JP4608307B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge that is attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body, and includes an information storage unit that performs communication by an antenna provided in the image forming apparatus main body .

In an electronic apparatus such as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer, an information storage unit such as an RFID is generally used for managing various kinds of information about various attachment members such as a toner cartridge attached to and detached from the electronic apparatus. ing. For such information storage means, various techniques have been proposed as disclosed in, for example, [Patent Document 1] to [Patent Document 9]. Further, regarding such management in the case where the detachable member is a consumable item, various techniques have been proposed as disclosed in, for example, [Patent Document 1] to [Patent Document 4] and [Patent Document 10]. .
Some of the above-described information storage means have directivity that enables communication by the antenna only when the antenna provided in the electronic device main body constitutes a predetermined positional relationship and faces the antenna.

JP 2001-134151 A JP 2002-108147 A JP 2002-272822 A JP 2003-211802 A Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 2002-535172 Special table 2003-509750 gazette Special table 2003-520544 gazette Special table 2003-534756 gazette Special table 2003-535348 gazette Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-84426

  However, since the conventional information storage means is fixed with respect to the detachable member, if it has directivity, it is impossible to communicate when the detachable member is attached to the main body of the electronic device unless it is correctly attached to the detachable member. If the attachment / detachment member is not correctly attached to the electronic device body, communication is impossible, or the attachment / detachment member is driven and rotated in the electronic device body. There is a problem that communication is possible only when the detachable member occupies a predetermined position.

The present invention makes it easy to attach a directional information storage unit to a toner cartridge and to attach the toner cartridge to an image forming apparatus main body, and always keeps the toner cartridge driven and rotated in the image forming apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which is such an electronic device provided with a toner cartridge provided with an information storage means capable of communication.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is directed to an information storage means having directivity, a shaft portion engaged with the information storage means , and a protrusion for positioning in the direction of the rotation center axis. has, said supporting the information storage unit rotatably by the shaft portion has a toner cartridge that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the toner cartridge is the same toner cartridge dose is attached to the image forming apparatus main body An image forming apparatus in which the shaft portion rotates on the rotation center axis of the toner cartridge when moving, and the rotation center axis of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. with the overlying, facing the information storage unit, an antenna for communicating with the information storage unit, the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body In the rotation direction of the central axis of the contact the toner cartridge to the ridge when having a nozzle for positioning the same toner cartridge, in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the information storage means The image forming apparatus has the antenna facing the information storage unit by taking a posture satisfying directivity with respect to the antenna in the direction of rotation about the shaft portion by the center of gravity.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is a consumable.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the information storage unit integrally includes a weight for forming the center of gravity.

The present invention has an information storage means having a directivity, and a shaft portion engaged with the information storage means, and a protrusion for positioning at the rotation center axis direction, the information stored in the shaft portion A toner cartridge that is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and rotatably supports the means . When the toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and rotates the toner cartridge, the shaft portion is the same as the toner cartridge. An image forming apparatus that rotates on a rotation center axis of a cartridge, and is located on the rotation center axis of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus , and is stored in the information storage unit. facing an antenna for communicating with the information storage means, it abuts the Tonaka said protrusion when said toner cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body In the rotation direction of the central axis of the cartridge and a nozzle for positioning the same toner cartridge, in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the information storage means, by its center of gravity, about said shaft portion By adopting a posture satisfying the directivity with respect to the antenna in the rotating direction, the antenna is in the image forming apparatus facing the information storage means, so that the information storage means having directivity faces the antenna. Therefore, the mounting of the toner cartridge and the mounting of the toner cartridge, which is performed relatively frequently on the image forming apparatus main body that requires the toner cartridge, may be rotated while the toner cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. With a relatively simple configuration without regard to directivity It can be easily and reliably, and running costs of the communication by the antenna can be performed well can be provided with high image forming apparatus of inexpensive and reliable.

