JP3925624B2 - Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a fax machine using electrophotography, and more particularly to a position-moving type developing apparatus that selectively moves a plurality of developing devices so as to face an image carrier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, a toner supply container provided corresponding to a developing device is formed into a cartridge, or a developing unit and a toner storage container are integrated into a cartridge, and in addition to that, a photosensitive drum There is a system in which the cartridges are integrated into a cartridge, and maintenance can be easily performed by exchanging the cartridge, and a system for reusing the used cartridge for recycling is also constructed.
[0003]
By the way, when the cartridge is replaced, there may be a difference in print quality and image quality depending on the component of the new toner and the charge amount, and it is necessary to make adjustments to deal with the difference. It is also very convenient if toner usage information and how many times the toner has been recycled can be transmitted.
[0004]
For this reason, conventionally, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-234578, an electrophotographic recording apparatus provided with a toner cartridge that stores new toner and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, records information on the toner cartridge. A medium (magnetic medium) is provided, and for this information recording medium, the date and time of manufacture of the toner cartridge, the number of times of use by the recording operation, the start of use, the number of times of attachment / detachment to the apparatus main body, the component information of the stored toner A method has been proposed in which means (magnetic head) that enables writing or reading of unique information of the main body is provided in the apparatus main body.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as an image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image of a plurality of colors is sequentially formed on a photosensitive member, and the electrostatic latent image is sequentially developed into each color toner image by a rotary developing device, and then each color toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer medium. And transferring the full color toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium onto a transfer material and then fixing.
[0006]
Also in this rotary developing device, each color developing means and each color toner container can be integrated into a cartridge, and maintenance can be easily performed by replacing the cartridge of each color, and the used cartridge can be recycled for recycling. There is a method to use.
[0007]
If the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-234578 is applied to each color cartridge of the rotary developing device, it is necessary to provide a magnetic head between the rotating color cartridges and the frame supporting the color cartridges so that they can be moved and scanned. In addition, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and the apparatus is enlarged.
[0008]
In addition, if the toner is a magnetic material or a magnetic roller is used as the developing roller, the magnetic medium may be affected by an external magnetic field, which may cause adverse effects such as garbled data or erasure, and may be easily affected by a surrounding magnetic field. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to arrange a substrate (for example, a power supply substrate) on which a coil is mounted, and the magnetic medium and the magnetic head come into contact with each other when reading and writing data. There is a problem that the cartridge is not suitable for recycling.
[0009]
Therefore, a method of enabling writing or reading through a connector capable of separating and connecting the information recording medium on the cartridge side and the apparatus main body side is conceivable, but it is difficult to position the connectors on the fitting axis. In this case, the distance between the plurality of terminals becomes long, and the terminal at the end portion is particularly damaged at the time of fitting, resulting in a problem that the terminal is damaged and connection failure occurs.
[0010]
The above problem is common to not only a rotary developing device but also a developing device that horizontally moves each color developing device with respect to the image carrier.
[0011]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and is a position-moving type developing device that selectively moves a plurality of developing devices so as to face an image carrier. Each developing device is provided with an information recording medium. It is possible to provide a developing device and an image forming apparatus using the same that can write or read toner exchange information on the information recording medium via a connector and can improve the reliability of the connector. Objective.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a developing device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a developing device including a plurality of toner cartridges used in a position movement type developing system, and the toner cartridge of the developing device has a plurality of terminals. An information recording medium that is read and written via a connector is provided, and the terminals of the connector are arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel to the moving direction of the developing device , and the grounding terminal of the plurality of terminals is a metal developing roller The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the toner replacement information is recorded on the information recording medium according to claim 1, and the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the toner replacement information is recorded on the information recording medium. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a connecting / disconnecting device which is located outside the developing device and can be electrically connected to the connector is disposed. And wherein the are.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus. In addition, about the same structure between each drawing, the same number may be attached | subjected and description may be abbreviate | omitted.
[0014]
An image carrier 3 composed of a photosensitive drum is disposed in the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 and is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown). Around the image carrier 3, a charging device 4 for uniformly charging the image carrier 3 along the rotation direction, and an exposure device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 3 5. A rotary developing device 6 for developing an electrostatic latent image, and an intermediate transfer device 7 for primary transfer of a monochromatic toner image formed on the image carrier 3 are provided.
[0015]
In the rotary developing device 6, a yellow developing device 6Y, a magenta developing device 6M, a cyan developing device 6C, and a black developing device 6K are mounted on a support frame 8, and the support frame 8 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown). It is configured. The plurality of developing devices 6Y, 6C, 6M, and 6K are selectively rotated so that the developing roller 6a of one developing device faces the image carrier 3 every rotation of the image carrier 3. Has been. Each developing device is provided with a toner storage portion in which toner of each color is stored.
