JP2011069918A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of promptly discriminating whether a cartridge is attached or detached and whether the cartridge is authorized or is not authorized, while avoiding mixing of non-authorized toner. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a shutter that moves from a shutting position to an opening position by receiving force from the cartridge in a process of attaching the cartridge; and a shutter sensor that detects the shutter located at the opening position. When the shutter is located at the shutting position (NO in #1), a cartridge determination part determines that the cartridge is not attached (#2). Meanwhile, when the shutter is located at the opening position (YES in #1), the cartridge determination part determines that the cartridge is attached. Furthermore, when notification indicating that tag information is acquired is received from a tag information acquiring part (YES in #4), the cartridge determination part determines that the attached cartridge 151 is authorized (#5), and when the notification is not received (NO in #4), the cartridge determination part determines that the attached cartridge is not authorized (#5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that manages a toner cartridge using a wireless tag.

  Image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers that develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum using a developer use toner supplied from a cartridge mounted on the apparatus body. The electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper to form an image. When the developer in the cartridge runs out, the user replaces the cartridge with a new cartridge, so that the toner is replenished in the image forming apparatus.

  Here, as a newly mounted cartridge, a genuine genuine product of the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus or a cartridge (non-certified product) other than a product certified by the manufacturer (hereinafter collectively referred to as “certified product”) is used. There is a case. When such a non-certified cartridge is used, not only the performance of the image forming apparatus cannot be fully exhibited, but also the failure of the image forming apparatus can be caused.

  Therefore, in recent years, a wireless tag storing cartridge and toner information as tag information is attached to the cartridge, and after the cartridge is attached, the communication circuit disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus reads the tag information to attach it. An image forming apparatus for managing a cartridge using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology or the like for identifying whether the cartridge is a certified product has been developed.

  On the other hand, there is Patent Document 1 below as a technical document related to the management of the cartridge. In Patent Document 1 below, when a newly mounted toner cartridge cannot be recognized, the developer replenishment operation to the developing means is temporarily stopped, and the density indicated by the output signal of the T / C sensor or the ID sensor is allowed. The replenishment operation is resumed when the image density becomes lower than the specified image density, and when the image density increases in the direction after resuming the replenishment operation, it is determined that the non-certified cartridge is mounted, while the replenishment operation is performed. If the image density does not increase even after restarting, a technique for determining that the cartridge is not mounted is disclosed.

JP 2009-151147 A

  However, Patent Document 1 has the following matters to be concerned. That is, in Patent Document 1, a determination is made as to whether a mounted cartridge is a non-certified cartridge or whether the cartridge is not mounted based on a change in developer concentration after resumption of the replenishment operation. To do. For this reason, when the mounted cartridge is a non-certified cartridge, it is inevitable that non-certified toner is mixed into the apparatus. If non-certified toner is mixed in the apparatus, there is a risk of causing a failure of the image forming apparatus as described above.

  In Patent Document 1, since a period for monitoring the developer density change is required, the user is notified immediately after the apparatus is started whether the cartridge is a non-certified cartridge or the cartridge is not mounted. It is difficult to do.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can quickly identify the presence / absence of a cartridge and the identification of a certified product / non-certified product while avoiding mixing of non-certified toner. The purpose is to provide technology.

  The invention described in claim 1 includes a cartridge mounting portion on which a developer cartridge including a certified product information holding unit that holds certified product information indicating that the product is a certified product, and the certified product information holding unit. When the developer cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting section, the certified product information reading section for reading the certified product information from the developer cartridge, and the supply of the developer from the developer cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting section. A developer receiving portion for receiving the developer supplied from the developer cartridge via the supply port as a developer for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum; and closing the supply port. It is configured to be movable between a closed position and an open position for opening the supply port, and the developer cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion in the process of mounting. A shutter that moves from the closed position to the open position by receiving a force from the image material cartridge, and whether the shutter is located at the closed position or the open position are detected, and the detection result is shown. A shutter position detection unit that outputs a detection signal, a mounting presence / absence detection unit that detects whether or not a developer cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit based on an output signal of the shutter position detection unit, and the mounting presence / absence detection unit When it is detected that the developer cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit, and the certified product information is read by the certified product information reading unit, the developer mounted on the cartridge mounting unit The cartridge is determined to be a certified product, and the certified product information reading unit reads the certified product information. When not, the developer cartridge mounted to the cartridge mounting portion is an image forming apparatus and a certified product determination unit determines that a non-certified product.