If the toner cartridge is a consumable item, the information storage means having directivity is attached to the toner cartridge so as to face the antenna, and the image forming apparatus main body requiring the toner cartridge is relatively frequently used. Even in the configuration in which the toner cartridge, which is a consumable item, is rotated in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, it can be easily and relatively easily configured without considering directivity. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be surely performed and can perform communication using an antenna satisfactorily.

If the information storage means is integrally provided with a weight for forming the center of gravity, the information storage means having directivity needs to be attached to the toner cartridge so as to face the antenna, and a toner cartridge is required. Even when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body at a relatively high frequency and rotated while the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the weight information can be obtained without considering directivity. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily and surely configured with a simple configuration integrated with a storage unit and can perform communication with an antenna satisfactorily.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus which is an information apparatus as an electronic apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 100 is a color laser printer capable of forming a color image. However, the image forming apparatus 100 may be other image forming apparatuses such as other types of printers, facsimile machines, copiers, and copier / printer multifunction machines. good. The image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming process based on an image signal corresponding to image information received from the outside. The image forming apparatus 100 can form an image using plain paper generally used for copying, OHP sheets, thick paper such as cards and postcards, and envelopes as sheet-like recording media. .

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK as image carriers that can form images as images corresponding to colors separated into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The installed tandem structure is adopted. The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are on the outer peripheral surface side of the transfer belt 11 as an intermediate transfer body, that is, an endless belt disposed almost at the center inside the main body 99 of the image forming apparatus 100, that is, image formation. Located on the surface side.

  The transfer belt 11 is movable in the direction of the arrow A1 while facing each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK. Visible images, that is, toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are respectively superimposed and transferred onto the transfer belt 11 that moves in the direction of the arrow A1, and then collectively onto the transfer sheet S that is a recording medium. It is designed to be transcribed. The lower portion of the transfer belt 11 is opposed to the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the opposed portions receive the toner images on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK. A transfer portion 98 for transferring to the transfer belt 11 is formed.

  In the superimposing transfer to the transfer belt 11, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are transferred to the same position on the transfer belt 11 while the transfer belt 11 moves in the A1 direction. As described above, voltage application by primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK disposed at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK across the transfer belt 11 causes the A1 direction upstream. The timing is shifted toward the downstream side.

  The photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the A1 direction. Each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK has image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, which are toner image forming units as image forming units, for forming yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images, respectively. 60BK is provided.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes four image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK that are arranged to face each other above the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK. A belt unit 10 is disposed opposite to the transfer belt 11 and is driven by the transfer belt 11 and is opposed to the secondary transfer roller 5 as a transfer member that rotates with the belt unit 10 and below the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK. And an optical scanning device 8 as a writing unit.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a sheet feeding device 61 as a sheet feeding cassette on which the transfer sheets S transported between the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK and the transfer belt 11 are stacked, and a sheet feeding apparatus. Each of the photosensitive drums 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK and the transfer belt are fed at a predetermined timing in accordance with the toner image formation timing of the recording paper S conveyed from the feeding device 61 by the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK. 11 and a pair of registration rollers 4 that are fed out toward the transfer section 98 and a sensor (not shown) that detects that the leading edge of the transfer sheet S has reached the registration roller pair 4.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a fixing device 6 as a roller fixing type fixing unit for fixing the toner image onto the transfer paper S to which the toner image is transferred, and the fixed transfer paper S outside the main body 99. Toner bottles 9Y and 9C as detachable members attached to and detached from the main body 99, which are disposed above the discharge roller 7 to be discharged and the transfer belt unit 10 and filled with toner of each color of yellow, cyan, magenta and black. , 9M, 9BK, a discharge tray 17 on the upper side of the main body 99 and loaded with the transfer paper S discharged to the outside of the main body 99 by the discharge roller 7, and a waste toner tank for storing unnecessary materials such as waste toner 83.

