JPS61204651A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a functional, easy-to-use device by providing each developing device with a detecting means which detects the color of toner and a display means which displays the detected color. CONSTITUTION:Toner of color B is put in the 1st developing device 2 and toner of color A is put in the 2nd developing device 3; when a copy is taken in the color A while the 1st developing device 2 is set at a development position, a color display selection key A on a console panel is pressed and then a cam 7 rotates, so that the 1st developing device 2 moves away a photosensitive drum 1 to a stand-by position around a rotating shaft 6. At the same time, the cam 11 rotates and the 2nd developing device 3 rotates around a rotating shaft 10 to approach the photosensitive drum 1 and reach the development position. Consequently, a contact in an ON state is broken on the console panel and an LED 30B turns off; and a contact in an OFF state is made and an LED 30A illuminates. Consequently, the 2nd developing device 3 which contains the toner of color A becomes ready for copying operation, which is displayed. Consequently, the functional, easy-to-use image forming device is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional image forming apparatuses of this type include, for example, those in which two or more developing devices can be installed in a main body, and each developing device has a different toner color. There are different types, or types in which a developing device with a different color of toner can be replaced and set in any one of a plurality of developing device setting locations provided in the main body.

However, in both devices, it is necessary to replace the developing device, so it is difficult to know what color the toner is in the set developing device, and it is necessary to reconfirm each time it is used.

Therefore, 1. there was a problem that it was not functional and easy to use.

Of course, it is also conceivable to specify the location where the developer is set for each color of toner to be stored, and display this on the operation panel to change the display to the color of the toner. However, this method is not convenient, as it is necessary to check the set location each time not only when setting it but also when using it.
It lacked practicality.

Further, even if it is possible to check the color of the toner in each of the set developing devices, it is impossible to know what color the toner is in the developing device in use, so this aspect is similarly inconvenient.

〔〕〕〕

The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that is functional and easy to use.

〔Example〕

1 to 11 are explanatory diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the developing device of an image forming apparatus in which two developing devices can be set, for example, a copying machine.
1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a first developer, and 3 is a second developer. In the first developing device 2, 4 is a developing sleeve, 5 is a developer, that is, toner, 6 is a rotating shaft of the first developing device 2,
A cam 7 drives the first developing device 2, which has been urged to the retracted position, to the developing position. In the second developing device 3, 8 is a developing sleeve, 9 is a toner, 10 is a rotating shaft of the second developing device 3, 11 is a cam having the same function as the cam 7, and 12 is a shutter. 13, 14, and 15 are chargers, and 14a is a paper guide.

FIG. 2 is a view of the first developing device 2 viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. In the figure, 16 is a side plate of the apparatus, 17 is a drum gear coaxially fixed to the photosensitive drum 1, and 18 is a gear that meshes with the drum gear 17 to rotate the developing sleeve 4. 19 is a first substrate protruding from the side surface of the first developing device 2;
21 is a second electrode attached to the first electrode 20 with a screw, and 22 and 25 are a second and third substrate attached to the side plate 16 as described later. It is.

3.4 is a view of the first developing device 2 seen from the back side of FIG. 1, or from the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the first developing device 2 in a position where it is used for image formation, that is, the developing device, and FIG. 4 shows the first developing device 2 in a position away from the photosensitive drum 1 so as not to contribute to development, that is, in a retracted position. Figures 5 to 8 showing the state are views of Figure 3 from different angles. That is, FIG. 5 is viewed from the direction of arrow C, FIG. 6 is viewed from the direction of arrow C, FIG. 7 is viewed from the direction of arrow E, and FIG. 8 is viewed from the direction of arrow F.

In each figure, 25 is the third substrate, and as shown in FIG. 5, spring electrodes 261, 262, 263, 26a, and 27 are fixed with screws. As shown in FIG. 8, the first electrode 20 has four screws (a, b, c, dc7) at four locations, and the second electrode 2'1 has four screws at locations b (1.1 and 1.1, respectively). It is integrally fixed to the plate 19. In addition, 2
4 is a connection terminal. In this way, the first electrode 20 and the spring electrode 27 and the second "@ pole 21 and the spring electrode 263 are in contact with each other and maintain a conductive state. This conductive state is caused by the first developing device 2 Even when in the developing position.

Even when it is in the retracted position, it is held by the elasticity of the spring electrodes 263, 27.

FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration of such contacts in a conductive state and a corresponding toner color display section.
Figure 0 shows the operation panel provided with the color display section. A, B, and C on the operation panel 28.

