JPS62200366A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To understand exactly the replacement time of a process unit without complicating the constitution, by controlling to clear the contents of a measuring means of a device body at the time of installing the process unit provided with a signal transfer means, at the respective different positions. CONSTITUTION:In a color image forming device by an electrophotography process, each color process unit B1-B3 provided with optical reflecting plates 2a-2c of a signal transfer means at the respective different positions is installed to a device body A. As a result, a light beam from a light emitting element 1 is reflected by the reflecting plates 2a-2c, respectively, and photodetected by light receiving elements 3a-3b, and the corresponding counter circuits 8a-8c are cleared. These reflecting plates 2a-2c are formed by an optical film, varied from black to white in a short time after photodetecting the light beam of the element 1, and its reflecting function is obstructed. Accordingly, even if the units B1-B3 are replaced frequently, the counting contents of the circuits 8a-8c are cleared. In this way, the replacement time of the process unit is grasped exactly without complicating the constitution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image of a desired color using a copying machine, printer, facsimile, or other electrophotographic process, and more specifically, The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a desired color image by selectively mounting a plurality of process units having the same function in an apparatus main body.

"Prior art" An electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor drum using a laser beam modulated according to input information, reflected light corresponding to the original image, etc. is visualized on the photoreceptor drum. Copying machines, printers, and other image forming apparatuses that transfer the image onto transfer paper to form a predetermined image are well known. By preparing a plurality of color processing units, each of which contains a color developer of a desired color, and by selectively attaching the units to the main body of the apparatus, a desired color image can be formed. A device has been proposed.

Now, in this type of color image forming apparatus, each unit must be replaced frequently each time the color is changed, and since the replacement period and durability lifespan may differ for each unit, the unit is built into the main body of the device. It is completely impossible to determine when to replace the image number counting mechanism alone.

For this reason, when adopting the above configuration, a life measuring mechanism is attached to the process unit side that operates in conjunction with the usage time and the number of image formations, so that the replacement period for each unit can be accurately determined.

(Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-1133278) "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, attaching a life measuring mechanism to each unit not only requires the same number of life measuring mechanisms as the units; However, since the life measuring mechanism must be disposed of along with each unit, this poses problems in terms of increased costs, increased device size, and resource conservation.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, it would be sufficient to provide the above-mentioned life measuring mechanism on the equipment main body side, but if such a configuration is adopted, it becomes unclear which process unit is installed, and the It is not possible to know exactly when to replace it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus in which the structure of each process unit is simplified and the replacement timing of each unit can be accurately determined.

Another object of the present invention is to provide various control circuits for storing, counting, or displaying the usage amount of process units in the main body of the apparatus, and to reuse these circuits repeatedly, thereby reducing the cost and structure of process units. An object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus that can be simplified.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus that can easily distinguish between new and old process units.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention provides a color image forming apparatus that can form a desired color image by selectively mounting a plurality of process units having the same function in the apparatus main body. A measuring means is provided on the main body side and operates in accordance with the usage time of the process unit and the number of times of image formation. ■ A clear signal generating means is provided for clearing the measurement contents of the measuring means each time the process unit is attached. More preferably, the clear signal generating means is provided on the apparatus main body side.

(2) The clear signal is transmitted to the measuring means side via a signal transmitting means provided on the process unit side, and the measurement contents can be cleared.

(2) An essential component is that the signal transmission means is disposed at a predetermined angle or a predetermined distance for each process unit.

The measuring means is generally configured to operate in accordance with the number of image formations of the apparatus, but it is a unit/unit that does not deteriorate in response to the number of image formations of the apparatus due to idle operation of the apparatus, etc.
In such a unit, the usage time of the unit may be measured using a clock pulse or the like.

Further, the clear signal generating means can be constructed using an overcurrent generating circuit such as a light emitting element or a solenoid as shown in the embodiment described later, and the clear signal generated by the signal generating means is sent to the counter via the signal transmitting means. The configuration may be such that the measurement data in the circuit is input to a reset circuit that clears the measurement data, or a clear signal is input into the CPU and the measurement data stored in the RAM memory is controlled by software based on the program control signal. It may be configured to clear.

