JPH01159671A - Developing unit switching device for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To freely switch the kind of switching position data by selectively switching and driving plural developing units housing the developer of different colors based on the processed switching position data. CONSTITUTION:After adding kind information which shows the kind of the data to the switching position data transmitted from a host device 71, a data processing means in accordance with the kind information is selected so as to process the switching position data. Based on the processed data, the plural developing units 4 and 5 housing the developer of different colors are selectively switched and driven. Thus, the kind of the switching position data can be freely switched plural times every page or in one page. And the developing units 4 and 5 can be switched by specifying the precise and accurate developing unit switching position according to character images or graphic images, etc., which are included in print data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a developing device switching device for a printer equipped with a plurality of developing devices containing developers of different colors.

``Prior art'' Connected to a host device such as a word processor or business personal computer, with one character and one figure.

A printer that prints various types of data such as images as a hard copy is equipped with multiple developing devices containing developers of different colors, and by selectively switching and driving the multiple developing devices, the printer prints out various data such as images as hard copies. The applicant has already developed and applied for a technical means that enables simultaneous multi-color printing.

As the switching position data for selectively switching and driving the plurality of developing devices, digital data such as the number of lines, the number of rasters, and the distance from the top edge of the sheet transmitted from the host device can be used.

However, when the digital data is stored in the printer,
Since it did not have a function to distinguish Type I, in reality, a single system consisting of a host device and a printer can only collect digital data of a certain type.

[The problem that the invention attempts to solve] However, the host device has two characters, two figures, and a graph.

Various types of data such as images are combined or synthesized and processed to generate print data that is printed by a printer. In the print data generated by the host device in this way, characters, figures, etc. may coexist on the same page to be printed, or may exist independently on each page. For this reason, switching position data that specifies the switching position of the developing device can be freely switched in line units, in raster numbers, or in distance from the top edge of the paper, depending on the print data. But of the host device! There are problems that need to be solved in terms of R performance and applications.

``Means for Solving the Problems'' The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems. In addition to digital data such as the number of lines, the number of rasters, and the distance from the top edge of the paper, type information representing the type of switching position data is added, and printers equipped with multiple developing units containing developers of different colors. a determining means for determining the type information; a data processing means for processing the switching position data according to the type of switching position data determined by the determining means; and a data processing means for processing the switching position data based on the switching position data processed by the data processing means. The present invention is characterized in that a developing device switching drive means is provided for selectively switching and driving a plurality of developing devices containing developers of different colors.

"Operation" As clarified in the description of the specific means described above, the present invention adds type information that displays the type of data to the switching position data sent from the host device, and performs operations according to the type information. The data processing means is selected to process the switching position data, and based on the processed data, a plurality of developing devices containing different color developers are selectively driven. can be switched freely.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings regarding a printer capable of printing two colors at the same time by switching the developer within one page (hereinafter referred to as simultaneous two-color printing).

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a printer that implements the method of the present invention.

A photoreceptor drum 1 that can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction is disposed approximately in the center of the printer body, and a main eraser lamp 2. Electrostatic charger 3. First development 34
．． Second developer 5. Transfer charger8. Copy paper separate charger9. Blade-type cleaner devices 210 and the like are sequentially installed. The photoreceptor drum 1 has a photoreceptor layer on its surface, and is irradiated with light by an eraser lamp 2 every time it rotates.
○N1 of the laser beam that is charged by passing through the charging charger 3 and emitted from the laser device section 11
Image data is exposed by 0FF.

On the other hand, on the left side of the printer body, there are two paper feed ports, upper and lower, each equipped with paper feed rollers 21 and 23. The lower paper feed cassette 22 is installed, and the conveyance path of the copy paper stored in the cassette 20.degree. 22 is controlled by a pair of rollers 24.degree. Guide plate 27. Guide plate 28 just before the transfer position. Conveyor belt 29
．． Fixing device 30. It is composed of a discharge roller 31.