  According to this invention, it is detected whether the developer cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion by detecting whether the shutter is positioned at the closed position or the open position. In addition, when it is detected that the developer cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the cartridge is determined depending on whether the certified product information is read by the certified product information reading portion. It is possible to detect whether the developer cartridge attached to the attachment portion is a certified product or a non-certified product.

  Therefore, in order to detect whether or not the installed developer cartridge is a certified product, it is not necessary to take the developer in the developer cartridge into the image forming apparatus. Mixing in the image forming apparatus can be avoided. In addition, since the presence or absence of the developer cartridge and the identification of the certified product / non-certified product are performed by detecting the position of the shutter according to the presence or absence of the developer cartridge and whether or not the certified product information can be read, development is performed promptly. The presence / absence of the agent cartridge and the identification of the certified / non-certified product can be performed.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter position detector includes a pair of light projectors / receivers that transmit and receive detection light with the open position interposed therebetween, as in the invention according to claim 2, for example. And when detecting whether or not the shutter is located in the open position based on an output signal of the light receiver indicating whether or not the detection light is received by the light receiver. The configuration for detecting whether or not the device is in the open position can be realized with a relatively simple configuration.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a motor, a transfer member for transferring the developer in the developer cartridge into the developer accommodating portion, and the driving force of the motor. In a case where a power transmission mechanism for transmitting to the member is provided, as in the invention according to claim 3, the engaging member that interlocks the shutter position detection unit with the power transmission operation of the power transmission mechanism. And the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism is locked by the engagement between the shutter and the engaging member, and the shutter is positioned at the open position. A lock mechanism that unlocks the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism by releasing the engagement between the shutter and the engagement member, and a current supplied from the power source to the motor. Based on whether or not the current detected by the current detection unit exceeds a predetermined current value when the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism is locked. It may be detected whether or not the shutter is located at the closed position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the shutter has a slope, and the slope is configured to receive a force from the developer cartridge in the process of mounting the developer cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion. Then, a shutter that moves from the closed position to the open position can be realized with a simple configuration.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to promptly identify whether or not a cartridge is mounted and whether a certified product / non-certified product is identified while avoiding mixing of non-certified toner.

1 is a front sectional view for explaining an internal structure of a printer 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a mounting state detection part. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of a mounting state detection part. It is a flowchart which shows the judgment process by a control part. It is a figure which shows the modification of a structure of a mounting state detection part. It is a figure which shows the modification of a structure of a mounting state detection part. It is a figure which shows a lock state detection circuit.

  Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view for explaining the internal structure of a printer 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a device main body 11 having a box shape. The apparatus body 11 includes an image forming unit 12 that forms an image based on image data transmitted from an external device such as a computer, and a toner image that is formed by the image forming unit 12 and transferred onto a sheet P as a transfer material. A fixing unit 13 that performs fixing processing, a paper storage unit 14 that stores transfer paper, and a toner replenishing unit 15 that replenishes toner to the image forming unit 12 are provided, and a fixing process is performed on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 11. A paper discharge unit 16 for discharging the subsequent paper P is provided.

  At an appropriate position on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, an operation panel (not shown) for inputting an output condition of the paper P and a display panel (not shown) for displaying a message to the user are provided. The operation panel is provided with a power key, a start button, setting keys for setting various functions, and the like.

  The paper storage unit 14 includes a paper tray 141 that is detachably mounted at a position below the exposure device 124 in the apparatus main body 11. The sheet tray 141 is configured to include a box body whose upper surface is open on the entire surface, and a sheet bundle P1 formed by stacking a plurality of sheets P can be stored. The uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle P1 stored in the sheet tray 141 is drawn out from the sheet bundle P1 toward the sheet conveyance path 111 by driving the pickup roller 142 from the upper surface of the downstream end (right end in FIG. 1). The sheet P fed out one by one passes between the second transfer roller 113 and the drive roller 125a (intermediate transfer belt 125c) in the image forming unit 12 through the sheet transport path 111 by driving of the transport roller pair 112. It is fed toward the nip part.