[0016]
The intermediate transfer device 7 includes a driving roller 9 and a driven roller 10, an intermediate transfer belt belt 11 driven by both rollers in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and a primary disposed opposite to the image carrier 3 on the back surface of the belt 11. A transfer roller 12, a transfer belt cleaner (not shown) that removes residual toner on the belt 11, and a drive roller 9 are arranged to face the four-color full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11. It comprises a secondary transfer roller 14 for transferring onto (paper or the like).
[0017]
A paper feed cassette 15 is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus body 2, and a transfer material in the paper feed cassette 15 passes through a pickup roller 16, a transfer material conveyance path 17, a secondary transfer roller 14, and a fixing device 19, and is a paper discharge tray. It is comprised so that it may be conveyed to 20.
[0018]
The operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described. When an image forming signal is input from a computer (not shown), the image carrier 3, the developing roller 6 a of the developing device 6 and the intermediate transfer belt 11 are rotationally driven. First, the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 3 is charged by the charging device 4. The exposure device 5 selectively exposes the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged image carrier 3 according to the image information of the first color (for example, yellow) so that the electrostatic latent image of yellow An image is formed.
[0019]
At the latent image position formed on the image carrier 3, the yellow developing device 6 </ b> Y rotates and the developing roller 6 a comes into contact therewith, whereby the yellow electrostatic latent image toner image is transferred to the image carrier 3. Next, the toner image formed on the image carrier 3 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 by the primary transfer roller 12. At this time, the secondary transfer roller 14 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 11.
[0020]
In accordance with the second color, the third color, and the fourth color of the image formation signal, the above processing is repeated to form a latent image, develop, and transfer by one rotation of the image carrier 3 and the intermediate transfer belt 11, thereby forming an image. Four color toner images corresponding to the contents of the signals are superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 11. Then, at the timing when this full-color image reaches the secondary transfer roller 14, the transfer material is supplied from the conveyance path 17 to the secondary transfer roller 14, and at this time, the secondary transfer roller 14 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 11. A secondary transfer voltage is applied, and the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is transferred onto the transfer material. The toner image transferred onto the transfer material is fixed by being heated and pressed by the fixing device 19. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is removed by a transfer belt cleaner (not shown).
[0021]
Next, details of the developing device in the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1, each cartridge 21 constituting the housing container of each color developing device 6Y, 6C, 6M, 6K is mounted between the substantially cross-shaped boundary plates 8, and each used cartridge 21 is replaced with a new one. To be replaced. Each cartridge (developing device) 21 is equipped with a male connector 22 including an information recording medium 37.
[0022]
On the other hand, a contact / separation device 23 is disposed below the rotary developing device 6. The separating / connecting device 23 incorporates a drive motor and a sliding mechanism (not shown), and a female connector 24 is provided at the tip of the sliding mechanism. In the state of FIG. 1, the female connector 24 is retracted below the rotary developing device 6. For example, when the magenta developing device 6 </ b> M is stopped at the position shown in FIG. The connector 24 moves upward and is fitted into the male connector 22 to be electrically connected, and the toner exchange information on the information recording medium 37 can be read and written by the read / write means 41 in the control device 40. Has been made possible.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a view of the rotary developing device 6 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the A direction. FIG. 2 shows the metal developing roller 6a, the boundary plate 8, the cartridge 21, and the male connector 22 described in FIG. In the following description, the left and right are assumed to be seen from the front and the X direction in FIG.
[0024]
The cartridge 21 is mounted between the substantially cross-shaped boundary plates 8. One end of the boundary plate 8 is fixed to a disc frame 25, and the disc frame 25 is rotatably supported on the left side plate 27 via a shaft 26. The disc frame 25 is provided with a fitting pin 29, and the cartridge 21 is formed with a hole for fitting into the fitting pin 29, so that the cartridge 21 is fixed by the fitting of the fitting pin 29. It has become.
[0025]
A recess is formed at the right end of the cartridge 21, the male connector 22 is fitted into the recess, and the hole of the connector 22 is fitted into the two protrusions 30 formed at the bottom of the recess. And fixed by welding. In addition, 31 is a recess for a handle formed in the cartridge 21, 32 is a right side plate, and 33 is a home position sensor provided on the left side plate.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the connecting / disconnecting positions of the connectors 22 and 24 and the replacement position of the cartridge 21 in FIG. 3A shows the image carrier 3, the color developing devices 6Y, 6C, 6M, and 6K, the developing roller 6a, the boundary plate 8, the disc frame 25, the shaft 26, and the home described in FIGS. A position sensor 33, a male connector 22, and a female connector 24 are shown.