  The image forming apparatus 100 also supplies the toner in the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK to the developing devices 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50BK provided in the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK, respectively. The toner supply mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 3 and the tag 81Y shown in FIG. 3 as an ID chip as an RFID as a non-contact type information storage means to be described later provided in each of the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9BK, etc. The antenna 82Y shown in FIG. 3 disposed on the main body 99 side for reading and recording various information recorded on the tag 81Y etc. provided in each of the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9BK, etc. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

  In addition to the transfer belt 11, the transfer belt unit 10 includes primary transfer rollers 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12BK, a drive roller 72 that is a drive member around which the transfer belt 11 is wound, a transfer inlet roller 73, The cleaning counter roller 74 and a spring 75 as a biasing unit that biases the cleaning counter roller 74 in a direction to increase the tension of the transfer belt 11 are provided.

  The transfer belt unit 10 is also detachably supported by the main body 99, and holds a driving roller 72, a transfer inlet roller 73, a cleaning counter roller 74, a spring 75, a later-described separating means, and the like, and the housing of the transfer belt unit 10 is supported. An intermediate transfer belt case 14 formed therein, and a cleaning device 13 that is integrated with the intermediate transfer belt case 14 and that is disposed to face the transfer belt 11 and cleans the transfer belt 11. Yes.

The cleaning counter roller 74 has a function as a tension roller as a pressure member that applies a predetermined tension suitable for transfer to the transfer belt 11 by the action of the spring 75.
Although not shown in detail, the cleaning device 13 includes a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade disposed so as to face and contact the transfer belt 11, and remove foreign matters such as residual toner on the transfer belt 11. The transfer belt 11 is cleaned by scraping and removing with a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade. Unnecessary items such as waste toner generated by this cleaning are stored in a waste toner tank 83 through a waste toner path (not shown).

  The sheet feeding device 61 is disposed at the lower part of the main body 99 and has a feeding roller 3 as a paper feeding roller that contacts the upper surface of the uppermost transfer sheet S. The uppermost transfer sheet S is fed toward the registration roller pair 4 by being driven to rotate in the clockwise direction.

  The fixing device 6 includes a fixing roller 62 having a heat source therein, and a pressure roller 63 pressed against the fixing roller 62. The fixing sheet 62 carrying the toner image is transferred to the fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63. By passing through a fixing portion that is a pressure contact portion, the carried toner image is fixed on the surface of the transfer paper S by the action of heat and pressure.

  The yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners in the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK are supplied to the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK by a predetermined supply amount by the toner supply mechanism 80 shown in FIG. The developing devices 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50BK are replenished. The toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK are consumables that are replaced when the toner in the interior is exhausted, and are removed from the main body 99 and replaced when the toner is exhausted.

  Regarding the image stations 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60BK, the configuration will be described as a representative of the configuration of the image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y. Since the configuration of other image stations is substantially the same, in the following description, for the sake of convenience, reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals assigned to the configuration of the image station including the photosensitive drum 20Y are used for other image stations. A detailed description will be omitted as appropriate for the station configuration, and those with Y, C, M, and K at the end of the reference numerals are used to form yellow, cyan, magenta, and black images, respectively. It is assumed that this is the configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image station 60Y including the photosensitive drum 20Y includes a primary transfer roller 12Y and a cleaning unit around the photosensitive drum 20Y along a rotation direction B1 which is a clockwise direction in the drawing. A cleaning device 40Y as a charging device, a charging device 30Y as a charging device as a charging means, and a developing device 50Y as a developing unit as a developing means.

  The charging device 30Y includes a charging roller 31Y that rotates in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y, and a cleaning roller 32Y that rotates in contact with the charging roller 31Y. The charging roller 31Y is connected to a voltage applying means (not shown) for applying a bias of an alternating current component to a direct current, and in the charging region facing the photosensitive drum 20Y, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y is neutralized at the same time as the charging roller 31Y. The polarity is charged.

