WO2012075856A1

WO2012075856A1 - Developing agent capacity detection unit for imaging apparatus, imaging apparatus, and imaging box

Info

Publication number: WO2012075856A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/081004
Authority: WO
Inventors: 刘卫臣
Original assignee: 珠海艾派克微电子有限公司
Priority date: 2010-12-09
Filing date: 2011-10-20
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: CN101986213A; CN101986213B

Abstract

A developing agent capacity detection unit for an imaging apparatus comprises: a developing element (1), a detection element (2), a detector (29), and an electrical signal source (30). The electrical signal source (30) is used for applying a bias voltage to the detection element (2); and the detector (29) is used for detecting electrical signals on the imaging element (1), the detection element (2) is electrically connected to the imaging element (1). Through the method of electrically connecting the detection element (2) to the imaging element (1), the detector (29) can always detect a qualified AC electrical signal, thus avoids the imaging apparatus mistakenly deeming insufficient developing agent due to the detection of a weaker AC electrical signal, thereby ensures the imaging apparatus can conduct normal printing operation and reduces toner cartridge wastage.

Description

Developer capacity detecting unit and image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus for image forming apparatus The present application claims to be filed on Dec. 9, 2010, the Chinese Patent Office, Application No. 201010580833.1, entitled "A developer capacity for an image forming apparatus" The priority of the Chinese patent application for the detection unit and the imaging device is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of imaging technology, and in particular to a developer capacity detecting unit and an imaging device and an imaging cartridge for an image forming apparatus.

Background technique

The Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 200810131782.7 discloses a developing device. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device includes: a developing container 3 having an opening and accommodating a developer, and an opening portion of the developing container. The developing member 1 carrying the developer and the supply member 2 located in the developing container for supplying the developer, and specifically discloses a detecting unit for detecting the capacity of the developer. As shown in FIG. 2, the detecting unit includes the developing unit 1 and the supply unit 2 described above, and in the detecting unit, the supply unit 2 is used as the detecting unit 2 for detecting the developer capacity, and the detecting unit further includes the developing unit 1 The connected detector 29 and a voltage source 30 connected to the detecting unit 2, wherein the voltage source 30 is for applying a bias voltage to the detecting unit 2, and the detector 29 is for detecting an induced electric signal on the developing unit 1. Specifically, the developing device may be a printer, the developing member 1 may be the developing roller 1, the detecting member 2 (ie, the supplying member) may be the powder feeding roller 2, the developer may be toner, and the developing container 3 may be the toner cartridge 3. .

The detecting unit detects that the developer capacity is performed after the developing operation is stopped. First, the voltage source 30 applies a detecting bias voltage to the powder feeding roller 2, for example, 50 Hz, 200 V. At this time, an induced voltage is generated on the developing roller 1. After detecting the induced voltage, the detector 29 compares the induced voltage with a preset voltage threshold to obtain the capacity of the toner in the toner cartridge 3.

The principle of detecting the developer capacity by the detecting unit is as follows: a coupling capacitor is formed between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller, and the size of the coupling capacitor is related to the amount of toner contained in the powder feeding roller. Due to the coupling capacitance, when the powder feeding roller is applied with a bias voltage, the alternating current signal is transmitted to the developing roller, that is, an induced voltage is generated on the developing roller, and the magnitude of the induced voltage is related to the size of the coupling capacitor. Specifically: When the toner powder contained in the powder feeding roller is large, the capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller is also large, and the communication is performed. The coupling effect of the electric signal is also good, and the intensity of the alternating current signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller is also large; when the toner in the powder feeding roller is small, the capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller is also reduced. The coupling effect on the alternating current signal is also poor, and the intensity of the alternating current signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller is also weak. The amount of toner in the powder feed roller is linearly related to the amount of toner in the toner cartridge. Therefore, the detecting unit of the printer can use the detector to detect the carbon in the toner cartridge of the printer by detecting the strength of the alternating current signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller, that is, the magnitude of the induced voltage on the developing roller. Powder capacity.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the toner cartridge is loaded into the printer for the first time, the detecting unit of the printer detects the strength of the alternating current signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller, that is, the induced voltage on the developing roller. If the size meets the requirements, if the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller is lower than a certain set value (for example, 10PF, the setting value will be different from the printer and test environment, here only 10PF is For example, if the induced voltage on the developing roller is relatively small, the detecting unit will detect that the induced voltage will be lower than the preset value, and the printer will think that the toner cartridge is abnormal, thereby reporting an error and stopping printing; If the induced voltage is higher than the preset value, the printer will think that the toner cartridge is normal, then perform calibration, write the relevant information to the toner cartridge chip, and when it is ready, it can start working.