The image data formed by the host device is exposed onto the photoreceptor drum 1 by the 0N10FF of the laser beam, and the drum 1 receives the image exposure due to the electrostatic charge. ? Forms one image. The electrostatic latent image is formed by selectively driving the first and second developing units 4 and 5. The toner contained in the second developing device 4.5 is deposited, and the toner image on the photoconductor 1 is transferred by the transfer charger 8 onto the sheet of paper fed out from the timing roller pair 26 with its leading edge aligned with the toner image forming area. transcribed. Subsequently, the toner is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the separation charger 9, sent to the fixing device 30 by the conveyor belt 29, where the toner is melted and fixed, and then delivered onto the ejection tray 34 by the ejection roller pair 31. Others 35 are exhaust fans, and photoreceptor drums 1. Paper feed roller 21゜23, roller pair 24. Timing roller pair 26° first developer 4. Second developer 5. Conveyor belt 29°Fixing device 30. The ejection roller pair 31 and the like are configured to be driven by a main motor (not shown), and the paper feed roller 2
1,23. Timing roller pair 26° roller pair 24. 1st. The second developing device 4.5, etc. is configured to switch between transmitting and non-transmitting the driving force of the main motor using a solenoid, an electromagnetic spring clutch, etc. (UA not shown) so that it can operate independently.

2 to 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the structure of the developing device used in the apparatus of this embodiment and its switching drive.

The developing devices 4 and 5 have almost the same configuration as shown in FIG. 2, and in the developing tank 41, a developing sleeve 42. Supply roller 44. and a screw 45 are provided.

The developing sleeve 42 is made of a non-magnetic conductive material in a cylindrical shape (φ24.
5 mm), minute irregularities are formed on the outer periphery by sandblasting, and the developing units zx, x' face the photosensitive drum 1 with a developing gap +Ds (=0.6 x Wl). , the rotation angles from the exposure point W to the development positions x and x' are set to α and α+β, respectively.

Further, on the back side of the developing position X of the developing sleeve 42, a brush height regulating member 49 provided on the upper inner surface of the developer tank 41 faces with a brush height regulating gap: Db (=0.4 mm).

A magnet roller 43 with a plurality of magnets extending in the axial direction is provided inside the developing sleeve 42, and the magnetic force of the magnetic poles N1 to N3°8+ and Sz located on the outer surface of these magnets is N+= 10000, N2. Ns
= 5000, S1. S t = 800
G (G is an abbreviation for Gauss).

As shown in FIG. 4, the center of the magnetic pole N1 is located at the magnetic pole Sl.
The magnetic pole N is located at a position shifted by θ (80°) clockwise from the center of the magnetic pole N.

is disposed so as to face the photoreceptor drum l, and its center is located at a position θt<40° counterclockwise from the opposing portion of the brush height regulating member 49.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Bugnet roller 43 has one end 43a of its spindle supported in a bearing recess 42c provided inside the developing sleeve 42, and the other end 43b of the spindle supported in a bearing recess 42c provided inside the developing sleeve 41. It is supported by the side wall and can be rotated by a predetermined angle (θ, −40°) by a moving means 60, which will be described in detail below.

On the other hand, in the developing sleeve 42, the bearing part 42b on the right side in FIG. It is designed to be rotated by.

Supply roller 44. The screws 45 are respectively disposed in transport paths 46, 4.7 partitioned by a partition wall 48, and these rollers 44, 45 are connected to the respective spindles 4.
4a and 45a are pivotally supported on the side wall of the developer tank 41, and are rotationally driven by a driving means 50.

Note that the transport paths 46 and 47 communicate with each other on both sides of the developer tank 41, as shown in FIG.

The developing units 4 and 5, the supply roller 44, and the driving means 50 for the screw 45 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, a bell 1-51 is hung on the support shaft 42a of the developing sleeve 42 and the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44, and also on the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44 and the support shaft 45a of the screw 45. The belt 52 is a hook.

