing has been completed by driving the exit roller 16.

The upper cassette 1, the lower cassette 2,
The first feeding means is constituted by the sheet feeding roller 34 and the like, and the second feeding means is constituted by the sheet re-feed roller 19, the relay roller 18, the reversing roller 17 and the like.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a DC controller board (control board) on which a main body controller for controlling the inside of the apparatus main body is formed; 25, a host computer as an external apparatus;
Is a video controller board on which a data controller for performing video data communication with the host computer 25 is formed. Communication is performed between the host computer 25 and the DC controller board via the video controller board 26.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an option controller board on which an option controller for connecting the upstream option 31 and the downstream option 32 is formed. Here, a case where the upstream option 31 and the downstream option 32 are a paper supply / discharge unit will be described.

The above-mentioned video controller board 26 and D
The voltage level of the signal of the C controller board 24 is usually 3
V system and 5 V system, and the voltage level is set to each video controller board 26, DC controller board 2
4 depending on the specifications.

The DC controller board 24 is provided with a voltage conversion IC 29 shown in FIG. 2 for adjusting the signal voltage level between the DC controller board 24 and the video controller board 26. This voltage conversion IC 29 is capable of performing input / output voltage level conversion with two power supplies. One of the power supplies is connected to the signal voltage line of the DC controller board 24 and the other is connected to the video controller board 2.
6 is connected to a power supply having a signal voltage level of a communication line, and voltage detection and conversion are performed.

Further, depending on the image forming apparatus, an upstream option 31 and a downstream option 32 are serially connected via an option controller board 30 as in this embodiment, and the options 31 and 32 are respectively specified by the host computer 25. Paper feeding and paper discharging are performed.
These options 31 and 32 are provided with power supplies 65 and 66, respectively, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the DC controller board 24 and the video controller board 26. As described above, the voltage conversion IC 29 is
4 and interface connector 3
5, the DC controller board 24 and the video controller board 26 are connected.

As described above, the DC controller board 24 has both the 3V and 5V power supplies, and the power supply Vcc1 of the voltage conversion IC 29 is
The other power supply Vcc2 is connected to the video controller board 26 via the interface connector 35, and the video controller board 26 has a 5V system voltage line or a 3V system voltage line. Is selected and connected to the signal voltage line of the video controller board 26.

As described above, the video controller board 26
By selecting the power supply of the voltage conversion IC 29 on the side and matching the voltage levels of the signals, the voltage conversion can be performed without changing the substrate or the pattern.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. The configuration of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the signal voltage level of the communication line is kept constant when a number of options such as a paper feed option are connected. is there.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the present embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those shown in FIG. 2 and the description is omitted.

In FIG. 3, a voltage conversion IC 29 is provided on an upstream option controller board 61,
The power supply Vcc1 of the voltage conversion IC 29 is connected to a power supply line used in the upstream option controller board 61, and the other power supply Vcc2 is connected to the downstream option controller board 62 via the interface connector 50 and the cable 51. Connected to power line.

As such a configuration, the voltage conversion IC 2
By selecting each of the nine power supplies and adjusting the voltage level of the signal, voltage conversion between options can be performed without changing the substrate or the pattern.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A signal voltage level conversion means is provided on a control board of the main body,
Since the signal voltage level of the communication with the data controller with the external device is detected and adjusted, there is an effect that the communication can be performed without changing the substrate depending on the voltage level.

Further, by providing signal voltage level conversion means also on the option board and making the signal voltage levels of communication between the options equal, communication between the options can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a DC controller board and a video controller board of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 24 DC controller board (control board) 25 Host computer (external device) 26 Video controller board 29 Voltage conversion IC (conversion means) 31 Upstream option 32 Downstream option 61 Upstream option board 62 Downstream option board 65 Power supply 66 Power supply

Claims (2)

[Claims] An apparatus has a main body controller for controlling the inside of the main body of the apparatus, and a data controller for performing data communication with an external apparatus. A voltage level of a signal of the data controller is provided on a control board constituting the main body controller. An image forming apparatus, further comprising a conversion unit for detecting and converting, and adjusting a voltage level of a signal of the data controller and a voltage level of a signal of a main body controller. 2. A conversion means for detecting and converting a voltage level of an input signal on an option board having a power supply,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein voltage levels of signals between different options are adjusted.