D is a self-illuminated color display selection key corresponding to toner colors A, B, 0, and D, respectively; 3°A, 30B, 3
0C, 30Dlf Development position nial This is an LED that displays the toner color of the first developing device 2.

Note that 29 is a copy number display, 31 is a numeric keypad, and 32 is a copy key. α1 is the spring electrode 264 and 27, β1
are the spring electrodes 263 and 27, and γ1 is the spring electrode 262 and 2.
7.01 shows the contact points of the spring electrodes 261 and 27, respectively, and 33 is a power source. Now, the spring electrodes 263 and 27 are in a conductive state, that is, the contact β1 is ON.
In this state, the color display selection key B lights up to indicate that the first developing device 2 contains toner of color B. Similarly, when the second electrode 21 is attached to one of the remaining chairs a, c, and d, one of the contacts α1, γ1, and β1 becomes O.
N and press any color display selection key A, C, or D.
lights up, and A color is displayed in the second developing device 3.

Displays that one color of toner, either 0 color or D color, is contained.

The other developing device, that is, the second developing device 3 also has α2,
β2. γ2. When any one of the contacts of θ2 turns on,
Any of the color display selection keys A, B, C, and D lights up, and the third development 2 has A color, B color, and 0 color.

It is configured so that it is displayed that the toner of one of the D colors is contained. In this embodiment, color A is displayed. Two developing units 2, first and second
．． In this way, both of the toner colors No. 3 can be displayed using the color display selection keys corresponding to the respective toner colors.

On the other hand, there is the second substrate 22+ mentioned above, and this substrate 22 has spring electrodes 23+, as shown in FIG.
232.233.23a and 235 are fixed with screws. The first electrode 20 is in contact with one of them, that is, the spring electrode 231, as shown in FIG. 8, and is electrically conductive! a′
, and the second electrode 21 is in contact with the spring electrode 234 to maintain a conductive state. Other spring electrode 23P2:・
1□, 233, and 235 are in contact with the electrically insulating first board 19 to be in a non-conductive state.
The first electrode 20 and the second electrode 21 are fixed together with screws.

When the first developing device 2 is at the developing position □, the spring electrode 231
and 234 become conductive.

Figure 11 shows the LEs corresponding to A, B, C, and D colors on the color display section of the operation panel and the contacts in such a conductive state.
In Figure 0, which is a circuit configuration of D30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D, α' is the spring electrode 231 and 235.
, β' are the spring electrodes 231 and 234, and γ' is the spring electrode 23.
1 and 233, β' indicates a contact point between the spring electrodes 231 and 232, and 33' is a power source. Now, as mentioned above,
When the spring electrodes 231 and 234 are in a conductive state, that is, the contact β' is in an ON state, LE030B lights up to indicate that the first developing device 2 containing B color toner is at the developing position.

Similarly, when the second terminal 21 is attached to any one of the remaining locations a, c, and d, the contact α'.

One of γ′ and β′ is OIL, and each has 30 LEDs.
One of A, 30C, 300 lights up, A color, C
It is displayed that the first developing device 2 containing one of the toners of color D and D is the developing device flq. “Shikaji, 1st
When the developing device 2 comes to the retracted position, the spring electrode 23. ．． 23 gates, 233.23. ．． 235 is the first. Second double electrodes 20.
21, and the toner color of the first developing device 2 is not detected.

In another developing device, that is, the second developing device 3, the contact α' is turned on by the same circuit as the first developing device 2, and the LED 30 is turned on.
A is now lit.

All of the color display selection keys A, B, C, and D are lit, and the corresponding LEDs 30A, 30B, and 3
If pressed when 0C, 300 is off, each set of developing devices can be switched from the retracted position to the developing position. In this embodiment, when key A is pressed, the second developing device 3 containing the toner of color A corresponding to key A is driven by the cam 11, moves from the retracted position to the developing position, and starts developing. The first in position
The developing device 2 is brought to a retracted position. In other words,
The color display selection key is such that when a specific key is pressed, only the developing device containing a specific toner color can be selectively rotated to the developing position.

Next, the action will be explained.

First, when the first developing device 2 containing the B color toner is set in the predetermined position of the copying machine, the contact β1 turns ON, the color display selection key B lights up, and the first developing device 2 stores the B color toner. Displays that toner is present.

