JPH02207277A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly and accurately recognize the kind and the combination of toner and to execute image processing sequence corresponding to the recognized toner by displaying the color of the toner housed in a process cartridge on a matrix display part and performing image processing corresponding to the color of the toner. CONSTITUTION:When a desired cartridge is loaded in a cartridge housing part, an information reading part 55 reads the color of the toner(cartridge information) by the use of a code signal and inputs the information in a CPU 50. Based on the cartridge information and an image forming condition inputted from an image forming condition setting part 103, the CPU 50 selects a control program for processing sequence in a corresponding image forming mode from a program memory 51 and the color of the toner housed in the developing device is displayed on the matrix display part 130. Thus, the color of the housed toner is accurately and rapidly confirmed and processing is switched in order to perform the image processing sequence corresponding to the color of the toner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus that forms color images using an electrophotographic method, and particularly relates to a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image using an electrophotographic method, and in particular a developing device that is provided in a cartridge format at the peripheral portion of an image carrier. The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus in which a container is replaceable with respect to the apparatus main body.

[Background of the invention]

There are many ways to obtain color images using electrophotography.
A device has been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61100770
As disclosed in the publication, a latent image is formed and developed on a photoreceptor drum serving as an image carrier according to the number of separated colors of the original image, and is transferred onto a transfer drum each time the development is performed. One method is to form a multicolor image on the image and then transfer it onto a recording material to obtain a color copy. A device using this method requires a transfer drum large enough to transfer one sheet of image onto its circumferential surface in addition to the photoreceptor drum, and the device does not have a large and complicated structure. Inevitable.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-149972, for example, a latent image is formed and developed on a photoreceptor drum serving as an image carrier according to the number of separated colors of the original image, and a recording is made each time the development is performed. This is a method to obtain a multicolor copy by transferring the image onto a material. With this method, it is difficult to overlap multicolor images with high precision, and it is impossible to obtain high-quality color copies.

Furthermore, there is a method of repeatedly forming a latent image on a photoconductor drum according to the number of separated colors of the original image and developing it with color toner, and then layering the color toner on the photoconductor drum 2 and then transferring it to obtain a color image. . The basic process of forming a multicolor image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-75850 and No. 60 No. 75850 by the present applicant.
-76766, 60-95456, 60-95
No. 458, No. 60-1.58475, and the like.

In a multicolor image forming apparatus that obtains a color image through such superimposition, a plurality of developing devices containing different color toners are arranged around the periphery of the photoreceptor drum. The photosensitive drum is rotated multiple times to develop the latent image on the photosensitive drum to obtain a color image.

Furthermore, the present applicant has proposed Utility Model Application No. 89917/1983 with the aim of simplifying the structure around the photoreceptor drum of the color image forming apparatus by the present applicant, making the apparatus more compact, and improving its functionality. When a frame body that can come into contact with and separate from the photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, is installed in the main body of the apparatus and is in a separated state, the drawer plate provided on the frame body is pulled out in front of the main body of the apparatus, and the developing device is placed on the plate. We made a proposal to improve the workability of multiple developing units so that the developer can be removed and cleaned, toner replenished, etc.

On the other hand, for general copying machines, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-54392, the image carrier, developer, and cleaner are integrally attached to a support member, making it easy to replace or repair each unit. There have been suggestions to do so.

In addition, to accommodate monochrome color, it is possible to easily replace these as a single unit in a disposable configuration.
JP-A-58-72159 discloses a color disposable car with replaceable ridges, and a color disposable car with replaceable ridges. are disclosed.

Recently, in addition to the full-color images and monochrome images such as text, illustration images and graphic images, for example black (
At least one of simple colors such as BK), blue (B), red (R), etc.
There is an increasing demand for functional color images in which two color toner images are reproduced without being mixed with each other.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-26976 discloses that optical information from a color original is read digitally, and each density data of blue (B), red (R), and black (BK) is color-separated. A laser beam modulated based on each density data is written on the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image, and the process of developing the electrostatic latent image with the corresponding color toner is repeated to create multicolor toner on the image carrier. A technique has been disclosed that forms an image and transfers it all at once onto a transfer material to form a functional color image of B, R, and BK.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In a color image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of process cartridges each containing a plurality of developing devices or a single developing device are provided and these cartridges are replaceable, the sequence of image processing changes when the process cartridge 1 is replaced. Therefore, when the process cartridge is replaced, it is necessary to perform a corresponding image processing sequence.