The cleaning roller 32Y is driven to rotate by the charging roller 31Y to clean the charging roller 31Y.
As described above, in this embodiment, the charging system using the contact roller is adopted. However, the charging system may be one using a proximity roller or one using a corotron system. .

  The developing device 50Y includes a developing case 55Y having an opening at a portion facing the photoconductor drum 20Y, and a developing roller 51Y disposed in close proximity to the photoconductor drum 20Y so as to face the photoconductor drum 20Y from the opening. A developing blade 52Y that regulates the developer on the developing roller 51Y to a certain height and a lower portion of the developing case 55Y so as to face each other, and stir the developer and apply the developer to the developing roller 51Y. It has a first conveying screw 53Y and a second stirring screw 54Y for supplying, and a bias applying means (not shown) for applying a developing bias of a DC component.

  In the developing device 50Y, the developing roller 51Y whose developer carrying amount is regulated by the developing blade 52Y is rotated between the developing roller 51Y and the photosensitive drum 20Y by the developing bias by the bias applying means. A developer whose amount is adjusted to an appropriate amount by the developing blade 52Y is carried to the developing area in between, and the yellow toner in the developer is electrostatically transferred to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20Y. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a yellow toner image.

To the developer in the developing case 55Y, yellow toner is replenished and supplied from the toner bottle 9Y, and the yellow toner and developer supplied by the first conveying screw 53Y and the second agitating screw 54Y are agitated and mixed, and agitated and mixed. The developed developer is supplied to the developing roller 51Y.
In this embodiment, the DC component developing bias is applied by the bias applying means. However, the developing bias may be an AC component, or an AC component superimposed on the DC component.

A predetermined voltage suitable for primary transfer is applied to the primary transfer roller 12Y by a bias application unit and a bias control unit having a power source (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 2, the optical scanning device 8 shown in FIG. 1 irradiates a region between the charging region and the developing region on the photosensitive drum 20Y with the light-modulated laser light L and applies the charging roller 31Y. The surface of the charged photoreceptor drum 20Y is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image that is visualized as a yellow toner image by the developing device 50Y.

  The cleaning device 40Y has a cleaning case 43Y having an opening at a portion facing the photoconductor drum 20Y, and scrapes off unnecessary materials such as residual toner, carrier, paper dust, etc. on the photoconductor drum 20Y in contact with the photoconductor drum 20Y. The brush roller 45Y as a rotating brush to be cleaned and the photosensitive drum 20Y in contact with the photosensitive drum 20Y at a position downstream of the brush roller 45Y in the rotational direction B1 of the photosensitive drum 20Y, and scrapes off unnecessary matter on the photosensitive drum 20Y. And a cleaning blade 41Y as a blade for cleaning.

  The cleaning device 40Y is also rotatably supported by the cleaning case 43Y. The cleaning device 40Y is scraped by the brush roller 45Y and the cleaning blade 41Y. And a discharge screw 42Y constituting a part of a waste toner path (not shown) for carrying.

  As the photosensitive drum 20Y rotates in the B1 direction, the surface is uniformly charged by the charging roller 31Y, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow color is formed by exposure scanning of the laser beam L from the optical scanning device 8. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the yellow toner by the developing device 50Y, and the yellow toner image obtained by the development is primarily transferred to the transfer belt 11 that moves in the A1 direction by the primary transfer roller 12Y. Unnecessary substances including toner remaining after the transfer are satisfactorily removed by the cleaning device 40Y and used for the next charge removal and charging by the charging roller 31Y.

  Similarly, toner images of the respective colors are formed on the other photosensitive drums 20C, 20M, and 20BK, and the formed toner images of the respective colors are transferred to the A1 direction by the primary transfer rollers 12C, 12M, and 12BK. 11 is sequentially transferred to the same position on the head. The toner image superimposed on the transfer belt 11 moves to the transfer unit 98 that is the secondary transfer unit that is opposed to the secondary transfer roller 5 as the transfer belt 11 rotates in the A1 direction. 2 is secondarily transferred to the transfer paper S.