During the normal printing process of the printer, the detecting unit continues to detect the strength of the AC signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller. If the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller changes greatly due to some abnormality, the AC signal transmitted between the powder feeding roller and the developing roller may also undergo a large change, if the AC signal is If the change exceeds the preset threshold, the printer will think that the toner cartridge is abnormal, and then modify the data in the toner cartridge chip to make the chip data jump, thus ending the life of the toner cartridge. The printer can only work normally if it detects that the amplitude of the AC signal is within the allowable range.

In summary, the printer actually sets a threshold for the size of the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller and its fluctuation amplitude. The printer considers the carbon only when the value of the coupling capacitor is greater than the threshold and its fluctuation amplitude is less than the threshold. The toner cartridge is working normally, otherwise the toner cartridge is considered abnormal and stops working, resulting in the toner cartridge not being used. However, in actual use, including when the printer installs a new toner cartridge or when the printer prints normally, there is usually enough toner in the toner cartridge, but the coupling capacitance is less than the threshold or its fluctuation due to various abnormal reasons. If the amplitude is greater than the threshold, the printer will report an error, which will result in the toner cartridge being unusable, which will result in waste of the toner cartridge.

Summary of the invention An embodiment of the present invention provides a developer capacity detecting unit and an image forming apparatus and an image forming cartridge for an image forming apparatus, with which the waste of a developing container such as a toner cartridge can be reduced.

A developer capacity detecting unit for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a developing unit, a detecting unit, a detector connected to the developing unit, and an electric signal source connected to the detecting unit, the electric signal source for applying a bias voltage to the detecting unit, The detector is for detecting an electrical signal on the developing member, wherein the developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member.

An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing container having an opening portion and accommodating a developer, further comprising a developer capacity detecting unit; the developer capacity detecting unit comprising: a developing member located at an opening portion of the developing container, and a detecting member located in the developing container a detector coupled to the developing member and an electrical signal source coupled to the detecting member, the electrical signal source for biasing the detecting member, the detector for detecting an electrical signal on the developing member, and the developing member being electrically coupled to the detecting member.

The embodiment of the present invention adopts a technical solution of electrically connecting the developing member of the developer capacity detecting unit and the detecting member, so that the detecting member can transmit the applied biasing force to the developing member to generate a large alternating current signal, thereby The detector connected to the developing unit can always detect a qualified AC signal, which can prevent the imaging device from erroneously thinking that the capacity of the developer such as toner is insufficient due to the detection of a small AC signal, thereby ensuring that the imaging device can perform Normal print jobs can reduce the waste of the toner cartridge.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus in the prior art;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a detecting unit of the image forming apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the working flow of the detecting unit shown in Figure 2;

4 is a schematic view of a developer capacity detecting unit for an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a developer capacity detecting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a developer capacity detecting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing a developer capacity detecting unit of the third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of a developer capacity detecting unit of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

Embodiments of the present invention provide a developer capacity detecting unit for an image forming apparatus, which adopts development The technical solution of electrically connecting the component and the detecting component, the detecting component can transmit the applied bias voltage to the developing component to generate a large alternating current signal, so that the detecting unit connected to the developing component can always detect a qualified one. The electric signal is exchanged to ensure that the image forming apparatus such as the printer can perform normal printing operations using the mounted developing container such as a toner cartridge, and the waste of the toner cartridge can be reduced. Embodiments of the present invention also provide corresponding imaging devices and imaging cartridges. The details are described below separately.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIG. 4, the present embodiment provides a developer capacity detecting unit for an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising: a developing container having an opening portion and accommodating a developer, an opening portion of the developing container, and a developer for carrying the developer a developing member and a supply member located in the developing container for supplying the developer; the developer capacity detecting unit comprising: a developing member 1 for carrying the developer, a detecting member 2 for supplying the developer, and/or detecting the amount of the developer a detector 29 connected to the developing unit 1 and an electric signal source 30 connected to the detecting unit 2, the electric signal source 30 for applying a bias voltage to the detecting unit 2, and the detector 29 for detecting an electric signal on the developing unit 1, wherein The developing unit 1 is electrically connected to the detecting unit 2.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 5, a switch 5 is connected in series in the branch of the electrical connection.