Further, a gear 53 is attached to the end of the support shaft 44a of the supply roller 44, and this gear 53 meshes with a drive gear 55 of a motor 54.

Therefore, the motor 54 is driven to move the drive gear 5 to the third position.
When rotated in the direction of the solid line shown in the figure, the gear 53 and belt 51
．． 52 respectively move in the solid line direction, and the developing sleeve 42
, the supply roller 44, and the screw 45 are arranged to rotate in the directions of arrows A, C, and D, respectively. Note that the developing sleeve 42 is designed to rotate at 24 rpm.

The moving means 60 for the magnet roller 43 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, it is composed of a lever 61, a spring 62, and a solenoid 63. The lever 61 is fixed to the end of the support shaft 43b of the maggot roller 43, and one end of the lever 61 has a developing tank. Spring 62 fixed to 41
One end of is attached and always biased in the direction of arrow e. A plunger 64 of a solenoid 63 is locked to the other end of the lever 61, and when the solenoid 63 is driven, the lever 61 is rotated in the direction of arrow e° against the force of the spring 62. be.

When the solenoid 63 is not operating, that is, when the lever 61 is in the state shown in FIG. 5, the magnet of the magnet roller 43 faces the photosensitive drum 1, as shown in FIG.
The magnetic pole N is retracted to a position θ (40°) moved counterclockwise from the portion facing the height regulating member 49.

Conversely, when the solenoid 63 is driven and the lever 61 is in the state shown in FIG. In this case, the middle part of the magnetic pole N and the magnetic flSl are arranged to face each other.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, toner adheres to the photoreceptor drum 1 from the developing device W5, and in the state shown in 613iJ, toner does not adhere to the photoreceptor drum 1 from the developing device 5, that is, in the state shown in FIG. Ha, N.

This is because the middle portion of both poles of S faces the photosensitive drum 1, so that the portion of the developing sleeve 42'' where there is no toner comes to face the photosensitive drum 1.

By installing a plurality of developing devices having the above configuration and switching and driving them at the same timing with respect to one predetermined image forming area, toners of different colors can be attached to different image forming areas. can.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing transmission and reception of image data and developer control information between the host device 71 or controller 72 and the printer engine 73.

The print data transmitted by the host device 71 over the bus (2) includes image data and developer control information. The controller 72 that received this print data
creates an actual print image (bitmap) from the image data, and sends it to the printer engine 73 via bus ■. Further, the developing device control information is transmitted to the printer engine 73 as status information via bus (2). Said bus■.

C of the printer engine 73 that received each information by ■
The PU 74 drives the printer based on this information, and also controls the first. Controls switching drive, etc. of the second developing device. A line counter 77 that counts the number of lines based on information from a discrimination circuit 76 that discriminates lines from 1114 data is connected to the CPU 74 via buses (1) and (2). Furthermore, the raster counter 78 is connected through buses 1 and 2, and the raster sensor 79 is connected through bus 2. This makes it possible to use any of digital data such as the distance from the leading edge of the paper, the number of lines, the number of rasters, etc. as the switching position data for specifying the switching position of the developing device. Type information indicating the type of digital data is added to the digital data.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the main routine of control of the controller 72 (step 5100
) (hereinafter steps are omitted), a data input routine is executed, and image data and control data for the printer are received from the host device 71. (Slot), an image creation routine is executed, and in the 0th order (S102), in which image data is developed into an image buffer, routines for instructing various states of the printer are executed, and each control data for the printer is processed. The control data includes
It includes data such as developer selection, simultaneous two-color printing instructions, developer switching timing for simultaneous two-color printing, and instruction data such as paper feed port selection and mode settings for various accessory functions. This routine will be detailed later. Next, in (9103) it is determined whether a print request has been made from the host device, and if there is a request (Y in S103).
ES) A command for actually starting the printer is output (S104). In this case, the controller 72 is in a mode for outputting image data. Also, once you enter the print mode -1, basically until the print is finished (S10
5) Continue the print mode, and return to the normal loop when printing is complete.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an instruction routine for various states of the printer described above.

