JP2004135154A - Rotary wireless device and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to enable sensing even when a rotating unit is rotating, and to eliminate wiring for power supply.
A rotating unit has a wireless communication function and a sensor function, and extracts electric energy necessary for operation of each function from rotational energy of the rotating unit. An induced electromotive force is generated between the rotating unit 2 and the non-rotating unit 1 by electromagnetic induction, and sensor information of a sensor 6 provided in the rotating unit 2 is transmitted by a wireless communication function. A permanent magnet 3 is installed in the non-rotating part 1, a coil 4 for detecting the magnetic field is installed in the rotating part 2 close to the permanent magnet 3, and the coil 4 receives an induced magnetic field by the permanent magnet 3, thereby providing a wireless communication function. And obtain the electrical energy required for the sensor function.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wireless communication, and more particularly, to a wireless tag or wireless wireless device applied to a device having a rotating mechanism and an image forming apparatus including the wireless tag.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless (Radio Frequency: RF) and wireless communication using light have become popular. For example, mobile phones have become indispensable as wireless mobile communication tools that can communicate anytime, anywhere by using electromagnetic waves in the 900 to 1900 MHz band.
[0003]
In addition, wireless communication using a radio wave in the 2.45 GHz band according to standards such as wireless LAN (IEEE802.11.b, a) and Bluetooth as communication means between personal computers (personal computers), personal computers and printers. It is possible and widely used in offices and homes.
In addition, the Suica card adopted by JR East in 2001 can now read and write a ticket at a station ticket gate without contact using electromagnetic waves in the 13.56 MHz band.
[0004]
The above example is a product of a palm size or larger, but a wireless device of a coin size or smaller, a so-called wireless tag, is also being used for applications such as individual recognition (ID). I have. For example, by inserting a small wireless tag of about 1 cm into the key of a car, it is possible to perform an authentication operation simultaneously with turning on the key to prevent theft.
[0005]
In addition, there are many cases where new added value is created by incorporating a large number of sensors into a network. For example, a proposal has been made to embed an acceleration sensor and a strain sensor in a steel frame of a building structure and to construct a system for measuring the degree of fatigue of the steel frame or concrete to prepare for the occurrence of an earthquake.
[0006]
Furthermore, proposals for wirelessly performing these sensing networks have recently become active. According to an example of a sensing network system, for example, by scattering a large number of sensors in a forest and grasping in detail the amount of generated oxygen and the amount of absorbed CO ₂ , the temperature and the humidity of the forest, the early detection of a forest fire, There is described an example of utilizing CO ₂ in emission trading (see Non-Patent Document 1).
[0007]
On the other hand, wireless transmission type sensors using radio have been devised. For example, there has been proposed a recreational vehicle that detects the number of revolutions of wheels of an inline skate and wirelessly transmits the result to a watch-like device at hand to display the result (see Patent Document 1). This includes a power generating means for generating electric energy in response to the rotation of the wheels of the inline skate, and the voltage generated by the power generating means is used as the power supply voltage of the electronic circuit section including the transmitting section and the detecting section. Therefore, a battery capable of wireless communication is not required.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-300713 [Non-Patent Document 1]
"Nikkei Electronics" July 15, 2002, P99-129
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described example of the inline skate, although there is an advantage that a battery capable of wireless communication is not required, the sensing unit and the wireless transmission unit for rotation detection are all outside the rotating part, and the rotating part has a magnet. It has a structure such as only. For this reason, it was difficult to sense the state of the rotating main body, such as the temperature inside the rotating unit, and transmit the information wirelessly.
[0010]
In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary wireless device that can perform sensing even when a rotating unit is rotating and that does not require wiring for power supply, and an image forming apparatus including the wireless device. And
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The rotary wireless device of the present invention is a rotary wireless device having a wireless communication function and a sensor function in a rotating unit, and extracting electrical energy necessary for operation of each function from the rotating energy of the rotating unit, An electromotive force induced by electromagnetic induction is generated between the rotating part and the non-rotating part, and sensor information of a sensor provided in the rotating part can be transmitted by the wireless communication function.
[0012]
Further, in the rotary wireless device of the present invention, a permanent magnet is provided in the non-rotating portion, a coil for detecting the magnetic field is provided in the rotating portion close to the permanent magnet, and an induction magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet is provided. The coil receives electric energy required for the wireless communication function and the sensor function.
[0013]
Further, in the rotary wireless device of the present invention, the sensor information obtained by the sensor function can be transmitted to a parent base disposed at a position separated from the rotating unit by the wireless communication function. Features.