Optionally, the electrical signal source 30 is specifically a voltage source, and the electrical signal on the developing component 1 is specifically a voltage. Optionally, when the image forming apparatus is a developing device such as a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile machine, and the developing container is a toner cartridge (or a powder container), the developing unit 1 may specifically be a developing roller or a magnetic roller, and the detecting component 2 may specifically It is a powder feeding roller, a steel sheet or an antenna, and the developer may be carbon powder.

The embodiment adopts a technical solution of electrically connecting the developing member of the developer capacity detecting unit and the detecting member, so that the detecting member can transmit the applied bias to the developing member to generate a large alternating current signal, thereby The detector connected to the developing unit can always detect a qualified alternating current signal, which can prevent the imaging device from erroneously thinking that the capacity of the developer such as toner is insufficient due to the detection of a small alternating current signal, thereby ensuring that the image forming apparatus such as the printer can You can reduce the waste of the toner cartridge by using the installed toner cartridge for normal print jobs. Further, the scheme of connecting one switch in series in the branch of the electrical connection can be conveniently operated by the user, and the switch is closed or opened in different application scenarios.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the developing component and the detecting component can be directly connected by the wire 40. And to achieve electrical connection. Specifically, both ends of the detection point at which the detecting unit detects the coupling capacitance value between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller are turned on by the wire 40, that is, the developing roller and the powder feeding roller are short-circuited. Optionally, a switch 5 can also be connected in series in the branch of the wire 40.

Since the printer does not directly detect the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, it determines the toner capacity by detecting the magnitude of the coupled AC signal. After short-circuiting both ends of the detection unit, the AC signal is directly transmitted through the wire 40 at both ends of the detection point, and there is almost no loss. The amplitude of the AC signal is equal to the emission end, that is, the powder feeding roller and the receiving end, that is, the developing roller. The ac signal detected by the printer will be large, so the printer judges that the toner capacity is sufficient. This prevents the printer from detecting the lack of toner and ensuring that the toner in the toner cartridge is completely consumed. Further, a scheme in which a switch is connected in series in the branch of the wire can be conveniently operated by the user, and the switch can be closed or opened in different application scenarios.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the developing component and the detecting component can be electrically connected by connecting a capacitor 41 in parallel. Specifically, a capacitor 41 is connected in parallel to both ends of the detection point at which the detecting unit detects the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, and the capacitor 41 is connected in parallel with the coupling capacitor. The capacitance of the capacitor 41 can vary depending on the printer. For example, it can be 30PF~50PF. The capacitance value only needs to be greater than the threshold requirement of the coupling capacitor between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller. Optionally, the electrical connection branch of the embodiment may also include a switch 5 connected in series with the capacitor 41.

Thus, during use, the capacitance 41 in parallel with the coupling capacitor is increased, so that the capacitance values at both ends of the detection point are larger, and the coupling transmission to the alternating current signal is better. The additional capacitance 41 varies with the environment, and the change of the capacitance value is small, and the strong coupling characteristic of the alternating current signal is always maintained, thereby avoiding the printer error detecting that the coupled alternating current signal has a large change, and modifying The chip information, the problem of ending the life of the toner cartridge prematurely, ensures that the toner in the toner cartridge is completely consumed.

At the same time, due to the addition of the capacitor 41 in parallel with the coupling capacitor, the initial capacitance value is increased, and the coupling transmission requirement for the minimum coupled AC signal strength is satisfied, thereby preventing the printer from reporting an error and printing normally, during the printing process. This large capacitor 41 will be relatively small as the environment changes, and it will prevent the printer from detecting a sudden change in the strength of the coupled AC signal and reporting an error.

Further, a scheme in which a switch is connected in series in the branch of the electrical connection can facilitate the user to operate Do, choose to close or open the switch in different application scenarios.