There are many other options for indicating the status of the printer, such as selecting the paper feed (:1) and setting the mode for each village (・) as shown in N. To explain the execution of the 1-lint mode, we will focus on three items: developer selection, simultaneous two-color print instruction, and simultaneous two-color print area instruction.

First, in (S200>) it is determined whether the instruction is to select a developer.
If it is b2s, it is determined whether the first developing device is selected in (S201), and if it is selected, the use of the first developing device is set (3202), and if it is not selected, the second developing device is set. Set the use of (8203>, then (S2
04), it is determined whether or not a simultaneous two-color print instruction is given, and if there is no instruction (No in S204), the normal print mode is set (S205). A print in which the entire surface of one page is developed. If simultaneous two-color printing is specified in (S 204 >), the simultaneous two-color printing mode is specified (S 206 ), and further (S
Step 207) determines whether the instruction is for simultaneous two-color print area data, and if YES, calls the simultaneous two-color print area data setting routine (S208).
), the routine will be described in detail later.

Next (S209), other printer status instructions are determined, and various status settings are made for the printer according to the instructions (S210).The various status settings for the printer here are, for example, for the printer and printer engine. The data may be set in a commonly accessible RAM area, or the data may be updated and set at any time through serial communication.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a simultaneous two-color print area data setting routine.

First, determine the type of simultaneous two-color print area data, which is developer switching position data, and if it is based on the number of lines (YES in 8208-1), set status information for the number of lines (8208-2). If it is based on the number of rasters (YES in 8208-3), set the status information of the number of rasters (S208-4 >, if it is not based on the number of rows and rasters (3208-1, 8208-3)
(No), the above type is regarded as the distance from the top edge of the paper, and distance status information is set (S20
8-5) As soon as the above status information settings are completed, set the simultaneous two-color print area data 8208-6>
, return to (S209>shown in FIG. 10).

Furthermore, by setting the simultaneous two-color print area data and the type status of the data, the data shown in FIG. 12 (
One of three types of simultaneous two-color print area data as shown in a), (b), and (c) can be specified.

FIG. 13 shows the flow of the main routine for controlling the printer engine, in which initial settings of the printer engine are performed in (S300), then the main loop is entered, and input processing routines are performed in (S301) and (S302), respectively. , execute the output processing routine. (
In step 3303), the presence or absence of a print command from the controller is checked, and if there is a print command, the process advances to step S304, where the sequence processing routine is executed, and (
The loop management (loop time management, etc.) routine of S305) is executed, and the process returns to the input processing routine of S301. If there is no print command in (3303), execute the loop management routine in (8305),
Similarly, the process returns to the input processing routine (S301).

FIG. 14 shows the contents of the sequence processing routine (8304). In (8310), the roller processing routine is executed, and the paper feed/discharge roller is controlled to feed and discharge the paper. In (3311), the roller processing routine is executed. A laser (exposure) processing routine is executed and controls ON10FF of the laser. (S312) is another processing routine, in which processing is performed when an abnormality occurs. Subsequently, in step (9313), a developer processing routine is executed to control switching of the developer in the simultaneous two-color print mode.

The setting and control of the switching timing of the developing device in the simultaneous two-color print mode is performed using the laser (B) shown in FIG. 13 above.
This is performed in the optical) processing routine (S311), and the actual switching is performed in the developing device processing routine (S313).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the contents of the laser (exposure) processing routine.