In addition, the user of the device is required to correctly and quickly check whether a colored film such as the one described above is stored in the developing device of the loaded process cartridge, but this can be done with a simple configuration. No device had ever achieved such a goal.

The present invention solves these problems, and by loading the process cartridge into the main body, it is possible to automatically and quickly confirm the color of the toner stored in the developing device, and to check the color of the stored toner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus in which processes can be switched so that a corresponding image processing sequence is performed.

[Means to solve the problem]

The object is to provide a color image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge containing a plurality of developing units is removably mounted, the image forming apparatus comprising an information reading section of the process cartridge and a matrix display section displaying toner colors. displaying the toner color on the matrix display section based on the information read by the information reading section;
This is achieved by a color image forming apparatus characterized in that image processing corresponding to this is performed.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the main configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is an image reading unit, B is a laser writing unit,
Further, C is an image forming section, and D is a paper feeding section.

First, an outline of the process of forming a full-color image will be explained.

In the reading section A, reference numeral 11 denotes a document table, and the document placed on the document table 11 is illuminated by a halogen lamp 13 attached to a carriage 12 that slides in the horizontal direction. The movable mirror unit 15 has a mirror 1
6 and 17 are attached, and in combination with a mirror 14 which also slides horizontally and is attached to the carriage 12, the reflected light of the original is guided to the lens reading section 20.

The carriage 12 and the movable mirror unit 15 are connected to a stamping motor using wires (both not shown).
, and are slid in the same direction at speeds of V and 1/2V, respectively.

The lens reading section 20 includes a lens 21 and a color CCD 22.
The light reflected from the original by the mirrors 14, 16 and 17 is focused by the lens 21,
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the color CCD 22.

The blue (B), green CG, and red (R) image signals output from the color CCD 22 undergo color correction and other processing in an image information processing circuit (not shown), and are converted into yellow (Y) and magenta (M). , a color signal corrected according to the color of the cyan (C) toner is output, and is input to the laser writing section B, which is an exposure means.

In the laser writing section B, a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) is rotated and scanned by a polygon mirror 32 rotated by a drive motor 31, and f
The optical path is bent by a mirror 34 via a θ lens 33, and the peripheral surface of a drum-shaped image carrier 30 to which a charge has been applied in advance by a charger 35, which is a charging means, is scanned.

On the other hand, when scanning starts, the laser beam is detected by the indenox sensor, modulation of the laser beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated laser beam scans the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30. do. Therefore, an electrostatic latent image of the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 by the main scanning by the laser beam and the sub-scanning by the rotation of the image carrier 30. This latent image is sequentially developed by developing devices 36, 37, and 38 controlled by a control section.

As an example of the developing means, the latent image is developed by a developing device 36 loaded with yellow (Y) l-toner to form a visible toner image. The obtained l.ner image is transferred to the image carrier 3.
0, the image carrier 30 passes under a cleaning device 39, which is a cleaning means separated from the peripheral surface of the image carrier 30, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the image carrier 30 is charged again by the charger 35,
Next, the second color signal output from the image information processing section is input to the writing section B, and is written on the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 in the same manner as the first color signal described above. An image is formed. This latent image is developed by a developing device 37 loaded with toner of a second color, for example magenta (M). This magenta (M) toner image is formed to be superimposed on the previously formed yellow (Y) color toner image.

A developing device 38 has cyan (C) toner, for example, and forms a cyan (C) toner image on the image carrier 30 based on an image signal generated by the image information processing section. AC and DC bias voltages are applied to the developing sleeves of each of the developing devices 36, 37, and 38, so that non-contact development is performed on the image carrier 30 using the two-component developer.