  The transfer sheet S conveyed between the transfer belt 11 and the secondary transfer roller 5 is fed from the sheet feeding device 61 by the feeding roller 3 and fed, and is detected by the registration roller pair 4 as a detection signal by the sensor. Based on this, the leading edge of the toner image on the transfer belt 11 is sent out at a timing facing the secondary transfer roller 5.

  When the transfer paper S has transferred and carried toner images of all colors, the transfer paper S enters the fixing device 6 and acts by heat and pressure when passing through the fixing portion between the fixing roller 62 and the pressure roller 63. As a result, the carried toner image is fixed, and a color image is formed on the transfer paper S. The fixed transfer paper S that has passed through the fixing device 6 passes through the paper discharge roller 7 and is stacked on the paper discharge tray 17 at the top of the main body 99. On the other hand, the transfer belt 11 that has finished the secondary transfer is cleaned by a cleaning brush and a cleaning blade provided in the cleaning device 13 to prepare for the next development process.

  In such an image forming process, yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners are consumed by the developing devices 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50BK, respectively. 80 supplies toners of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black in the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK to the developing devices 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50BK, respectively, by a predetermined replenishment amount. Yes.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and subsequent figures, the toner supply mechanism 80 will be described as a representative configuration around one of the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK. In addition, the configuration of the toner bottle 9Y, the tag 81Y and the antenna 82Y provided in the toner bottle 9Y is provided in each of the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9BK and the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, 9BK. A description will be given on behalf of the configuration of the tag 81Y and the like, and the antenna 82Y and the like disposed corresponding to each of the tag 81Y and the like. The other toner bottles 9C, 9M, 9BK and the configuration around them are substantially the same as the representatively described configuration, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  First, the configuration of the toner bottle 9Y will be described. The toner bottle 9Y includes a cylindrical main body 85 having a helical groove 84 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof and containing yellow toner therein, a neck portion 86 of the toner bottle 9Y positioned in the left direction of the main body 85 in FIG. A bottle gear 87 formed at the center of the outer peripheral surface of the portion 86, a cap 88 supported by the neck portion 86 in a rotatable and non-detachable state, and a tag 81Y supported by the end surface of the cap 88 on the front end side. Have.

  The tip of the neck portion 86 is open, and the space in the cap 88 and the space in the main body 85 communicate with each other. The groove 84 forms a spiral protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 85. When the main body 85 rotates in one direction as indicated by an arrow E, the neck is guided in the protrusion shape to which yellow toner is applied. The ink is discharged from the opening of the portion 86 into the space in the cap 88. The cap 88 has a protrusion 92 on the peripheral surface.

  The configuration of the toner supply mechanism 80 will be described. The toner supply mechanism 80 includes a base 89 that supports the toner bottle 9Y from the bottom with the toner bottle 9Y lying down, a roller 90 that contacts the main body 85 from below and rotatably supports the toner bottle 9Y on the base 89, and a main body. In a state in which 85 is rotatably supported on the base 89, the cap 88 is fitted into a predetermined position to inhibit the rotation of the cap 88, communicates with the space inside the cap 88, and abuts against the protrusion 92 to contact the toner. It has a nozzle 91 for positioning in the axial direction of the bottle 9Y, that is, in the left-right direction in FIG.

  The toner supply mechanism 80 also meshes with the bottle gear 87 in a state where the bracket 93 supporting the nozzle 91 and the toner bottle 9Y are in the above-described engaged state with respect to the nozzle 91 and thereby occupy a predetermined normal position, together with the neck portion 86. A drive gear (not shown) for rotating the main body 85 in the E direction, a motor and timing belt (not shown) whose operation is controlled by the control means to drive the drive gear, and the nozzle 91 and the developing device 50Y are connected to convey yellow toner. A conveyance tube (not shown), and a powder pump (not shown) that is connected to the conveyance tube and generates an air current that conveys yellow toner from the toner bottle 9Y to the developing device 50Y by the conveyance tube and whose operation is controlled by a control unit. Have.