  The image forming unit 12 forms a toner image on the paper P fed from the paper storage unit 14, and in this embodiment, the image forming unit 12 is sequentially arranged from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1) to the downstream side. Further, a black image forming unit 12K using a black developer, a yellow image forming unit 12Y using a yellow developer, a cyan image forming unit 12C using a cyan developer, and a magenta developer. A magenta image forming unit 12M is provided.

  Each of the image forming units 12K, 12Y, 12C, and 12M is based on the photosensitive drum 121, a charging device 122 that uniformly charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121, and image data on the peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive drum 121. An exposure device 124 that irradiates a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to form a visible image. A developing device 123, a transfer roller 126 for transferring a visible image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 to the intermediate transfer belt 125c, and a development remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the visible image is transferred. Each is provided with a cleaning device 127 for removing the agent.

  The developing device 123 includes a developer tank 123a for storing a developer, a developing roller 123b, a magnetic roller 123c, a paddle mixer 123d, a stirring mixer 123e, and a TC sensor 128. The developing roller 123b rotates while carrying the developer on the surface, thereby supplying only the toner of the developer to the portion of the electrostatic latent image previously formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 for development. Turn into.

  The magnetic roller 123c attracts the developer by a magnet disposed therein to generate a magnetic brush, and supplies the developer to the developing roller 123b. The paddle mixer 123d and the agitation mixer 123e have spiral blades and agitate the developer in the opposite directions to charge the toner. The paddle mixer 123d supplies a developer containing charged toner and a carrier to the magnetic roller 123c.

  A TC sensor 128 for detecting the toner concentration (carrier to toner ratio) in the toner tank 123a is disposed near the bottom of the toner tank 123a. The TC sensor 128 detects the magnetic permeability of the toner in the toner tank 123a at a constant time interval, converts the detected magnetic permeability into an electric signal (voltage value), and outputs it to the control unit 20 described later. The control unit 20 calculates the toner concentration in the toner tank 123a based on the electrical signal output from the TC sensor 128, and sends a control signal to a toner replenishing motor 153 described later so that the toner concentration is maintained at an appropriate concentration. The amount of toner supplied to the toner tank 123a is adjusted.

  An intermediate transfer member 125 is installed above the photosensitive drum 121. The intermediate transfer member 125 has an endless intermediate transfer belt 125c stretched between a driving roller 125a and a driven roller 125b, and the peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 121 is below the intermediate transfer belt 125c. It comes to contact. The intermediate transfer belt 125c is driven against a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by a transfer roller 126 provided corresponding to each photosensitive drum 121, and is driven with a driving roller 125a and a driven roller while being synchronized with the photosensitive drum 121. It circulates between 125b.

  Accordingly, when the intermediate transfer belt 125c circulates, a black visible image is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12K, and then the photosensitive drum of the developing unit 12Y is placed at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125c. 121, the yellow visible image is transferred in the overcoating state, and then the cyan visible image is transferred in the overcoating state to the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 125c by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12C. The magenta visible image is transferred by the photosensitive drum 121 of the developing unit 12M.

  As a result, a color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c, with toners of each color of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta being overcoated.

  An ID sensor 17 for detecting the optical density of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125c is disposed on the most downstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 125c. The ID sensor 17 is, for example, a specular reflection type sensor that detects reflected light, and includes an LED light source disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to a detection position on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c, a phototransistor as a light receiving element, and the like. It is constituted by. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125c is irradiated with light from the LED light source, and the phototransistor detects the amount of the reflected light, whereby the optical density of the toner image (hereinafter simply referred to as “density”). taking measurement. The ID sensor 17 converts the measurement result into an electric signal and outputs it to the control unit 20 described later.

  A sheet conveyance path 111 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the right side of the image forming unit 12 in FIG. The sheet conveyance path 111 is provided with a pair of conveyance rollers 112 at appropriate positions, and the sheet fed from the sheet storage unit 14 is intermediately transferred by a drive roller 125 a driven by the conveyance roller pair 112. It is conveyed toward.