The color toner image formed on the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 in this way is transferred to a transfer device 40 provided as a transfer means from a paper feed section to a paper feed belt 411 and a feed roller 42.
The image is transferred to the recording paper, which is the transfer material sent by the printer.

The recording paper onto which the color toner image has been transferred is separated from the image carrier 30 by a separator 43, and is conveyed to a fixing device 45 via a conveyor belt 44, where the toner image is fixed.

As described above, when full-color development is performed, for example, toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are layered and mixed to reproduce a complete full-color image including intermediate colors. The copied image is output from the device.

On the other hand, the blade 39A of the cleaning device 39 comes into contact with the image carrier 30 from which the recording paper has been separated from the drum circumferential surface, and removes the remaining toner. The process of color image formation begins.

In the case of functional color image formation as well, image formation is performed by a process similar to that described above by replacing the process cartridge with a process cartridge having a developing device containing the desired color toner.

Next, the layout of each of the main components mentioned above will be explained. As shown in FIG. ing.

The main body 2 includes a laser writing section B, an image forming section C, a paper feeding section D, a fixing device 45, etc. (this is called an image reproduction recording section).
is built in, and receives image signals from the image reading section A via a group of flexible cables connected to the housing 1.

The main body 2 has a cartridge storage section 23 that stores the process cars 1 to 3, and the process cartridge 3 has an image carrier 30 located approximately in the center thereof, and facing the right circumferential surface thereof, each developing device 36, 37 and 38 are arranged horizontally, while a charger 35 and a cleaning device 39 are arranged on the peripheral surface of the cloth, and bearings are supported or detachably attached to the process cartridge 3, respectively.

The process cartridge 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as "cartridge 1-ridge") can be easily taken out and attached to the main body 2 as an independent process unit using a pair of left and right kite members 4, respectively.

That is, rails 4A are provided on the left and right edges of the cartridge 3.

On the other hand, guide rails 4B are fixed to the cartridge storage portions 23 of the main body 2 corresponding to the rails 4A, and the rails 4A form a sliding and removable pair by engaging with the guide rails 4B. .

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right reference pins P are attached near the rear side edge of the cartridge 3, respectively.
Hanging part Q provided on the front and rear boards to which main body 2 is fixed
In this state, the relative positions of the image carrier 30 attached to the cartridge 3, the developing devices 36, 37, 38, and the cleaning device 39 relative to the main body 2 are set. It has become.

Therefore, when the handle 5 on the front side of the cartridge 3 is pulled, the rail 4B is pulled out and the cartridge 3 is pulled out to the front of the main body 2, and when the handle 5 is pushed in, the reference bottle P is engaged with the hole in the hanging part Q. The cartridge 3 is stored in the main body 2 in a suspended state again.

By holding the cartridge 3 in a suspended state with respect to the substrate of the main body 2 in this way, the image carrier 30, the developing unit 36,
37, 38, or the cleaning device 39 are greatly reduced and absorbed, and even if some vibrations and shocks are transmitted, each piece of equipment will be subjected to various vibrations and shocks, so it is difficult to form images. No major problems will occur.

In particular, by integrally holding the image bearing member 30 and the cleaning device 39 in the cartridge 3, the remaining toner treatment after cleaning by the blade 39A1 and the blade 39A, which must be performed by the cleaning device 39 for image formation by overlay development, can be carried out. When the second cleaning roller 39B, etc. approaches and separates, or when pressing, vibrations, shocks, etc. caused by subtle pressure contact, pressing conditions, load characteristics, etc. do not affect the image, and the adverse effects are significantly alleviated and absorbed.

