JPH11161016A - Developing cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the cost and to simplify control software by dispensing with an electrical means (a switch sensor, etc.), for detecting the presence of the attachment/detachment of a developing cartridge to/from an image forming device main body and a peripheral circuit for the electrical means. SOLUTION: When the developing cartridge 10 is not set in an image forming device, a pattern 16 for supplying power to a laser output circuit, a motor driving circuit or a high-voltage control circuit is made a disconnected state. Further, when the cartridge 10 is set, contact parts 19-a and 19-b are connected by an electric contact 17, so that a control circuit becomes an energized state, to supply the power and execute image forming processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser beam printer having a detachable developing cartridge containing a developing member and a developer for forming an image based on image information from an external device such as a personal computer. And other electrophotographic image forming apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as image forming apparatuses)
It is about.

[0002]

8 and 9 show a conventional developing cartridge 10 and the developing cartridge 1 in an image forming apparatus.
Actuator 13 that operates depending on the presence or absence of 0
FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus for explaining a configuration of a detecting unit 14 such as a sensor or a switch for detecting an operation of the actuator 13.

FIG. 8 is a view when the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted.
The non-mounting is detected by the detection means 14 and input to the port of the CPU to notify the user that the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted and that image formation cannot be started because the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted. FIG. 9 is a view when the developing cartridge 10 is mounted. The mounting of the developing cartridge 10 is detected by the detecting means 14 and inputted to a port of the CPU to determine that the developing cartridge 10 is mounted. If there is no other error such as a failure or no recording material, the image forming is started by operating the high-voltage control circuit, the laser control circuit, the motor drive circuit, and the like.

[0004]

Since the conventional detection of the presence or absence of the mounting of the developing cartridge is constituted as described above, the actuator 13 which operates according to the presence or absence of the mounting of the developing cartridge 10 and the operation of the actuator 13 are detected. Detection means 14, such as a sensor or a switch,
A peripheral circuit of the detection means 14, a signal line, a port of a CPU, and the like are required.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned conventional technology. The cost is reduced by eliminating the means for detecting the presence / absence of the developing cartridge and peripheral circuits, and the number of signal lines is reduced by one. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which control software is simplified.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a power supply pattern of a high-voltage control circuit, a laser control circuit, or a motor drive circuit is changed to a conductive state by mounting a developing cartridge in an image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the present invention provides a developing cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which are further developed from the conventional example.

The main features of the present invention are as follows with the same reference numerals as in the claims.

A first invention according to the present invention is directed to a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body and for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. A developing member opposed to the drum for transferring the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge frame supporting the developing member and containing a developer to be supplied to the developing member; The developing cartridge has a cartridge contact member that conducts between contact portions on both sides of a disconnection portion of a control circuit pattern provided in the image forming apparatus main body when the developing cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. is there.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a developing cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; b. A developing member provided opposite to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to transfer the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a developing cartridge frame supporting the developing member and containing the developer to be supplied to the developing member, When the developing cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the developing cartridge having a cartridge contact member that conducts between the contact portions on both sides of the disconnection portion of the control circuit pattern provided in the image forming apparatus main body is removed. Developing cartridge mounting means for operatively mounting; c. A mounting board having a control circuit pattern having contact portions on both sides of the disconnection portion provided in the mounting means, d. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[0010]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

The recording material 12 is picked up and transported by the paper feeding means 11. The surface of the photosensitive drum 7 has a photoconductive layer on the outer periphery of the metal drum, and is charged by the charging means 8.

The portion of the charged photosensitive drum 7 surface exposed by the exposure means 9 is in a non-charged state. Next, the toner adheres to the surface of the uncharged photosensitive drum 7 by the developing cartridge 10 in which the developing roller 10a and the developing container 10b of the developing cartridge frame housing the developer toner are integrated into a cartridge. The toner adhered to the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred by the transfer unit 5 to the recording material 12 sent from the paper feed cassette 12a. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is
It is removed by the drum cleaning means 6. The recording material 12 to which the toner has been transferred is heated by the heater assembly 1 having the heat-resistant film 2 which is a rotating band having the heater 1a therein, and is simultaneously pressed toward the heater assembly 1. Pressurized by the means 3, the toner is fixed on the recording material 12.