[0027]
FIG. 3A shows the development position. A detection plate 34 having a notch 34a is fixed to the shaft 26, and the home position sensor 33 optically detects the position of the notch 34a, thereby setting the developing position of the developing device 6Y for yellow and the developing roller 6a. Is in contact with the image carrier 3. The developing positions of the other developing devices 6C, 6M, and 6K are set by calculation.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, this development position is used as a contact / separation position between the male connector 22 and the female connector 24. In the figure, 32a indicated by a one-dot chain line is an opening for attaching and detaching a cartridge formed in the right side plate 32 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3B, the rotary developing device 6 is rotated so that the cartridge 21 is detachable at a position where the cartridge 21 and the opening 32a overlap.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the connecting / disconnecting operation of the connectors 22 and 24 in FIG. The male connector 22 is fixed to the cartridge 21 with screws 35, and the female connector 24 is fixed to the connecting / disconnecting device 23 with screws 36. A circuit board 39 is provided at the bottom of the male connector 22, and an information recording medium 37 according to the present invention is attached to the circuit board 39. Then, when the connectors 22 and 24 shown in FIG. 4A are separated from each other, the female connector 24 is fitted into the male connector 22 as shown in FIG. Connected.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control system of the information recording medium 37 and the control device of FIG. The information recording medium 37 is a readable / writable memory such as an EEPROM, EPROM, IC, or nonvolatile memory. The control device 40 includes a CPU (read / write means) 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, and an I / O port 44. Between the I / O port 44 and the information recording medium 37, 5V (power supply), GND (ground), CS ( Chip select: access signal), CLK (clock signal), R / W (signal for distinguishing between reading and writing), and DATA (data) are connected via the connectors 22 and 24 described above.
[0031]
The information recording medium 37 and the CPU 41 exchange (read and write) toner exchange information via DATA. The toner replacement information and usage examples thereof will be described.
[0032]
As an example, when the cartridge 21 is shipped, the date of manufacture is written on the information recording medium 37, and when the cartridge 21 is mounted on the rotary developing device 6, the CPU 41 on the apparatus body 2 side stores the written information. By reading, when a cartridge that has passed an extremely long warranty period is inserted, the operation of the apparatus is stopped or a warning is output to the user, thereby preventing a reduction in image quality.
[0033]
As another example, when the cartridge 21 is shipped, the number of printable sheets is written on the information recording medium 37, and when the cartridge 21 is mounted on the rotary developing device 6, the writing information is read by the CPU 41, As a result, the user can be warned of the cartridge replacement time.
[0034]
In addition, by writing the use start time of the cartridge 21 on the CPU 41 side, even if the printable number of sheets has not been reached, if the warranty period has passed, the warning is output to the user, thereby causing a reduction in image quality. Can be prevented.
[0035]
Further, when the cartridge 21 is shipped, the toner component information is written on the information recording medium 37, and when the cartridge 21 is mounted on the rotary developing device 6, the CPU 41 reads the written information and forms an image in accordance with the toner. By setting the conditions, it is possible to obtain image quality utilizing the characteristics of the toner.
[0036]
In addition, when the cartridge 21 is shipped, whether or not the cartridge is new or the number of replacements is written on the information recording medium 37, and when the cartridge 21 is mounted on the rotary developing device 6, the CPU 41 stores the written information. In the case of reading and a new one, the rotary developing device 6 can be rotated to loosen the toner, or the recycler can be warned of the limit of the number of recycles by the number of replacements.
[0037]
6 and 7 show one embodiment of a male connector according to the present invention, FIG. 6 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 6 (B) is a side view seen from the direction B of FIG. 6 (A), 6C is a side view seen from the direction C in FIG. 6A, FIG. 7A is a rear view of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the line and seen in the arrow direction.
[0038]
In FIG. 6, the male connector 22 includes a base 45, a terminal support 46 erected above the base 45, a recording medium fixing part 47 erected below the base 45, and a terminal support 46. On both sides, a guide member 49 having a conical tip and a rod shape formed so as to further protrude from the terminal support portion 46 and two fixing holes 50 formed in the base portion 45 are provided.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 6B, on one side surface of the terminal support portion 46, there are four terminals: a data terminal 51, ground terminals 52 and 53, and an R / W (read / write signal) terminal 54. 6C, on the other side of the terminal support 46, there are three terminals, a clock (CLK) terminal 55, a power supply terminal 56, and a chip select terminal 57. It is installed. The tip of one ground terminal 53 is provided so as to be positioned on the upper surface of the terminal support portion 46, and the tip of the other terminal is arranged to be lower than the tip of the ground terminal 53. The number of terminals is not limited to this, and can be increased or decreased as necessary.