Embodiment 4

Referring to FIG. 8, in this embodiment, the developing component and the detecting component may be electrically connected in parallel with a resistor 42. Specifically, a resistor 42 is connected in parallel with both ends of the detection point at which the detecting unit detects the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller. The resistor 42 is connected in parallel with the coupling capacitor. Optionally, the electrical connection branch of the embodiment may also include a switch 5 connected in series with the resistor 42.

Since the printer does not directly detect the coupling capacitance between the developing roller and the powder feeding roller, it detects the size of the coupled AC signal to determine the toner capacity. After the detection terminals on the toner cartridge are connected through the resistor 42, the electrical signal can be transmitted through the resistor 42 at both ends of the detection point, and the strength of the transmitted signal can be adjusted by the resistance of the resistor 42. The value of the adjustment resistor 42 is within a suitable range, for example, around 100 Κ Ω, and the value of the AC signal detected by the printer can be large, so that the printer judges that the toner capacity is sufficient. This prevents the printer from detecting an insufficient amount of toner and ensuring that the toner in the toner cartridge is completely consumed. Moreover, the resistor 42 also has a certain isolation effect on the powder feeding roller and the developing roller, respectively, as the transmitting end and the receiving end, and also acts as an isolation protection for the transmitting end of the signal, that is, the powder feeding roller, with respect to the direct connection wire. Further, a scheme in which a switch is connected in series in the branch of the electrical connection can be conveniently operated by the user, and the switch is selected to be closed or opened in different application scenarios.

The developer capacity detecting unit of the embodiment of the present invention adopts a technical solution of electrically connecting the developing member and the detecting member, so that the detecting member can transmit the applied biasing force to the developing member to generate a large alternating current signal, thereby The detector connected to the developing unit can always detect a qualified alternating current signal, thereby ensuring that an image forming apparatus such as a printer can perform normal printing operations, and can reduce waste of developing solvent such as a toner cartridge. Even when the printer is used in a harsh environment, it is easy to stop due to a change in the coupling capacitance, or in the case of using a compatible manufacturer's toner cartridge, the imaging device can be guaranteed to work normally.

It should be noted that, in the developer capacity detecting unit for the image forming apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, the manner in which the developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member is not limited to the wire connection, the capacitance connection, the resistance connection, and the The series connection switch in the electrical connection branch and the combination of the above several methods may also adopt any other embodiment capable of causing the detector to always detect a qualified AC signal, for example, using an inductive connection or the like. Embodiment 5

The present embodiment provides an image forming apparatus including a developing container having an opening portion and accommodating a developer, and a developer capacity detecting unit; as shown in FIG. 4, the developer capacity detecting unit includes: a bearing portion located at an opening portion of the developing container for carrying a developing member of the developer, a detecting member for supplying the developer and detecting the capacity of the developer in the developing container, a detector connected to the developing member, and an electric signal source connected to the detecting member, the electric signal A source is for applying a bias voltage to the detecting member, the detector is for detecting an electrical signal on the developing member, and the developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member.

The developer capacity detecting unit of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment may be the developer capacity detecting unit provided in any of the embodiments 1 to 4. For example, a switch can be connected in series in the branch of the electrical connection.

Wherein, the image forming apparatus may specifically be a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile machine, etc., but it should be understood that the image forming apparatus is not limited to a printer, a copying machine or a facsimile machine, and various imaging apparatuses including the detecting unit should be covered in the present invention. Within the scope of protection of the invention.

With the image forming apparatus provided in this embodiment, the detecting member can transmit the applied bias voltage to the developing member to generate a large alternating current signal, so that the detector connected to the developing member can always detect a qualified exchange. The electrical signal can prevent the imaging device from erroneously thinking that the capacity of the developer such as toner is insufficient due to the detection of a small alternating current signal, thereby ensuring that the image forming apparatus can perform normal printing operations.

Embodiment 6

The embodiment further provides an imaging cartridge which can be used in the image forming apparatus of the fifth embodiment as a part of the image forming apparatus, the image forming cartridge including the developing member and the detecting member, the developing member and the detecting member Electrical connection.