"Operation" Therefore, according to this technical means, since the clear signal is configured to be transmitted to the measuring means side via the signal transmitting means provided on the process unit side, the signal transmitting means is, in other words, By configuring the signal transmission means with a member that can change physically or chemically based on the signal supplied from the device main body side, the signal from the measurement means side can be changed after the measurement contents are cleared, as shown in the example below. It is now possible to prevent transmission, and as a result, even if the old process unit is installed, the measurement contents of the measurement means will not be cleared.
It becomes possible to accurately determine when to replace each process unit.

Therefore, the signal transmission means includes, for example, a fuse body or a circuit breaker connected to an overload source that is activated during the operation of the device, and an optical path between a light emitting element and a light receiving element that supplies a clear signal to the clearing means. It is preferable to use a translucent or light-reflecting member that changes color when exposed to light. Especially in the case of a process unit that can be reused by replacing consumables, the signal transmission means can be attached or detached from the process unit. It may be configured as desired, and if a circuit breaker is used, the process unit can be reused repeatedly by simply returning the switch of the circuit breaker after replacing consumables.

Further, according to the present technical means, since the signal transmission means is provided at different positions for each process unit, one
Even when a plurality of process units are installed at the same location, the number of image formations of the corresponding process units can be accurately measured.

Furthermore, according to the present technical means, since no circuit components other than the signal transmission means are disposed on the process unit side, it is possible to miniaturize the unit and significantly reduce the cost. It becomes possible to repeatedly reuse and standardize the various control circuits provided.

On the other hand, as a technology similar to the present invention, a lamp is lit on the main body of the apparatus in order to display which process unit is installed using a lamp or the like, and to change the developing conditions etc. for each process unit. Along with the circuit and development condition setting circuit, multiple switches are provided to selectively operate these circuits corresponding to the process unit, and the switches are selectively activated at different positions on the process unit side. There are devices that do this by means of a knob. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 58-75181) However, in such an apparatus, both the lighting circuit and the development condition setting circuit constitute a closed circuit on the apparatus main body side, and the knob provided on the process unit side is closed. Since the circuit controls the opening and closing of a switch interposed in the circuit, the closed circuit is always activated by repeatedly installing the process unit (on the contrary, this is the purpose of the present technology). In this configuration, even if the new unit and the old unit are distinguished, that is, the process unit is repeatedly reinstalled, the measurement contents are not cleared, making it completely impossible to accurately measure the time to replace the unit.

On the other hand, in the present invention, although both the clear signal generating means and the measuring means that operate according to the usage time of the process unit and the number of image formations are disposed on the apparatus main body side, the clear signal transmission means that conducts between the two is provided. Since the signal transmission means forming part of the circuit is disposed on the process unit side, the clear signal transmission control can be easily performed by physically or chemically changing the signal transmission means. For the first time, it becomes possible to accurately measure the unit replacement timing.

In other words, the biggest difference between the prior art and the present invention is whether the closed circuit is constructed only on the device main body side, or whether the closed circuit is constructed jointly with the device main body and the process unit; Therefore, the purpose and effect are completely different, and it is possible to provide, for the first time in the present invention, a full-color developing device in which it is possible to accurately measure the unit replacement timing.

"Embodiments" Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this example are unless otherwise specified.

This is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely an illustrative example.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where A is the apparatus main body, and B is a process unit including at least a developing device among the electrophotographic process means; It is configured to be detachable from A in the direction of the arrow. and the process unit/t81. B
2. A plurality of B3s are prepared, each containing a different developer of, for example, red, black, or blue. Since these configurations are already well known, detailed explanations will be omitted.

Process unit B1. B2. B3 has a first wall surface as and a second wall surface Bt facing the device main body A, and the first wall surface B
On the s side, there are light reflecting plates 2a, 2 such as printing films that change color from white to black when irradiated with light from the light emitting element 1, which will be described later.
b and 2c are provided.

The light reflecting plates 2a, 2b, and 2c are attached at different positions along the direction of the arrow, and receive light from a light emitting element 1 (described later) and transmit the reflected light to the corresponding light receiving elements 3a, 3b, and 3c. Configure so that it can receive light.