[0014]
Further, in the rotary wireless device according to the present invention, the sensor function includes a temperature sensor or a potential sensor.
[0015]
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention forms an image read by the image reading means as an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, develops the electrostatic latent image, transfers the latent image from the photosensitive member to a recording medium, and then forms a transfer image. An image forming apparatus configured to fix the formed image by a fixing unit, wherein any one of the rotary wireless devices is disposed and configured between a rotating unit and a non-rotating unit of a fixing roller in the fixing unit. The temperature of the fixing roller is measured by a temperature sensor disposed on the surface of the fixing roller.
[0016]
Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention forms an image read by the image reading means as an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, develops the electrostatic latent image, transfers the latent image from the photosensitive member to a recording medium, and then forms a transfer image. An image forming apparatus configured to fix the formed image by a fixing unit, wherein any one of the rotary wireless devices described above is disposed and configured between a rotating part and a non-rotating part of the photoconductor, The potential of the photosensitive member is measured by a potential sensor disposed on the surface.
[0017]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the induced electromotive force by electromagnetic induction is generated between a rotating part and a non-rotating part, and thus the energy for wireless communication and sensing can be obtained from rotational energy.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a rotary wireless device of the present invention. In this example, the rotating unit 2 is inside the fixed unit 1 and is in contact with the fixed unit 1 with a mechanism such as a bearing with reduced friction, and only the rotating unit 2 rotates with respect to the fixed unit 1. It is supposed to.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the coil 4 has a line (substantially vertical direction) perpendicular to a straight line (substantially horizontal direction in the illustrated example) connecting the coil 4 and the rotation center of the rotating unit 2. They are arranged along the direction of the core. That is, the coil 4 is installed such that an induced current is generated in the coil 4 by an induced magnetic field from the magnet 3 arranged in the fixed portion 1. The polarities N and S of the magnet 3 are set as shown.
[0020]
A magnet 3 is arranged in the fixed portion 1, and the rotation of the coil 4 changes the magnetic flux passing through the inside of the fixed portion 1, and induced electromotive force is generated at both ends. The magnitude U of this electromotive force is represented by the derivative of the time t of the magnetic flux Ψ passing through the inside of the coil 4 as shown in the equation (1). The magnetic flux Ψ is expressed by the equation (2) using the number of turns N of the coil 4, the cross-sectional area A, the magnetic field H, and the magnetic permeability μ.
[0021]
U = dΨ / dt (1)
Ψ = μHNA (2)
U = dΨ / dt = μNA (dH / dt) (3)
Therefore, the above equation (3) is obtained.
[0022]
A detection unit (sensor) 6 and an electronic circuit unit 5 including a wireless transmission unit are arranged adjacent to the coil 4. These are provided in the rotating unit 2. FIG. 3 schematically shows the coil 4, the electronic circuit unit 5, and the sensor 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the rotating portion 2 is in contact with the fixed portion 1 which is a non-rotating portion at both ends by bearings or the like, the portions at both ends of the rotating portion 2 shown in FIG. Thus, the rotating unit 2 has an inner structure and the fixed unit 1 has an outer structure. In this case, it may be a part for extracting energy from rotating parts such as the coil 4 and the magnet 3.
[0023]
The electronic circuit unit 5 includes an energy circuit that uses the induced current generated in the coil 4 as a power source for the wireless transmission unit and the sensor 6, and a circuit that wirelessly transmits information of the sensor 6. The rotating unit 2 has a sensor 6 for detecting a temperature, a potential, and the like of the surface of the rotating unit. The information detected by the sensor 6 can be wirelessly transmitted to the outside by the wireless transmitting unit 5.
[0024]
Here, FIG. 5 shows a circuit block diagram of the rotary wireless device of the present invention.
Since the voltage induced at both ends of the coil 4 is an alternating current, the voltage is converted to a direct current by a rectifier, and then sent to a portion including a capacitor constituting a power storage unit. The AC voltage is converted into a pulse signal by a waveform shaper. The microcomputer MPU controls charging and discharging of a power storage unit including a capacitor, digitizes sensor information, and transfers the sensor information to a modulation / transmission unit. Further, the modulation / transmission unit modulates the digital signal into a radio signal in a band of 100 MHz to 1 GHz and transmits the signal through an antenna. The power consumed here is entirely covered by the power discharged by the power storage unit including the capacitor.