The developing cartridge 10 is detachably mounted as shown in FIG. 2 to a mounting section (not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the developing cartridge 10 is mounted on the mounting portion, the bottom of the developing cartridge 10 sits on the control circuit mounting board 15.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a) and 5 (b) show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 shows a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a side view of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted. FIG. 3A shows a state where the electric contact member 17 provided outside the bottom of the developing cartridge 10 is disconnected from the image forming apparatus. The electrical contact portion 19- of the power supply pattern of the laser control circuit 16L
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view when a and 19-b are in a non-contact state.
(A) is a control circuit pattern 1 viewed from above in FIG.
6 is an enlarged view, and FIG. 5A is a simplified circuit diagram.

The control circuit pattern 16 of the control circuit mounting board 15 is cut at a portion facing the bottom of the developing cartridge 10, and the cut end is connected to the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19-19.
−b.

When the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted, the contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the control circuit pattern 16 for supplying power to the laser control circuit 16L are disconnected and no power is supplied.
When the take-out door (not shown) shifts from the open state to the closed state, the laser output state is detected to notify the user that the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted and that image formation cannot be started. be able to.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the configuration when the developing cartridge 10 is mounted in the image forming apparatus.
(B) shows the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19- of the control circuit pattern 16 provided outside the bottom surface of the developing cartridge 10.
b is an enlarged side view in which the electrical contact member 17 having a size ranging between b and the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the power supply pattern of the laser control circuit in the disconnected state are in a contact state;
FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of FIG. 3B as viewed from above.
FIG. 5B is a simplified circuit diagram. When the developing cartridge 10 is mounted, the contact portions 19-a and 19 of the control circuit pattern 16 for supplying power to the laser control circuit 16L.
-B is turned on by the contact of the developing cartridge contact member 17 and is supplied with power. When the power is turned on or when the door for taking out the developing cartridge 10 shifts from the open state to the closed state, the laser output state is detected. The mounting of the developing cartridge 10 can be detected, and if there is no other error such as a failure or the absence of the recording material 12, the laser control circuit can be operated by an image forming start instruction to form an image.

According to this embodiment, the presence / absence of the developing cartridge is determined by directly opening / closing the laser control circuit pattern by attaching / detaching the developing cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body.
A switch, an actuator for operating the switch, wiring from the switch to the control circuit, and the like can be omitted, and a cheap and highly reliable means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the developing cartridge can be provided.

(Embodiment 2) The configuration inside an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 is the same as that of Embodiment 1. 1, 2, 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), 4
(B), FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of the configuration when the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted in the image forming apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the electric contact member 17 of the developing cartridge 10 and the electric contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the power supply control circuit pattern 16 of the motor drive circuit 16M in a disconnected state in a non-contact state. FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the pattern 16 as viewed from above FIG. 3A, and FIG.
Is a simplified circuit diagram. When the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted, the contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the pattern 16 for supplying power to the motor drive circuit 16M are disconnected and power is not supplied. By detecting the state of the motor drive circuit 16M at the time of transition from the open state to the closed state, it is possible to notify the user that the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted and that image formation cannot be started.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the configuration when the developing cartridge 10 is mounted in the image forming apparatus.
(B) is an electrical contact 17 of the developing cartridge 10.
FIG. 4B is an enlarged side view in which the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the power supply pattern 16 of the motor drive circuit 16M in the disconnected state are in a contact state. FIG. FIG. 6B is a simplified circuit diagram. When the developing cartridge 10 is mounted, the contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the control circuit pattern 16 for supplying electric power to the motor drive circuit 16M are energized and supplied with power. In the transition from the open state to the closed state, the mounting of the developing cartridge 10 can be detected by detecting the state of the motor drive circuit 16M, and there is no other error such as failure or absence of the recording material 12. In this case, the image formation can be performed by operating the motor drive circuit in accordance with the image formation start instruction.