[0040]
FIG. 7B shows a ground terminal 53 and a chip select terminal 57. Each terminal has a curved portion 59 that curves outward at a part of the terminal support portion 46, and this curved portion. 59 is configured to elastically contact the terminals of the female connector. A substrate 39 including an information recording medium 37 is fixed to the recording medium fixing unit 47. A circuit pattern (not shown) is formed on the back surface of the substrate 39, and the ends of the terminals 51 to 57 are in elastic contact with the circuit pattern.
[0041]
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the female connector 24. A pair of guide holes 60 are formed in the female connector 24, and the guide member 49 of the male connector 22 is fitted into the guide holes 60. Further, connection terminals 61 to 67 to the I / O port 44 are provided, and can be connected to the terminals 51 to 57 of the male connector 22, respectively. Reference numeral 69 denotes a fixing hole.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the terminals 51 to 54 and the terminals 55 to 57 of the male connector 22 are arranged in two rows R <b> 1 and R <b> 2 parallel to the moving direction Z of the rotary developing device 6. Is arranged. Of course, the terminals 61 to 64 and the terminals 65 to 67 of the female connector 24 are also arranged in two rows parallel to the moving direction Z of the rotary developing device 6. Note that the number of rows is not limited to two, and the rows may be arranged in three or more rows.
[0043]
When the male connector 22 is moved to the disengagement position, the fitting axis of the male connector 22 and the female connector 24 cannot be completely matched, and the female connector 24 is oblique with respect to the male connector 22. It will be fitted and connected in the direction. At this time, when the terminals 51 to 57 are arranged in a line, the distance between the terminals at both ends becomes long, and the terminals at the end are particularly damaged at the time of fitting, resulting in damage to the terminals and poor connection. End up.
[0044]
However, in this embodiment, since the plurality of rows R1 and R2 are arranged in parallel to the moving direction Z of the rotary developing device 6, the distance between the terminals in each row is shortened. It becomes difficult to damage the terminal and cause poor connection, and the reliability as a contact can be improved.
[0045]
Further, since the ground terminals 52 and 53 are arranged in the row R1 on the outer side in the axial direction of the metal developing roller 6a, an electromagnetic shield space is formed by the metal developing roller 6a and the ground terminals 52 and 53. The signal terminal can be electromagnetically shielded.
[0046]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible. The present invention may be applied to a conventionally known technique or a conventionally known technique. May be combined.
[0047]
For example, in the above embodiment, the rotary developing method is applied. However, the present invention may be applied to a developing method in which each color developing device is selectively moved horizontally or obliquely so as to face the image carrier. In the invention, these are defined as a position-moving type developing system.
[0048]
In the above embodiment, the male connector 22 is provided on the cartridge 21 side and the female connector 24 is provided on the apparatus main body 2 side. However, the male connector 22 is provided on the apparatus main body 2 side and the cartridge 21 side is provided. A female connector 24 may be provided. In the present invention, the male connector 22 is simply defined as a connector.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the developing device used for the position-moving development method, the developing device includes an information recording medium that is read and written via a connector having a plurality of terminals, The connector terminals are arranged in multiple rows, and the grounding terminals of the multiple pins are arranged in rows outside the metal developing roller in the axial direction. This makes it difficult to improve the reliability of the contact, and an electromagnetic shield space is formed by the metal developing roller and the ground terminal, and the other signal terminals can be electromagnetically shielded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.
2 is a view of the rotary developing device 6 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction A. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the connecting / disconnecting positions of the connectors 22 and 24 and the replacement position of the cartridge 21 in FIG. 1;
4 is a diagram for explaining the connecting / disconnecting operation of the connectors 22 and 24 in FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system of the information recording medium 37 and the control device of FIG. 4;
6 shows one embodiment of a male connector according to the present invention, FIG. 6 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 6 (B) is a side view seen from the direction B of FIG. 6 (A), FIG. (C) is the side view seen from the C direction of FIG. 6 (A).
7A is a rear view of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 7A and viewed in the direction of the arrows.
8 is a plan view of the female connector 24 of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
6a ... developing roller 21 ... cartridge (developing device)
22 ... Male connector (connector)
23 ... Separating device 37 ... information recording media 51-57 ... terminals 52, 53 ... grounding terminals R1, R2 ... rows

Claims (3)

In the developing apparatus having a plurality of toner cartridges for use in position movement type developing method, the toner cartridge of the developing apparatus is provided with an information recording medium reading and writing via the connector having a plurality of terminals is carried out, the terminal of the connector is developing A developing device, wherein the plurality of terminals are arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel with the moving direction of the device , and the ground terminals among the plurality of terminals are arranged in a row on the axially outer side of the metal developing roller. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein toner replacement information is recorded on the information recording medium. 3. An image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a connecting / disconnecting device located outside the developing device and capable of being electrically connected to the connector. An image forming apparatus.

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