The printer engine 73 that has received the print command from the controller 72 enters the sequence processing process as described above, but the 15th G? As shown in (S320) of I, first, 0N10FF of the laser is checked. In this case, since the laser is initially OFF, it is checked in (S321) whether there is a request to turn on the laser (exposure), and if there is a request, the laser is turned on (S322), and the print area counter is reset (8323). ) When the print start position is 0, the main loop is rotated once and the sequence processing loop is returned again, and the laser 0N10F F
Since the laser is turned on by check (3320), the counter in the print area must be incremented.
324), and then in (8325) and (S327) it is checked whether the timer setting time (Tl) and (T2) are set, respectively, and if they are set, the timer setting time (Tl), <T2) is checked. Decrement (83
26), (8328), The increment I of the counter in the print area indicates that the exposure has progressed by the time it takes to go around the main loop after the start of laser exposure, and the decrement of the timer setting time controls the developer switching timing. It is something to do. When setting the timer rm (T l ),
The role of (T' 2 ) will be explained later.

FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) show the developing device processing routine (831
3) is a flowchart showing details of step 3).

First, in (S400), it is checked whether or not it is the simultaneous two-color print mode, and if it is the normal print mode that is not the simultaneous two-color print mode, only one of the two developing devices is selected in (S401) to (S405). The printer is driven to print the same color over one line. That is, (S4
If the first developing device is selected in step 01), the second developing device is set to 0FFL (S402), and the first developing device is turned on (S402).
403).

If the second developer is selected, change the first developer to 0FFL.
(S404), and the second developing device is turned on (S405).

If the simultaneous two-color print mode is selected in (S400), the process advances to (S406) to determine whether the initial setting of developer information in the simultaneous two-color print mode has been completed, and if it has been completed, the process proceeds to (S406). The process advances to (8408), and if the process has not been completed, the initial setting routine for developer information is called (S407).

The flowchart of the initial setting routine for developer information is as shown in FIG. 11), the type status of the switching position data set by the controller 72 is determined, and if it is the number of lines (S425
YES in S427), or if it is the number of rasters (YES in S427).
ES), if it is a distance (S429), the number of rows and the number of rasters, respectively.

It is converted into a value corresponding to the print area count value that is counted up in the laser (exposure) processing section in the printer's sequence processing routine according to the distance.
6. S/128, 5429), in either case, the conversion value is set as simultaneous two-color print area data (8430), and (34) of the developer processing routine is performed.
08) Return to Hell.

The conversion formulas for the above (8426), (8428), and (3429) are as follows.

(S42C1) For the number of lines (8428) For the number of raster V , ) 1) r: Width per raster (ken-) ■ = Circumferential speed of photosensitive drum 1 (噸 Theory/5ee) GoS: 1 scan time of printer control loop (see) Nl: Simultaneous time specified by controller Number of lines Nr of two-color print area data: Same Number of rasters Nd: Same Distance M (, ring) from the top of the paper followed by (840
In 8), it is determined whether or not the contents of the area counters incremented in the laser (exposure) processing routine in the sequence processing routine match, and if they match, the processing is performed in steps (S409) and (S4) respectively. , Proceed to O), set timer (2) to (T1) time, timer (2) to (T2) time, and turn on the timer set flag (8411).

Here, the timer setting times (Tl) and (T2) will be explained. The contents of the print area counter indicate information on the currently exposed position, and the time required for the currently exposed exposure point to reach the developing position of the first developing unit 4 is (T1), and the time required for the currently exposed exposure point to reach the developing position of the first developing unit 4 is (T1), The time it takes to reach the developing position (T2
), that is, in FIG. 2, the time until the current exposure point W reaches X is (T1), the time until it reaches Xo is (T2), and the time (Tl)
, (T2) is the circumferential speed V++m/see of the photoreceptor drum 1
, the circumference from the exposure point W to the developing position X of the first developing device 4 is Jam, and the circumferential length from the developing position x' of the second developing device 5 is Km.
When m is assumed, (Tl) and (T2) are obtained by the following equations.

(TI)=J/Vsec, (T'2)=N/Vse
e In this way, the timer 1 shown in (S409) and (S410) above is activated. II is each developer: IIX from the exposure value Hw.