Similarly, when the second developing device 3 containing the toner of color A is placed in the predetermined position, α2 is turned on and the color display selection key A lights up, and the toner of color A is placed in the second developing device 3. is included. If the developing units 2 and 3 are set in the wrong position, the contacts β1 and α2 will not turn on, so they must be reset to the correct positions. The color of the toner in the second developer 2.3 can be clearly known from the display on the operation panel.

Further, for example, the first developing device 2 has B color, and the second developing device 3 has A color.
When the first developing device 2 is in the developing position and you want to copy in color A, press the color display selection key A on the operation panel. When driven, the cam 7 rotates, and the first developing device 2 rotates about the rotating shaft 6, moves away from the photosensitive drum 1, and is lowered to a retracted position and no longer participates in development. At the same time, cam l
1 rotates, the second developing device 3 rotates around the rotation shaft 10, approaches the photoreceptor drum 1, and is used for developing image formation;
In other words, it comes to the developing position.

When you operate in this way, the following will appear on the operation panel. In other words, the contact β' that is in the ON state
turns off and LE030B goes out.

Contact α' which was in OFF state turns ON and LED 30A
lights up. In this way, it is displayed that the second developing device 3 containing the toner of color A is now ready for development. If you want to copy again using B color toner, press the 1-color display selection key B, and the first developer 2 will be able to develop using the reverse operation as described above, and the second developer 3 will move to the retracted position where it does not contribute to development. I'm coming. Then, LE030B lights up on the operation panel.

LED30A turns off.

In the above embodiment, a circuit is configured by connecting each contact with a color display selection key and an LED to identify and display the toner color, but a circuit that uses a microcomputer to perform logical processing is adopted. In this way, the number of spring electrodes can be reduced. For example, if you build a circuit as shown in FIG.
3a.

235, the second substrate 22 is no longer needed. This circuit has the aforementioned contacts αI, β1,
γ1.01 and contact α2. β2°γ2.02 and a switch Z that is turned on and off depending on the positional relationship between the cam 7 and the cam 11 to determine which of the first developing device 2 and the second developing device 3 is capable of developing is installed, and the output is set. On the side, color display selection keys A, B, C, D and LEDs 30A, 30B, 3
0C and 300, and has the same function as the previous embodiment.

In the above embodiment, two developing devices can be set, but even if three or more developing devices can be installed, the same functions as in the embodiment can be provided. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the color display selection key and the LE
Although one D is used for each color, it is also possible to have a configuration in which no LED is used if the color display selection key is made to blink instead of turning on the LED so that it can be distinguished from the others.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a means for displaying the color of the toner in the developing device used for image formation and a means for displaying the color of the toner in the developing device set in the main body of the apparatus are provided. may be provided as necessary.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect and display the toner colors of a plurality of developing devices, and also to detect and display the toner color of the developing device used for image formation. Since this can be displayed, a functional and user-friendly image forming apparatus can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention.
Enlarged plan view viewed from the direction of arrow A in the figure, Figures 3 and 4.
The figure is a side view of the opposite side of FIG. 1, that is, seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a view of the first and third board portions viewed from the arrow direction, FIG. 7 is a view of the second substrate portion of FIG. 3 as seen from the arrow E direction, and FIG. 8 is a view of the third 9 is a circuit diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1O is a plan view of the operation panel, and FIG. Circuit diagram of the first embodiment of this invention, 1st
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a first developing device, 3 is a second developing device, 4 is a developing sleeve, 5.9 is a developer (toner),
7.11 is a cam, 19 is a first substrate, 20 is a first electrode, 2
1 is the second electrode, 22 is the second substrate, 23+, 232.2
33.23a, 235 is a spring electrode, 25 is a third substrate,
261.262.263.26a, 27 is a spring electrode,
28 is an operation panel, 30A, 30B, 30C, 300 are LEDs, 34 is a mask computer, A, B. C and D are color display selection keys, β1, βI, γ1, β
1, β2. β2, γ2.02. α′, β′. γ′ and θ′ are contact points. Figure 2B Figure 3 Figure 9 Figure 70

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus including a detection means for detecting the color of toner stored in each of a plurality of developing units, and a display means for displaying the color of the toner detected by the detection means. (2) a detection means for detecting the color of toner stored in each of the plurality of developing units; a first display unit for displaying the color of the toner detected by the detection unit; and an image forming unit among the plurality of developing units. an image forming apparatus comprising: a second display means for displaying the color of toner in a developing device used in the image forming apparatus;