[0025]
As described above, in the rotary wireless device of the present invention, the energy for sensing and wireless transmission can be obtained by the energy of rotation of the rotating unit 2. Therefore, there is no need to route electrical wiring for supplying energy for sensing or transferring sensing information. Generally, it is difficult to connect a rotating member and a non-rotating member with electric wiring. The rotary wireless device of the present invention is capable of sensing and transmitting sensing information to the outside by non-contact.
[0026]
(Second embodiment)
6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the rotary wireless device according to the present invention. In this example, the rotating unit 2 is outside the fixed unit 1, and only the rotating unit 2 rotates with respect to the fixed unit 1. The coil 4 is installed so that an induced current is generated in the coil 4 by an induced magnetic field from the magnet 3 arranged in the fixed portion 1. A sensor 6 and an electronic circuit unit 5 are arranged adjacent to the coil 4.
[0027]
In the second embodiment, the rotating part 2 is on the outer peripheral side, and the non-rotating part is on the inner peripheral side. The substantial configuration is the same except that their relative relationships are replaced with those in the first embodiment. Therefore, as in the case described above, sensing of the rotating part can be easily performed.
[0028]
(Third embodiment)
Next, an example in which the rotary wireless device of the present invention is applied to temperature detection of a fixing roller in a copying machine which is one of image forming apparatuses will be described.
The overall configuration of the copying machine will be described with reference to FIG. 8, 11 is a document reading unit, to original placed on the platen glass 11a, while the light illuminated by the illumination lamp 11b, scans the lamp 11b and scanning reflection mirror 11c _1. Reflecting mirror 11c ₁ and a reflection mirror _11c 2 of the reflected light from the _{document, 11c 3, 11c 4, 11c} 5, 11c 6, and further, an image bearing member through the lens 11d having a focusing and zooming functions photoreceptor Irradiate the drum 2 to form an electrostatic latent image.
[0029]
The photosensitive drum 12 has a photosensitive layer on its surface, and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8 by the main motor 13 in accordance with an image forming operation. Around the photosensitive drum 12, a charging unit 14, a developing unit 15, a transfer unit 16 and a cleaning unit 17 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum are arranged. Then, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 12 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 14, an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure from the document reading unit 11, and a magnetic developer is applied to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 15. Transfer to form a developed image. The developing means 15 sends the developer in the developer hopper 15a to a developing sleeve 15b having a fixed magnet built therein by a developer supply structure described later, rotates the developing sleeve 15b, and reduces the triboelectric charge by the developing blade 15c. The applied developer layer is formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 15b, and the developer is transferred to the photosensitive drum 12 in accordance with the latent image to form a developed image and visualize the image.
[0030]
Then, the developed image is transferred to a recording medium 19 conveyed by the conveyance unit 18 by applying a voltage of the transfer unit 16. The transfer unit 16 has a transfer charger 16a and a separation charger 16b. The transfer charger 16a applies a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developing toner, and transfers the developed image to the recording medium 9 conveyed. A voltage is applied to the recording medium 19 after image transfer by the separation charger 16b to separate the recording medium 19 from the photosensitive drum 12.
[0031]
After the developed image is transferred to the recording medium 19, the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is scraped off by a cleaning blade 17a, and is removed by a cleaning unit 17 that collects the developer in a collection developer reservoir 17b. Then, the developer and the foreign matter are separated by the developer regenerating means and sent to the developer hopper 15a.
[0032]
On the other hand, in the configuration of the transport means 18, upper and lower cassettes 18a ₁ and 18a ₂ are mounted below the apparatus main body. The recording media 19 stored in the respective cassettes 18a ₁ and 18a ₂ can be supplied one by one to the registration roller pair 18c by the pickup rollers 18b ₁ and 18b ₂ . The recording medium 19 supplied from the cassettes 18a ₁ , 18a ₂ or the manual feed tray 18d is conveyed by driving the registration roller pair 18c in synchronization with the image forming operation by the photosensitive drum 12, and is described above at the position of the transfer means 16. The developed image is transferred as described above.
[0033]
The recording medium 19 after the image transfer is conveyed by a conveying belt 18e to a fixing unit 20 including a driving roller 20a and a heating press roller 20b having a built-in heater. The transfer image is fixed by applying heat and pressure by the fixing means 20, and is discharged to a discharge tray 18g by a discharge roller pair 18f. The image forming apparatus includes a re-conveyance guiding unit 18h, an intermediate tray 18i, and a conveying unit 18j for conveying the recording medium 19 on which an image has been formed once again to the image transfer position.