For example, the developing device 36.degree.37. of the cartridge 3 of this embodiment.
On the 38 side, there are three sets of information transmission members 18a that emit a 3-bit signal (code) representing the color of the stored toner.
, ], sb, 18c are provided, and on the other hand, these information transmission members 18 are provided on the main body side of the color image forming apparatus.
An information reading section (not shown) such as a micro switch that detects a to 18c and a photodetector (photocoupler) consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided, and by loading the cartridge 3, the information of the cartridge is automatically read. The cartridge is identified and switched to an image processing flow suitable for that cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the information transmission members 18a-18c each have three protrusions 181, 182, and 183, for example.
This protrusion 181-18
The presence or absence of 3 represents 1.0, and a 3-bit code signal can be transmitted. Fig. 3(a) shows the case where the code signal is 1.1, l, and Fig. 3(b) shows the case where the code signal is 001 and the photocoupler 184 is used as the information reading section.
C) shows the case where the microswitch 185 is used in the information reading section with a value of 0.1.

According to the code signal, each developing device 36, 37, 3
If the color of the toner stored in the lens reading section 8 is transmitted, and a filter that can be converted based on this information is provided with one CCD and a filter in front of it, as will be described later, the lens reading section 2
0 filter and the developing bias applied to the developing device 3 can be switched to one that is suitable for the color of the toner.

Table 1 is the above Tona - of the code of color and 3 pins] This is an example.

Emp in the table indicates a state in which no developing device is housed in the corresponding location.

There is an operation panel 100 in front of the top surface of the casing, which includes a copy button 1011, a numeric keypad 102a that is a manual key for inputting the number of copies, etc., and other condition settings for setting conditions such as copy density. Button 102
A 71-lix display section 130 for displaying the toner color stored in the cartridge 3 on a matrix-like display board is also provided.

The numeric keypad 102a and the condition setting button 102b are collectively referred to as an image forming condition setting section 103.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the 7-trix display section 130 of FIG. 2. In the figure, each row is a developing device 36°37.3
8, and 1.2.3 are developing units 36.3, respectively. Developer 3
7. A developing device 38 is shown, and 4 indicates the fourth developing device when there are four developing devices. Therefore 3 to force tringe
When four developing units are housed, a matrix of four is not required. The vertical columns indicate toner colors, and developing devices and toner colors are arranged in a matrix. A light emitting device such as a light emitting diode is arranged on the back side of the display board of the matrix display section 130, and the light emitting device at a position corresponding to the color of the toner stored in each developing unit lights up in the same color as the toner to display the image. . In Figure 4, Y, M, and C toners are 1.2
．． This figure shows a case in which full-color cartridges 3 are sequentially housed in three developing devices.

The light emitting device can increase the intensity of the light emitted during the copying operation to indicate which developing device is currently in operation. Further, if each of the developing devices 36, 37, and 38 has a remaining toner amount detector, it can be displayed by blinking when the amount of toner decreases and replenishment is required.

It goes without saying that the same display can be made even when the number of developing devices is two.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the sequence control system of the process of the present invention. In the figure, 23 is the optical path switching s (including 7 filter exchanges) of the lens reading unit 20 shown in FIG.
52 is an image information processing circuit that performs processing such as color correction on the image signal output from the image reading section A; 53 is a program memory from the laser writing section B1 image forming section C1 paper feeding section, fixing device 45, etc.; image reproduction recording section, 54
55 is a developing bias control circuit that controls the developing bias voltage applied to the developing sleeve of the developing device 36, 37, 38 to an appropriate value according to the toner, and 55 is the information transmitting member 18a to 18a.
18c is an information reading section that reads a toner signal consisting of 3 pins], and 103 is an image forming condition setting section.

When a desired cartridge 3 is loaded into the cartridge storage portion 23 of the main body 2, the information transmission member 18 of the cartridge 3 is loaded.
The toner color (cartridge information) is read by the 3-bit code signal from a to 18c and this information is sent to the CPU 5.
Enter 0. Then, the CPU 50 selects a process sequence control program for the corresponding image forming mode from the program memory 51 based on this cartridge information and the image forming conditions input from the image forming condition setting unit 103, and reads the image according to the program. A selection signal for a filter or the like is sent to part A, a processing signal of an image signal corresponding to the image forming mode is sent to the image information processing circuit 52, and a signal for setting each appropriate bias is sent to the developing bias control circuit 54. The display unit 130 includes a developing device 36,
Displays the color of the toner stored in 37 and 38.