Further, on the second wall surface Bt facing the device main body A, magnet plates 5a, 5b, and 5c, which can operate the G switches 4a, 4b, and 4c provided on the device main body side A, are attached at corresponding positions, respectively. There is.

The NO switches 4a, 4b, 4c are connected to the magnet plates 5a, 5b, 5c on the side of the device main body A facing the second wall surface Bt.
The image forming number detecting means 10 is connected to the input side of the image forming apparatus 10, and counter circuits 8a, 8b, and 8c are connected to the output side of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, on the device main body A side facing the first wall surface Es, a single light emitting element l and the respective light reflecting plates 2a and 2b are provided.
, 2c, three light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c are arranged in a straight line at a position where they can receive the reflected light of the light emitting element l via the light emitting elements 1, 2c. 13, and the interference light from the outside is reflected by the light reflecting plate 2a.
, 2b, 2c.

The light emitting element 1 is connected to a DC power source B via a control switch 14, and is configured to emit light when the power of the apparatus is turned on or when the process unit Bl, 82.83 starts operating. .

Further, a reset circuit 7 is connected to the output side of the light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, and based on the electric signals from the light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c, the unit) 81.82. It is configured to selectively clear count data in counter circuits 8a, 8b, and ac that count the number of times B3 image formation is performed.

As such a circuit configuration, for example, the counter circuit 8a
, 8b, 8c, a volatile RAM connected to a backup power source is used as a memory element in the light receiving element 3a.
, 3b and 3c, the count data stored in the memory element can be easily cleared.

Returning to the original, comparison circuits 9a, 9b, 9c are connected to the output sides of the counter circuits 8a, 8b, 8c, respectively, and process units) Bl, B2 . The output signal from the output circuit 11 indicating the life limit of B3 and the counter circuit 8a
, 8b and 8c, and when the count signal is equal to or larger than the set output signal, the display circuit 12 is driven to issue a life warning by light or sound. ing.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, when the new process unit B1, B2, and 83 containing different developers of red, black, and blue are selectively installed, the corresponding MG switches 4a, 4b, and 4c are turned on and off by the magnetic plates 5a, 5b, and 5c. ,,image formation number detection means 1
0 and the unit 81; B2. Counter circuits 8a, 8b, and 8c corresponding to B3 are connected.

Then, turn on the device power switch 5 or turn on the unit)
81. B2. When the light emitting element 1 emits light in conjunction with the start of operation of B3, the unit Bl,
Teso reflected light is incident on the corresponding light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c via the light reflecting plates 2a, 2b, 2c on the B2, 8.3 side.

The corresponding light-receiving elements 3a, 3b, and 3c receive the reflected light and photoelectrically convert it, and based on the output signal, clear the count data in the counter circuits 8a, 8b, and 8c. The number of operations of B1, B2, and 83 is counted up by counter circuits 8a, 8b, and 8c, and as described above, when a predetermined number of sheets is reached, a life warning is displayed.

On the other hand, the light emitting element 1 continues to have light reflecting plates 2a and 2b.

2C is irradiated with light, but the light reflecting plates 2a, 2b,
Since 2c is formed of a printing film, the color changes from white to black in a short time, and the function as light reflecting plates 2a, 2b, and 2c is blocked.

As a result, due to color change or other reasons, the process units 81, B2. When B3 is once pulled out from the main body and reloaded, the magnetic plates 5a, 5b, and 5c will prevent NG.
Through switches 4a, 4b, 4c, image forming number detection means lO and the units) Bl, B2. The counter circuits 8a, 8b, 8c corresponding to B3 are electrically connected, but the light reflecting plates 2a, 2b are connected to the light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3c.
, 2c is inhibited, even if the light emitting element 1 is in a light emitting state, the light is transmitted to the light receiving elements 3a, 3b, 3.
Not supplied to c.

Therefore, the count data of the counter circuits 8a, 8b, and 8c will not be canceled and will continue to be counted by the unit B1.
,B2. B3 image forming number 1 counter circuit 8a, 8b,
It is possible to count up to 8c.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the signal transmission means is constructed using a fuse body.