  A second transfer roller 113 that is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125c is provided in the sheet conveyance path 111 at a position facing the driving roller 125a, and a certain sheet P is transferred along the transfer belt 125c while being conveyed through the sheet conveyance path 111. And the second transfer roller 113, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125 c is transferred onto the paper P.

  The fixing unit 13 performs a fixing process on the toner image on the paper transferred by the image forming unit 12, and includes a heating roller 30 in which an energization heating element such as a halogen lamp is mounted, and the heating roller 30. And a pressure roller 40 disposed to face the peripheral surface. The sheet P supplied to the fixing unit 13 in a state where the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 125c is transferred passes through the nip portion between the rotating heating roller 30 and the pressure roller 40, so that heat from the heating roller 30 is transferred. The fixing process is performed.

  The paper P for which the fixing process has been completed is discharged toward a paper discharge tray 161 of a paper discharge unit 16 provided at the top of the apparatus main body 11 through a paper discharge conveyance path 114 extending from the upper part of the fixing unit 13. The

  The toner replenishing unit 15 corresponds to each developing unit 12 of the image forming unit 12, and includes a black cartridge 151K, a yellow cartridge 151Y, a cyan cartridge 151C, and a magenta cartridge 151M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “cartridge 151”). And toner replenishing motors 153K, 153Y, 153C, and 153M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “toner replenishing motor 153”) corresponding to each cartridge 151.

  Each cartridge 151 contains toner of each color and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 11. When the amount of toner in the cartridge 151 decreases, the apparatus main body 11 is replenished with toner by replacing it with a new cartridge 151.

  Each cartridge 151 is attached with RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification) tags 152K, 152Y, 152C and 152M (hereinafter collectively referred to as “RFID tag 152”).

  This RFID tag (wireless tag) 152 is the number of uses of the attached cartridge 151, the specification of the toner contained therein, the article information such as the remaining amount information, or the identification information unique to the RFID tag 152 (hereinafter referred to as these Are collectively referred to as “tag information”), and a communication circuit that transmits the information stored in the memory on an electromagnetic wave.

  The electromagnetic waves transmitted from the communication circuit correspond to the corresponding RFID communication units 211K, 211Y, 211C, and 211M on the RFID substrate 21 installed in the apparatus body 11 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “RFID communication unit 211”). Each receive. The RFID communication unit 211 converts the received electromagnetic wave into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the control unit 20 described later as tag information.

  The toner supply motor 153 is driven in accordance with a control signal output from the control unit 20 described later, and toner is supplied from the cartridge 151 to the developing unit 12 by driving the toner supply motor 153.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer 1 shown in FIG. The printer 1 includes a mounting state detection unit 100, a control unit 20, an image memory 22, a storage unit 23, a paper feeding unit 24, an image forming unit 12, an ID sensor 17, an image processing unit 25, an operation unit 26, a display panel 27, The toner supply motor 153, the RFID communication unit 211, and the network I / F unit 28 are provided. The same components as those described in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The mounting state detection unit 100 detects whether or not the cartridge 151 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the wearing state detection unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting state detecting section 100 is a supply port of the developer to the developer tank 123a opposes the developer supply opening 123a ₁ from the cartridge 151, close the opening of the developer supply port 123a ₁ traffic between; (hereinafter, referred to as the open position the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 3) to position (hereinafter, referred to as closed position) and, retracted from said closed position, a position for opening the opening of the developer supply port 123a ₁ The shutter 101 is configured to be capable of being provided, the support body 102 that is integrated with the shutter 101 while supporting the shutter 101, and the shutter sensor 103.

  The support 102 is guided by a guide member (not shown) so as to be able to travel between the closed position and the open position. The shutter 101 and the support 102 are biased in the direction from the open position toward the closed position, and are located at the closed position when the cartridge 151 is not attached.