Next, when the copy button 101 is pressed, the CPU 50
It performs driving and other sequence control of the image reproduction/recording section 53, and executes the image forming mode process corresponding to the input cartridge information and image forming conditions.

The image forming mode includes a full color mode and a functional color mode, or an example of an image forming system capable of switching between the two modes will be described with reference to FIG. In other words, the output of either a full-color image forming system (A), which forms images using Y, M, and C color toners by reading information when a cartridge is installed, or a functional color image forming system (B), is written with a laser. The process of inputting the laser beam to section B, modulating the laser beam, forming a written electrostatic latent image on the image carrier 30, and developing this to form a toner image is repeated 1 to 3 times to form a toner image on the image carrier 30. Form a functional color image including a full color image or a black image thereon.

Here, in the (A) system, the reflected light from the original passes through a half mirror, is reflected by a reflecting mirror, and is separated into three colors by a three-color separation prism, and is divided into three CODs: R-ch, G-ch, and B-ch. Amp-RA mp
-G, Amp-B, converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter, and inputted to the color correction information generation section,
A memory in which predetermined color separation data is stored is accessed to read out each data of Y, M, and C, and after multilevel conversion, the data is output to the laser writing section B.

Next, in the (B) system, the reflected light from the original is reflected by a half mirror, and then passes through a two-color separation brism.
photoelectrically converted by two CODs, ch and C-ch, and Amp
Amplified by -R and Amp-C, converted to digital signal by A/D converter, inputted to color separation information generation section, accessed memory to read R, B, and BK data, and after multilevel conversion. It is output to laser writing section B.

The step shown in FIG. 6(C) is the step shown in FIG.
, BK, etc., the laser beam of the laser writing section B is modulated, and the modulated laser beam writes on the image carrier 30, and development is repeated for the number of signals from 1 to 3, and the image carrier A black toner image or a superimposed toner image is formed on the image forming apparatus 30 and is transferred onto the conveyed transfer material at the same timing.

B instead of the color separation prism shown in FIG.

A method of obtaining an image signal by alternately using G and H color filters and performing photoelectric conversion using one COD can also be used.

In this case, based on the 3-bit toner color read by the information reading section 55, the developing bias applied to the filter of the lens reading section 20 and the developing device is controlled as shown in Table 2.

ND in the filter column indicates neutral filters with different transmittances. The developing bias column indicates that an appropriate bias corresponding to the toner color in parentheses is applied, but preferably, developers for each color toner adjusted to the same conditions are used.

Regarding the details of the image forming systems (A) and (B), in addition to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-26976, which was previously proposed by the present applicant, Japanese Patent Application No. 61-285340 and Japanese Patent Application No. 1987-
16554 and Japanese Patent Application No. 63-16413.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, as described above, in a color image forming apparatus equipped with a replaceable process cartridge, the color of the toner stored in the process cartridge is displayed on a matrix display section provided on an operation panel of the apparatus. At the same time, image processing corresponding to this is automatically performed, allowing the user to quickly and correctly recognize the type and combination of toners, thereby providing an excellent color image forming device that does not malfunction. 12.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the main structure of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front part of FIG. 1, and FIGS.
) are a perspective view and a side view showing an example of the information transmission member, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the matrix display section of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the sequence control system of the process of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the image forming system. ■...Housing 2...Main body 3...Process cartridge (cartridge) 4...Kite part 41
+' 18a to 18c... Information transmission member 23.
...Car 1 helicopter storage section 30...Image carrier 36, 37, 38...Developer 39...Cleaning device 50...CPU 5
1...Program memory 52...Image information processing circuit 53...Image playback recording section 55...Information reading section 100...Operation panel 101...Copy button 102a...Numeric keypad 103...
Image forming condition setting section 130...7 Tricks display section

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a color image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge containing a plurality of developing devices is removably mounted, the image forming apparatus includes an information reading section for the process cartridge and a matrix display section for displaying toner colors; A color image forming apparatus characterized in that a toner color is displayed on a matrix display section based on information read by an information reading section, and image processing corresponding to this is performed.