According to this embodiment, the presence / absence of the developing cartridge is determined by directly opening / closing the motor drive circuit pattern by attaching / detaching the developing cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body.
A switch, an actuator for operating the switch, wiring from the switch to the control circuit, and the like can be omitted, and a cheap and highly reliable means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the developing cartridge can be provided.

(Embodiment 3) The configuration in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 is the same as that of Embodiment 1. 1, 2, 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), 4
(B), FIG. 7 (a) and FIG. 7 (b) show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of the configuration when the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted in the image forming apparatus.
(A) is an electrical contact member 1 of the developing cartridge 10;
7 is an enlarged side view when the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the power supply pattern 16 of the high-voltage control circuit 16H in a disconnected state are in a non-contact state. FIG. FIG. 7A is an enlarged view seen from above, and FIG. 7A is a simplified circuit diagram. When the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted, the pattern contact portions 19-a, 1 that supply power to the high-voltage control circuit 16H.
9-b is disconnected and power is not supplied.
Alternatively, when the state of the door for taking out the toner kit is changed from the open state to the closed state, the state of the high-pressure control circuit 16H is detected to notify the user that the developing cartridge 10 is not mounted and that image formation cannot be started. Can be informed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the configuration when the developing cartridge 10 is mounted in the image forming apparatus.
(B) is an electrical contact 17 of the developing cartridge 10.
FIG. 4B is an enlarged side view in which the electrical contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the power supply control circuit pattern 16 of the high-voltage control circuit 16H in the disconnected state are in a contact state, and FIG. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the circuit, and FIG. 7B is a simplified circuit diagram. When the developing cartridge 10 is mounted, the contact portions 19-a and 19-b of the control circuit pattern 16 that supplies power to the high-voltage control circuit 16H are energized and supplied with power.
When the power is turned on or when the door for taking out the developing cartridge 10 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the state of the high-voltage control circuit 16H is detected, so that the mounting of the developing cartridge 10 can be detected. If there is no error such as a failure or no recording material 12, the image forming can be performed by operating the high-voltage control circuit in accordance with the image forming start instruction.

According to this embodiment, the presence / absence of the developing cartridge is determined by directly opening / closing the laser control circuit pattern by attaching / detaching the developing cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body.
A switch, an actuator for operating the switch, wiring from the switch to the control circuit, and the like can be omitted, and a cheap and highly reliable means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the developing cartridge can be provided.

(Embodiment 4) In each of the above embodiments, the cartridge contact member 17 is fixed to the developing container 10b which is a developing cartridge frame. In this case, the vertical position of the developing cartridge 10 is determined by the cartridge contact member 17 sitting on the contact portions 19-a and 19-b on the mounting board 15. The position in the horizontal direction with respect to the photosensitive drum 7 is determined by abutment of a regulating member (not shown) on front and rear (left and right in FIG. 2) side walls of a developing cartridge frame provided on a developing cartridge mounting portion (not shown).

The cartridge contact member 17 may be attached to the bottom surface of the developing cartridge frame via a spring member. In this case, the cartridge contact member 17 is pressed against the contact portions 19-a and 19-b by the spring force of the spring member, and the positioning of the developing cartridge 10 is performed by a regulating member of a developing cartridge mounting portion (not shown).

Similarly, the cartridge contact member 17 may be a leaf spring. In this case, the leaf spring is also used as the contact portions 19-a, 19-a.
The developing cartridge 10 is separately positioned with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus while being pressed against 19-b.

In the embodiment, the contact portions of the circuit pattern to be conducted by the cartridge contact member are two contact portions 19-a and 19-b on both sides of the disconnection portion. However, the disconnection portion of the circuit pattern is a single conducting wire. However, the present invention is not limited to the disconnection portion, and may be a cartridge contact member that simultaneously connects the respective contact portions on both sides of the plurality of disconnection portions of the parallel conducting wire portion.