Meanwhile, when the cartridge 151 is mounted, the developer supply port 151a of the cartridge 151 is connected to a developer supply port 123a ₁ of the developer tank 123a. Here, the shutter 101 is in the process of mounting of the cartridge 151, the cartridge 151, from the position of the shutter 101 located at the closed position in the direction toward the position of the developer supply port 123a ₁ of the developer tank 123a force ( Hereinafter, the pressing force is received from the cartridge 151.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shutter 101 has an inclined surface 101a, and the developer supply port 151a of the cartridge 151 contacts the inclined surface 101a at a position in the middle of the mounting of the cartridge 151 and moves in the direction of arrow A. The cartridge 151 receives a pressing force at the inclined surface 101a, and the pressing force causes the shutter 101 to move from the closed position to the open position (in the direction of arrow B) against the biasing force.

  The shutter sensor 103 includes a pair of light emitters / receivers that transmit and receive detection light across the open position, and is a sensor for detecting whether the shutter 101 is located at the open position. A detection signal output from the shutter sensor 103 is output to the control unit 20.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the control unit 20 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and executes processing based on a predetermined program in accordance with an instruction signal or the like input using the operation unit 26 or the display panel 27. The control unit controls the printer 1 by outputting instruction signals to each function unit, transferring data, and the like. The open / close determination unit 201, the tag information acquisition unit 202, the cartridge determination unit 203, and the notification process The unit 204 is functionally provided.

Closing determination unit 201, on the basis of the light receiver of the shutter sensor 103 to a signal indicating the presence or absence of reception of the detection light, whether the developer supply port 123a ₁ of the developer tank 123a is closed or is open to decide. That is, when the open / close determining unit 201 receives from the shutter sensor 103 a detection signal indicating that the detection light is not received from the light receiver of the shutter sensor 103, the shutter 101 is positioned at the open position ( while determining that the developer supply port 123a ₁ of the developer tank 123a is open) one receives a detection signal indicating that receives the detection light from the light receiver of the shutter sensor 103 from the shutter sensor 103 , the shutter 101 is the open not located in a position to determine the (the shutter 101 is positioned in the closed position, the developer supply opening 123a ₁ of the developer tank 123a is has been is closed) ones.

  The tag information acquisition unit 202 acquires tag information from the RFID communication unit 211.

  The cartridge determination unit 203 determines whether or not the cartridge 151 is mounted and whether the cartridge 151 is certified / not certified. That is, the cartridge determining unit 203 determines that the cartridge 151 is mounted when the open / close determining unit 201 determines that the shutter 101 is located at the open position, and the shutter 101 is closed. When it is determined that the cartridge 151 is in the position, it is determined that the cartridge 151 is not attached.

  Further, when the cartridge determination unit 203 determines that the cartridge 151 is mounted, and the tag information acquisition unit 202 does not acquire tag information from the RFID communication unit 211, the mounted cartridge 151 is not attached. On the other hand, if the tag information acquisition unit 202 acquires tag information from the RFID communication unit 211 while determining that it is an authorized product, it determines that the mounted cartridge 151 is an authorized product.

  The notification processing unit 204 notifies the determination result by the cartridge determination unit 203.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing determination processing by the control unit 20. For example, when the cartridge 151 is removed, the control unit 20 performs the processing illustrated in FIG. 5 at a constant cycle.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the open / close determining unit 201 determines whether the shutter 101 is located at the open position or the closed position based on a detection signal output from the shutter sensor 103. (Step # 1) When it is determined that the shutter 101 is located at the closed position (NO in Step # 1), the cartridge determination unit 203 is notified of this, and the cartridge determination unit 203 receives the notification. Based on this, it is determined that the cartridge 151 is not attached (step # 2). Then, the notification processing unit 204 notifies that the cartridge 151 is not attached (step # 3).

  On the other hand, in step # 1, when the open / close determining unit 201 determines that the shutter 101 is located at the open position (YES in step # 1), the cartridge determining unit 203 has the cartridge 151 mounted. It is determined whether or not the tag information acquisition unit 202 has been notified that the tag information has been acquired (step # 4).