Specifically, the imaging device is provided with a detector and an electrical signal source, the developing component is connected to a detector disposed on the imaging device, and the detecting component and an electrical signal disposed on the imaging device A source connection, the electrical signal source for applying a bias voltage to the detecting component, the detector for detecting an electrical signal on the developing component. Wherein, the imaging cartridge may be a printer, a copying machine or a fax machine. The developing member is for carrying a developer, specifically, a developing roller or a magnetic roller; the detecting member is for supplying a developer and/or detecting the amount of the developer, specifically, a powder feeding roller or a detecting steel sheet or an antenna.

Thus, after the imaging cartridge is loaded into the image forming apparatus, the developing member and the detecting member of the image forming cartridge, And a detector and an electric signal source provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus, together with the developer capacity detecting unit as provided in the first embodiment.

Optionally, a switch may be connected in series in the branch of the electrical connection.

Further, the electrical connection may specifically be a wire connection.

Further, a capacitor may be connected in series in the branch connecting the wires.

Further, a resistor may be connected in series in the branch connecting the wires.

Further, the electrical signal on the developing component is specifically a voltage signal.

The constituted developer capacity detecting unit can always detect a qualified alternating current signal, and can prevent the image forming apparatus from erroneously thinking that the capacity of the developer such as toner is insufficient due to the detection of a small alternating current signal, thereby ensuring that the image forming apparatus can perform Normal print jobs can reduce the waste of the toner cartridge.

The developer capacity detecting unit for the image forming apparatus and the corresponding image forming apparatus and the image forming box provided by the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, and the principles and embodiments of the present invention are described herein by using specific examples. The description of the embodiments is only for helping to understand the method of the present invention and its core ideas; at the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific embodiments and application scopes. The description herein is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Claims

Rights request

A developer capacity detecting unit for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a developing unit, a detecting unit, a detector connected to the developing unit, and an electric signal source connected to the detecting unit, wherein the electric signal source is Applying a bias voltage to the detecting member, the detector for detecting an electrical signal on the developing member, wherein: the developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member.

The developer capacity detecting unit according to claim 1, wherein a switch is connected in series to said electrically connected branch.

The developer capacity detecting unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical connection is specifically a wire connection.

A developer capacity detecting unit according to claim 3, wherein a capacitor is connected in series in the branch to which the wire is connected.

The developer capacity detecting unit according to claim 3, wherein a resistor is further connected in series in the branch to which the wire is connected.

The developer capacity detecting unit according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein the electric signal on the developing unit is specifically a voltage signal.

The developer capacity detecting unit according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, wherein the developing member is specifically a developing roller or a magnetic roller, and the detecting member is specifically a powder feeding roller. Detect steel sheets or antennas.

An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing container having an opening portion and accommodating a developer, characterized by further comprising: the developer capacity detecting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

The developer capacity detecting unit includes: a developing member located at an opening of the developing container, a detecting member located in the developing container, a detector connected to the developing member, and an electric signal source connected to the detecting member, the electric A signal source is used to apply a bias voltage to the detecting member, the detector is for detecting an electrical signal on the developing member, and the developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a switch is connected in series to said electrically connected branch.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is specifically a printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile machine. An IO-II, an image forming cartridge for use in the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a developing member and a detecting member, characterized by:

The developing member is electrically connected to the detecting member.

12. The imaging cartridge of claim 11 wherein:

The developing member is coupled to a detector disposed on the imaging device, the detecting member being coupled to an electrical signal source disposed on the imaging device, the electrical signal source for biasing the detecting member The detector is for detecting an electrical signal on the developing unit.

13. The imaging cartridge according to claim 11, wherein: the electrically connected branch has a switch connected in series.

The imaging cartridge according to claim 11 or 13, wherein the electrical connection is specifically a wire connection.

15. The imaging cartridge according to claim 14, wherein: a capacitor is connected in series in the branch to which the wires are connected.

The imaging cartridge according to claim 14, wherein a resistor is further connected in series in the branch to which the wires are connected.

The imaging cartridge according to any one of claims 11, 13, 15, or 16, wherein the electrical signal on the developing member is specifically a voltage signal.

The image forming cartridge according to any one of claims 11, 13, 15, or 16, wherein the developing member is specifically a developing roller or a magnetic roller, and the detecting member is specifically a powder feeding roller and a detecting steel. Chip or antenna.