In order to measure the time lag up to Xo, it is set and starts timing operation when the simultaneous two-color print area setting data matches the area currently being exposed. Further, the timer setting times (TI>, (T2)) are sequentially decremented in the laser (exposure) processing routine described above, and the time measurement progresses.

If the simultaneous two-color print area data and the contents of the area counter do not match in (3408), (S4
Proceeding to step 12), it is checked whether the timer set flag is ONI, and if it is not ON, this routine is ended. If the timer set flag is ON (841
If 2 is YES), the time up of the timer setting time (TI) and (T2) is checked in (8413) and (8418). When the time-up of the timer setting time (T1) is confirmed in (S413), the timer setting time (T1) is
8414), and if the first developing device 4 is turned on and operating (YES in S415), the first developing device 4
OF-'FL (3416), 0FFI, if it is the first
The developing device 4 is turned on and the first developing device 4 is switched. Also(
When the time-up of the timer setting time (T2) is confirmed in S418), the timer setting time (T2) is reset.
L (S419), if the second developing device 5 is turned on and operating (YES in S420), the second developing device 5 is set to 0FF.
L (S421), if it is OFF, turn on the second developing device 5
In this manner, the second developing device 5 is switched (S422) and the timer set flag is reset (S423). In this way, the switching drive of the developing device is performed without being influenced by the initial setting developing device.

In this embodiment, simultaneous two-color printing is achieved by selectively switching and driving two developing units, but simultaneous multi-color printing can also be achieved by selectively switching and driving three or more developing units. can.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, simultaneous two-color print area conversion data is generated from the number of lines, number of rasters, distance, etc. in the initial setting routine for developer information.
, by using the raster counter 78 (see FIG. 8 and 9), it is possible to directly obtain developing device switching position data without performing conversion.

"Effects" As clarified in the above description of the specific means and effects, the present invention adds type information indicating the type of data to the switching position data sent from the host device, and reports the type ++1. The switching position data is processed by selecting the data processing stage corresponding to Type of location data for each page
Alternatively, the developer can be freely switched multiple times within one page, and the developer can be switched by specifying an appropriate and accurate developer switching position according to the character image, graphic image, etc. included in the print data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The attached drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the printer, FIGS. 2 to 7 are explanatory diagrams explaining the structure and switching drive of the developing device, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the host device 71 and the controller. 9 is a block diagram showing data transmission and reception between the printer engine 72 and the printer engine 73, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the main routine of controller control, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing an instruction routine for various states of the printer, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a simultaneous two-color print area data setting routine, and FIG. 12(a)
, (b), and (c) are explanatory diagrams each showing one way of creating digital data, Fig. 1313 is a flowchart of the main routine for controlling the printer engine, Fig. 14 is a flowchart of the sequence processing routine, Fig. 15 is the flowchart 1 of the laser (exposure) processing routine.
Figure 16(a). (b) is a flowchart of the developing device processing routine, No. 17
The figure is a flowchart of a routine for initializing developing device information. 111. Photosensitive drum, 408. First developer, 5°6. second developing device, 811. Transfer charger, 11
．． . , Laser Equipment Department, 21.23. ,,paper feed roller,7
7. Line counter 78. ,, raster counter, 79. ,, Raster sensor, Woo, Exposure position, x, x', , Development position, (Tl), (T
2). 1. Timer setting time. Kyouyong-Moku 1 Figure 5 Blood 6364 Figure 9 Figure 11 Figure 13 Figure 16 (a) Figure 17

Claims (1)

[Claims] The switching position data of the developing device sent from the host device to the printer is converted into digital data such as the number of lines, number of rasters, distance from the top edge of the paper, etc., and type information representing the type of switching position data is added. A printer equipped with a plurality of developing units containing developer includes a determining means for determining the type information, and a data processing means for processing switching position data according to the type of switching position data determined by the determining means. , a developing device characterized in that a developing device switching driving means is provided for selectively switching and driving a plurality of developing devices containing developers of different colors based on switching position data processed by the data processing device. Device switching device.