  As a result, when the cartridge determination unit 203 receives a notification that the tag information has been acquired from the tag information acquisition unit 202 (YES in step # 4), the cartridge determination unit 203 determines that the mounted cartridge 151 is an authorized product. (Step # 5) If the tag information acquisition unit 202 has not been notified that the tag information has been acquired (NO in Step # 4), it is determined that the mounted cartridge 151 is a non-certified product (Step # 5). Step # 5).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the shutter 101 that moves from the closed position to the open position by receiving a force from the cartridge 151 in the process of mounting the cartridge 151 and the shutter 101 that is located in the open position are provided. Since the control unit 20 detects whether or not the cartridge 151 is mounted based on the detection signal output from the shutter sensor 103, the control unit 20 detects whether or not the cartridge 151 is newly mounted. Before the developer is supplied into the developer tank 123a, it can be determined whether the cartridge 151 is a certified product or a non-certified product.

  Further, when the control unit 20 determines that the cartridge 151 is attached, the RFID communication unit 211 checks whether or not the tag information has been received. Identification of certified products can be performed.

  As a result, it is possible to promptly identify the presence / absence of the developer cartridge 151 and the certified / non-certified product while avoiding mixing of non-certified toner.

  In this case, the following modifications may be employed instead of or in addition to the embodiment.

  (1) The configuration of the mounting state detection unit that detects the mounting state of the developer cartridge 151 is not limited to the mounting state detection unit 100 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and for example, the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be employed. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the wearing state detection unit 200 according to the present embodiment includes the same shutter 101 as that of the first embodiment, but the mechanism for detecting the position of the shutter 101 is the above-described mechanism. Unlike the first embodiment, the following mechanism is provided instead of the shutter sensor 103.

  That is, a transfer member (not shown) having a screw for transferring the toner in the cartridge 151 to the toner tank 123 a is mounted in the cartridge 151, and the cartridge 151 is mounted on the printer 1. Then, the driving force of the motor M is transmitted to the transfer member via the power transmission mechanism 211.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting state detection unit 200 according to the present embodiment includes a gear 213 that meshes with a gear 212 that is one component among the components that constitute the power transmission mechanism 211. And a shaft 214 connected to the center of the gear 213, and an engaging member 215 is attached to a position in the vicinity of the shutter 101 in each part of the shaft 214. The engagement member 215 has a plate shape or a stick shape, for example, and is attached so as to be orthogonal to the shaft 214.

  Then, when the shaft 214 rotates by a predetermined angle in a state where the shutter 101 is in the closed position, the engagement member 215 is caught by the shutter 101 and the power transmission mechanism 211 connected to the engagement member 215 is used. The power transmission operation is locked. When the power transmission operation is locked, the rotation of the motor M is locked. In the motor M, as the load increases, the flowing current increases, and the current becomes maximum when locked. The current value at this time is called a lock current.

  On the other hand, when the shutter 101 moves from the closed position to the open position, the engagement between the engagement member 215 and the shutter 101 is released, and the power transmission operation 211 by the power transmission mechanism 211 is released.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a lock state detection circuit 216 that detects the presence or absence of the lock state. As shown in FIG. 8, the lock detection circuit 216 includes switching elements SW1 and SW2 and resistance elements R1 to R3. The collector terminal of the switching element SW1 is connected to the motor M via the resistance element R3, and the base terminal of the switching element SW1 is connected to the control unit 20 via the resistance element R1, and the emitter of the switching element SW1. The terminal is connected to ground. The base terminal of the switching element SW1 and the emitter terminal of the switching element SW1 are connected via a resistance element R2. When the control unit 20 inputs a drive signal to the base terminal, a current flows through the switching element SW1, and a current flows through the motor M.

  The switching element SW2 and the resistance element R3 constitute a current detection circuit. The base terminal of the switching element SW2 is connected to a connection point A between the resistance element R3 and the collector terminal of the switching element SW1, the emitter terminal is connected to the other terminal B of the resistance element R3, and the collector terminal is , Connected to the control unit 20. A current (overcurrent) that is equal to or greater than a preset threshold current Ith flows through the resistor element R3, and the voltage across the resistor element R3 increases, whereby the voltage between the base and the emitter of the switching element SW2 becomes the threshold value. When the voltage becomes larger than the voltage obtained by multiplying the current Ith by the resistance value of the resistance element R3, the switching element SW2 is turned on, and a current flows through the collector terminal.