  Therefore, when the control unit operates the motor and rotates the drive gear via the timing belt in a state where the toner bottle 9Y occupies the normal position, the toner supply mechanism 80 uses the bottle gear 87 meshed with the drive gear. The main body 85 rotates about the axis z in the direction of arrow E, and the yellow toner in the main body 85 is discharged from the neck portion 86 and enters the nozzle 91 through the space in the cap 88. When the control means operates the powder pump, the yellow toner in the nozzle 91 is supplied to the developing device 50Y through the transport tube.

The antenna 82Y is fixed to the bracket 93 so as to occupy a position facing the tag 81Y in a state where the toner bottle 9Y is positioned at the normal position.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the antenna 82Y has a substrate 96 and a circuit 97 disposed on the substrate. The circuit 97 is connected to the control means, communicates with the tag 81Y, reads various data recorded in the tag 81Y, and writes and records various data in the tag 81Y.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the tag 81Y has a substrate 76 and a circuit 77 disposed on the substrate. The data recorded in the circuit 77 relates to the type of yellow toner in the toner bottle 9Y, that is, the color, material, etc., the number of prints, the use history such as the model name of the image forming apparatus 100, and the abnormality such as the toner shortage detection code. This is related to detection.

The antenna 82Y reads / writes such information from / to the tag 81Y by non-contact data communication. However, the antenna 82Y and the tag 81Y form a predetermined positional relationship with each other, and normal data can be obtained only when facing each other. It can communicate and has directivity.
Here, the state where the antenna 82Y and the tag 81Y face each other is that the substrate 96 and the substrate 97 face each other in a substantially parallel state, and the respective x-axis and y-axis indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. It is in a consistent state. The x axis is the horizontal direction and the y axis is the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the positional relationship is such that the x-axis and y-axis are shifted from each other and twisted, communication is not performed normally and communication is disabled. In FIG. 5B, the x-axis and y-axis indicate the intersection of the tag 81Y with the x-axis and y-axis while the relationship between the tag 81Y and the x-axis and y-axis in FIG. It is shown rotated around the center.

  However, even when the toner bottle 9Y is positioned at the normal position, if the tag 81Y is fixedly arranged with respect to the cap 88, the communication is required unless the tag 81Y is attached to the cap accurately. Since it becomes impossible, the yield concerning the attachment of the tag 81Y has to be improved, and a problem arises in the stable supply of products that operate normally. The same problem occurs when the positioning accuracy between the cap 88 and the nozzle 91 is low and the state shown in FIG.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 , the tag 81 </ b> Y has a hole 78 at the intersection of the central x-axis and y-axis, and a weight 94 integrally below the hole 78. A shaft 79 as a shaft portion protruding from the end face on the front end side is supported by the cap 88 so as to be displaceable, specifically, as indicated by an arrow G, so as to be rotatable. The z axis that is the rotation center of the main body 85 is perpendicular to the x axis and the y axis at the intersection of the x axis and the y axis.

  Therefore, the tag 81 </ b> Y has a center of gravity that maintains a posture in which the weight 94 is suspended from the hole 78 and the shaft 79 and is positioned vertically below the hole 78 and the shaft 79. Thus, the antenna 82Y and the tag 81Y face each other as shown in FIG. 6 regardless of the orientation of the tag 81Y when attached to the shaft 79 and the orientation of the cap 88, and the antenna 82Y communicates with the tag 81Y. Can be performed normally. The control means processes the data read from the tag 81Y by the antenna 82Y and provides it for predetermined control such as writing to the antenna tag 81Y. The control means writes data other than the data read from the tag 81Y to the tag 81Y using the antenna 82Y.

As described above, as an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, an image which is an electronic apparatus including the toner bottles 9Y, 9C, 9M, and 9BK that are the detachable members that include the tag 81Y that is the information storage unit to which the present invention is applied. The forming apparatus 100 has been described .