[0034]
Here, it is necessary that the temperature of the fixing roller composed of the heating and pressing roller 20b is kept uniformly and constant within the roller, and real-time temperature sensing is required over the entire surface of the roller. Therefore, the rotary wireless device of the present invention is employed for the fixing roller. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the temperature sensor 6A is arranged on the surface of the fixing roller. This enables sensing and transmission of sensing information to the outside. The parent base 100 has a function of receiving temperature sensing information from the fixing roller and feeding it back to the heating mechanism. Thereby, even when the fixing roller is in operation, the temperature distribution of the roller can be measured.
[0035]
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, an example in which the rotary wireless device of the present invention is applied to the potential detection of the photosensitive drum in the above-described copying machine will be described.
It is necessary for the stable image formation that the potential of the photosensitive drum 12 in the above-described copying machine be maintained at a uniform and constant value in the drum surface. Therefore, a potential sensor 6B as shown in FIG. In this case, when the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 12 is measured, the measurement is performed by changing the cut-off surface of the line of electric force from the measurement surface by the piezoelectric element at the time of measurement. The method of attaching the potential sensor 6B may be the same as that of the above-described fixing roller (FIG. 9).
[0036]
In the fourth embodiment, energy for sensing and wireless communication is taken in from the rotating unit, energy is supplied to the potential sensor 6 </ b> B, and sensor information is transmitted to the parent base 100, as in the above-described embodiments. Thereby, the potential distribution of the photosensitive drum 12 can be known in real time during operation, and printing can always be performed under optimal conditions.
[0037]
(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the rotary wireless device according to the present invention. In this example, the magnets 3 are provided at a plurality of locations (four locations in this example) on the circumference. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0038]
According to the fifth embodiment, having a plurality of magnets 3 increases the power generated in the coil 3, and enables driving of a sensor that requires a larger power. In addition, it is possible to extend the communication distance of wireless communication.
[0039]
As described above, the present invention has been described with the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to only these embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the number of magnets 3 can be increased or decreased as needed.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a structure is realized in which sensing is possible even when the rotating unit is rotating and wiring for power supply is unnecessary. In addition, it becomes possible to perform sensing in real time in the rotating section. In particular, when the present invention is applied to a copying machine, it is possible to measure the temperature and potential of the fixing roller and the photosensitive drum in real time and feed it back to image formation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a rotary wireless device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a rotary wireless device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the rotary wireless device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the rotary wireless device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a rotary wireless device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a rotary wireless device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the rotary wireless device according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the rotary wireless device of the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a rotary wireless device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a rotary wireless device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the rotary wireless device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed part 2 Rotating part 3 Magnet 4 Coil 5 Electronic circuit part 6 Detection part (sensor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Original reading means 12 Photoreceptor drum 13 Main motor 14 Charging means 15 Developing means 16 Transfer means 17 Cleaning means 18 Transport means 19 Recording medium 20 Fixing means 100 Parent base

Claims (6)

A rotary wireless device having a wireless communication function and a sensor function in the rotating unit, and extracting electrical energy required for operation of each function from the rotating energy of the rotating unit,
In addition to generating an induced electromotive force by electromagnetic induction between the rotating part and the non-rotating part, the sensor information of a sensor provided in the rotating part can be transmitted by the wireless communication function. Wireless devices. A permanent magnet is installed on the non-rotating part, a coil for detecting the magnetic field is installed on the rotating part close to the permanent magnet, and the coil receives an induced magnetic field by the permanent magnet, so that the wireless communication function and The rotary wireless device according to claim 1, wherein electric energy required for the sensor function is obtained. The sensor information according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor information obtained by the sensor function can be transmitted to a parent base disposed at a position separated from the rotating unit by the wireless communication function. Rotating wireless device. The rotary wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor function includes a temperature sensor or a potential sensor. An image read by the image reading means is formed as an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, and the electrostatic latent image is developed and transferred from the photoreceptor to a recording medium, and then the transferred image is fixed by a fixing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary wireless device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is arranged between a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion of a fixing roller in the fixing unit, and An image forming apparatus, wherein the temperature of the fixing roller is measured by a temperature sensor disposed on a surface of the roller. An image read by the image reading means is formed as an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, and the electrostatic latent image is developed and transferred from the photoreceptor to a recording medium, and then the transferred image is fixed by a fixing means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotary wireless device according to claim 1 is arranged between a rotating part and a non-rotating part of the photoconductor, and a surface of the photoconductor. 6. Wherein the potential of the photosensitive member is measured by a potential sensor disposed in the image forming apparatus.

Images