Process unit 81 of apparatus main body A, B2. On the side facing B3, there is a single input terminal 20 and the unit) Bl.
, 82.83 and the corresponding number of output terminals 21a, 21b,
21c is arranged linearly along the direction of the arrow, and fuse bodies 22a, 22b, 2, which will be described later, are provided on the input terminal 20 side.
An overcurrent generating circuit 26 for supplying an overcurrent is connected to each of the terminals 2c.

Such an overcurrent generating circuit 2B is used to start image formation or process unit B1, B2. It is configured to supply overcurrent to the fuse bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c in conjunction with the start of operation of B3, and such a circuit 2θ is connected to the process unit).
It can be easily formed using the starting current of the solenoid or drive motor used to operate B1, B2, and 83.

In addition, the output terminals 21a, 21b, and 21c have an internal memory 23 backed up by a backup power supply 27 (
RAM) and a central control circuit 24 (CPU), etc., are connected to the terminals of a microcomputer 25, respectively.
Which output terminal 21a, 21b, 2
1c is the process unit Bl, B2. Terminal part 3 on B3 side
1, 32a, 32b, and 32c.

ProcessUniy ) 81. B2. B3 has a terminal portion 3 connectable to the input terminal 20 on the side facing the device main body A.
1, and other terminal portions 32a, 32b, 3 at selected positions corresponding to the output terminals 21a, 21b, 21c, respectively.
2c, and fuse bodies 22a, 22b, 22 are provided between them.
It is connected with c.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, when the device power is turned on, the microcomputer 25 selects which output terminals 216, 21b and 21c are connected to the process unit 8.
1.82.Reads whether it is connected to the terminal parts 32a, 32b, 32c on the 83 side, and stores the corresponding unit old, B2. Open the gate of the storage area B3 and prepare for counting.

Next, the states of the fuse bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c are read, and when the fuse bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c are in a conductive state, the count data stored in the corresponding storage area of the internal memory 23 is cleared.

At the start of image formation, an overcurrent is supplied from the overcurrent generating circuit 26 to the fuse bodies 22a, 22b, 22c, and after the fuse bodies 22a, 22b, 22c are disconnected, the signal from the image forming number detection means 10 is Based on this, the count data in the internal memory 23 is counted up every time an image is formed, and after a certain count is completed, the display 28 indicates that the end of the service life has come.

On the other hand, old unit) Bl, 82. When B3 is installed, fuse bodies 22a, 22b, and 22c are disconnected, so the microcomputer 25 reads this and continues counting without canceling the count data in the corresponding storage area of the internal memory 23. Do an up.

Note that since the internal memory 23 is backed up by the backup power supply 27, the contents of the internal memory 23 will not be erased even if the device power is turned off.

``Effects of the Invention'' As described above, according to the present invention, the configuration of each process unit is simplified, and even if each process unit is frequently replaced due to color changes, there is no erroneous counting, and each unit is You can accurately determine when it is time to replace the

Furthermore, according to the present invention, various control circuits that memorize, count, or display the replacement period and life limit of each process unit are arranged on the device main body, so that these can be repeatedly reused and used in common. It becomes possible to

Further, the present invention has various effects such as 0, which makes it possible to accurately measure the time to replace the unit without clearing the measurement contents even if the process unit is reinstalled.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are both schematic explanatory diagrams of a color image forming apparatus showing a life display mechanism of a process unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a color image forming apparatus capable of forming a desired color image by selectively mounting a plurality of process units having the same function on the apparatus main body, The measurement contents of the measuring means operated in accordance with the usage time and number of image formations of the process unit can be cleared via a signal transmitting means provided on the process unit side, and the signal transmitting means is connected to each A color image forming apparatus characterized in that each process unit is displaced and arranged at a different position.2) After clearing the measurement contents, the clear signal is generated by a physical or chemical change in the signal transmission means. 3) The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is configured to stop the transmission of the signal. 3) The signal transmission means is a member that physically or chemically changes based on the signal supplied from the apparatus main body side. 4) The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal transmission means is arranged on the optical path between a light emitting element and a light receiving element disposed on the apparatus main body side, and Claim 1, which is a light-transmitting or light-reflecting member that changes color.
5) The color image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the signal transmission means is a fuse body or a circuit breaker connected to an overload source that operates during operation of the apparatus. Color image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4.