  In this case, the threshold current Ith is set to a current value larger than the current value when the motor M is driven without being locked and smaller than the lock current. The resistance value of the resistance element R3 is set so that the switching element SW2 is turned on when the threshold current Ith flows through the motor M (resistance element R3).

  The opening / closing control unit 201 determines whether or not the engaging member 205 is caught by the shutter 101 based on whether or not a current flows to the collector terminal of the switching element SW2, and the shutter 101 is positioned at the open position. Or whether it is located at the closed position.

  In other words, the open / close determining unit 201 does not catch the engagement member 215 on the shutter 101 and a current smaller than a predetermined amount flows through the resistance element R3. As a result, no current flows through the collector terminal of the switching element SW2 (switching). When the element SW2 is off), it is determined that the shutter 101 is in the open position, while the engaging member 215 is caught by the shutter 101, thereby causing a current (excessive amount) or more to the resistance element R3. Current) flows, the voltage across the resistance element R3 increases, and when current flows through the collector terminal of the switching element SW2 (when the switching element SW2 is on), the shutter 101 is positioned at the closed position. Judge that.

  Then, the cartridge determination unit 203 determines whether or not the developer cartridge 151 is attached according to the determination result of the opening / closing control unit 201.

  Also according to such an embodiment, it is possible to promptly identify whether or not the developer cartridge 151 is mounted and the certified / non-certified product can be identified while avoiding mixing of non-certified toner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 123a Developer tank 123a ₁ Developer supply port 123b Development roller 123c Magnetic roller 153 Toner supply motor 15 Toner supply unit 151 Cartridge 151a Developer supply port 152 RFID tag 100 Mounting state detection unit 101 Shutter 101a Slope 102 Support body 103 Shutter Sensor 20 Control unit 200 Mounting state detection unit 201 Open / close determination unit 202 Tag information acquisition unit 203 Cartridge determination unit 204 Notification processing unit 211 Power transmission mechanism 213 Gear 214 Shaft 215 Engagement member 216 Lock state detection circuit

Claims (4)

A cartridge mounting unit in which a developer cartridge including a certified product information holding unit that holds certified product information indicating that the product is a certified product;
When a developer cartridge having the certified product information holding unit is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit, a certified product information reading unit that reads the certified product information from the developer cartridge;
A supply port for receiving a supply of developer from the developer cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion; and supplying the developer supplied from the developer cartridge through the supply port to the photosensitive drum. A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
It is configured to be movable between a closed position for closing the supply port and an open position for opening the supply port, and receives a force from the developer cartridge in the process of mounting the developer cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion. A shutter that moves from the closed position to the open position,
A shutter position detector that detects whether the shutter is located at the closed position or the open position and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result;
A mounting presence / absence detecting unit that detects whether or not a developer cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit based on an output signal of the shutter position detecting unit;
When it is detected by the mounting presence / absence detection unit that the developer cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit, when the certified product information is read by the certified product information reading unit, the cartridge mounting unit When the developer cartridge mounted on the cartridge is determined to be a certified product and the certified product information is not read by the certified product information reading unit, the developer cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting unit is a non-certified product. An image forming apparatus comprising an authorized product determination unit that determines that   The shutter position detection unit includes a pair of light emitters / receivers that transmit and receive detection light across the open position, and is based on an output signal of the light receiver indicating whether or not the detection light is received by the light receiver. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus detects whether or not the shutter is in the open position. A motor,
A transfer member for transferring the developer in the developer cartridge into the developer container;
A power transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the transfer member;
The shutter position detector
An engaging member that interlocks with the power transmission operation of the power transmission mechanism, and when the shutter is located at the closed position, the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism by the engagement of the shutter and the engagement member; A lock mechanism for unlocking the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism by releasing the engagement between the shutter and the engagement member when the shutter is in the open position. ,
A current detection unit that detects a current supplied from a power source to the motor;
Whether the shutter is in the closed position based on whether or not the current detected by the current detection unit exceeds a predetermined current value when the power transmission operation by the power transmission mechanism is locked The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which detects whether or not.   The shutter has a slope, and moves from the closed position to the open position by receiving a force from the developer cartridge on the slope in the process of mounting the developer cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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