In the case where the current-carrying wires having a plurality of disconnections must not be electrically connected to each other, the cartridge contact member may be a part of the circuit pattern.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention has provided a developing cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having means for detecting the inexpensive and highly reliable mounting of the developing cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic side configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 when a developing cartridge is not mounted.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic side configuration of the image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge according to the first, second, and third embodiments is mounted.

FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged side view of the image forming apparatus in Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 when a developing cartridge is not mounted.
FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged side view of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge according to the first, second, or third embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged plan view of the image forming apparatus in Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 when a developing cartridge is not mounted.
FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged plan view of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge according to the first, second, or third embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and (a) is a simplified laser control circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge is not mounted. FIG. 4B is a simplified circuit diagram of laser control of the image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge is mounted.

6A and 6B show a second embodiment, and FIG. 6A is a simplified circuit diagram of a motor drive of the image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge is not mounted. FIG. 3B is a simplified circuit diagram for driving the motor of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 7 shows the third embodiment, and (a) is a simplified high-voltage control circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus when the developing cartridge is not mounted. FIG. 3B is a simplified high-voltage control circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a conventional example, showing an image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge is not mounted.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of an image forming apparatus when a developing cartridge is mounted, showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heater assembly 1a ... Heater 2 ... Heat resistant film 3 ... Pressurizing means 4 ... Heater holder 5 ... Transfer means 6 ... Drum cleaning means 7 ... Photosensitive drum 8 ... Charging means 9 ... Exposure means 10 ... Developing cartridge 10a ... Developing roller 10b
... Developing container 11 ... Paper feeding means 12 ... Recording material 12a ... Paper feeding cassette 13 ... Toner kit mounting detection actuator 14 ... Operation detecting means of actuator 14 15 ... Control circuit mounting board 16 ... Control circuit pattern 16H ... High voltage control circuit 16
L: Laser drive circuit 16M: Motor drive circuit 17: Developing cartridge electrical contact member 18: Developing cartridge electrical contact positioning means 19-a: Electrical contact at a break in the laser control circuit or motor drive circuit or high voltage control circuit Part 19b: electrical contact part of the disconnection part of the laser control circuit, motor drive circuit, or high voltage control circuit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A developing cartridge which is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body and is used for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. A developing member for displacing the developer to the body drum; and a developing cartridge frame housing the developer and supporting the developing member and supplying the developer to the developing member. A developing cartridge, comprising: a cartridge contact member that conducts between contact portions on both sides of a disconnection portion of a control circuit pattern provided in an image forming apparatus main body when the cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge contact member is provided on a bottom surface of the developing cartridge frame. 3. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge contact member is a leaf spring. 4. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge contact member is elastically attached to the cartridge frame. 5. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge contact member is fixed to a cartridge frame. 6. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge contact member has a part of said control circuit. 7. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by detachably attaching a developing cartridge, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; b. A developing member opposed to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum for transferring the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and a developing cartridge frame supporting the developing member and containing a developer to be supplied to the developing member. When the developing cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the developing cartridge having a cartridge contact member that conducts between the contact portions on both sides of the disconnection portion of the control circuit pattern provided in the image forming apparatus main body is removed. Developing cartridge mounting means for operatively mounting; c. A mounting board having a control circuit pattern having contact portions on both sides of the disconnection portion provided in the mounting means, d. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium. 8. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control circuit pattern is a laser control circuit pattern. 9. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control circuit pattern is a high-voltage control circuit pattern. 10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control circuit pattern is a motor drive control circuit pattern. 11. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control circuit pattern is a power supply pattern for a drive circuit. 12. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the mounting substrate is provided substantially horizontally below the developing cartridge mounting means, and the developing cartridge is mounted on the mounting substrate. 13. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge contact member is a leaf spring, and the developing cartridge positioning control member is provided in the developing cartridge mounting portion. 14. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge contact member is elastically attached to the cartridge frame, and has a developing cartridge positioning regulating member in the developing cartridge mounting portion. 15. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge contact member is fixed to a cartridge frame, and the developing cartridge is positioned in contact with a mounting substrate.