  The detachable member is not limited to a consumable item. The detachable member may be recycled, for example, by refilling the toner and using it when the toner bottle is empty. Further, the information storage means and the antenna are not limited to the above-described configuration. The information storage means may be other than the non-contact type.

  The information storage means may not be supported rotatably with respect to the detachable member that supports the information storage means, but may be supported in a displaceable manner in another manner, and may face the antenna. In the claims and specifications, the predetermined center of gravity when the information storage means has a predetermined center of gravity means the center of gravity at which the information storage means faces the antenna. The configuration for the information storage means to have a predetermined center of gravity may be any configuration such as a configuration using only the weight of the substrate, and a weight is not essential.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tag 81Y as the information storage means is supported by the toner cartridge 9Y as the detachable member, and only the main body 85 of the toner cartridge 9Y etc. is rotated by the main body 99. The cap 88 that directly supports and the like is configured not to rotate. However, the member that directly supports the tag 81Y or the like may be a rotated member. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the cap 88 may be configured to rotate. Even in such a configuration, the z axis that is the rotation center of the main body 85 in the above-described embodiment is perpendicular to the x axis and the y axis at the intersection of the x axis and the y axis, and is on the z axis. Like the structure having the shaft 79 that rotatably supports the tag 81Y and the like, the shaft portion that rotatably supports the information storage means is located at the rotation center of the detachable member, and the information storage means has a predetermined center of gravity. If it is a structure, even if an attachment or detachment member is rotated within an information equipment main body, an information storage means will face the antenna, and communication will be performed normally.

In the above-described form, the information storage means is pivotably supported and displaceable. However, the antenna may be supported by the electronic device main body so as to be displaceable in such a manner as to be pivotable. The antenna also has a predetermined center of gravity using the above-mentioned weights, etc., and is supported so that it can be displaced by the electronic device body. When the electronic device body is not installed horizontally or when the electronic device is moving even if it is, is maintained as against the positive attitude of the antenna is in the information storage means, communication is performed normally.
The application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment unless particularly limited in the above description.

1 is a schematic front view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view representatively showing one of image stations provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 1 represents one of the toner bottles provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and a toner supply mechanism that supplies toner to the image station from the toner bottle provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic front view which shows a part. It is a front view which shows the state with which a part of information storage means shown in FIG. 3 and the antenna arrange | positioned facing this corresponded directly. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which a part of the information storage means shown in FIG. 3 and an antenna arranged opposite to the information storage means are not facing each other. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of a toner bottle having the information storage unit shown in FIG. 3, such information storage unit, and an antenna facing the information storage unit.

Explanation of symbols

9Y, 9C, 9M, 9BK Attaching / detaching member, consumable, toner cartridge 79 Shaft portion 81Y Information storage means 82Y Antenna 94 Weight 99 Electronic device main body 100 Electronic device, image forming apparatus z Rotation center of attaching / detaching member

Claims (3)

Rotating an information storage means having a directivity, and a shaft portion engaged with the information storage means, and a protrusion for positioning at the rotation center axis direction, said information storage means by said shaft portion A toner cartridge that is freely supported and is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body ,
Wherein when the toner cartridge is rotated to the toner cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the shaft portion is an image forming apparatus which rotates on the central axis of rotation of the toner cartridge,
An antenna for communicating with the information storage unit while being positioned on the rotation center axis of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus body ;
The toner cartridge and a nozzle for positioning the same toner cartridge in the rotation direction of the central axis of the contact the toner cartridge into the projection when it is attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the information storage means takes a posture satisfying the directivity with respect to the antenna in the direction of rotation about the shaft portion by the center of gravity. An image forming apparatus in which an antenna faces an information storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus wherein the toner cartridge is a consumable. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information storage unit integrally has a weight for forming the center of gravity .

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