JPS6141159A - Toner supervising device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent erroneous loading of a tonr cartridge by providing the top of each toner cartridge with a detection piece corresponding to the kind of the toner, and providing the top body back with a switch for detecting the detection piece. CONSTITUTION:The top of a toner cartridge supported in a developing unit is provided with detection pieces 13 and 14 corresponding to the color of the accommodated toner and a detection piece 14 for effecting a check as to whether there is a amounted toner cartridge. Color detection switches 16-18 and a cartridge detection switch 19 are provided at positions corresponding to the detection pieces 13-15 on the back of the top of a copier body 2. When a cartridge 12 is replaced and the copier body is then closed, the loading of the cartridge and the color of the toner can be displayed on a panel. It is thus possible to prevent erroneous loading of a toner cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a toner management device that monitors a toner management device applied to a dry developing device, and more specifically, to a toner management device that prevents copy mistakes.

(Prior Art) Cartridges used for replenishing toner into a developing unit are generally disposable and have the same shape in order to be constructed at low cost.

For this reason, if this type of cartridge contains toner suitable for the image forming process or toner of a different color, an abnormal image may be formed if a cartridge containing toner other than the specified one is installed. , a problem arises in that the image quality deteriorates.

(Purpose) The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to prevent incorrect installation of toner cartridges by detecting the color etc. of the toner contained in the cartridge. The objective is to provide a device that enables the

That is, the present invention is characterized in that a detection piece is provided in a part of the toner cartridge in accordance with the type of toner, and a means for detecting the detection piece is provided on the main body of the apparatus.
This allows the type of toner in the cartridge to be detected.

(Structure) Therefore, details of the present invention will be described below based on illustrated embodiments.

1(A) and 1(B) show an embodiment of the present invention, in which the support shaft 5 provided at one end of the sheet discharge side is used as a fulcrum, and the sheet is moved in an alligator shape with the sheet conveyance path 4 as the boundary. The main body 1 of the copying machine is configured to be able to be opened and closed, and its upper main body 2 is provided with a motor along with a removable photoreceptor unit (not shown), and the lower main body 3 contains various members related to transfer and fixing as well as other components described below. A developing unit 6 is removably attached.

FIG. 2 shows the above-mentioned developing unit,
On one side wall of the casing that constitutes the developing unit 6,
A support shaft 7, which serves as a rotational fulcrum, is integrally formed to protrude, and a gear 9 is fixed to the shaft end of the developing sleeve 8 on the other side wall, and is engaged with a timing belt 10 stretched over the upper main body 2. is configured to do so. The above-mentioned support shaft 7 of the developing unit 6 is mounted on an L-shaped bearing 11 provided at one outer end of the lower main body 3 . At the upper part of the developing unit 6, cartridge holding parts 6a, 6a are integrally provided with a toner supply hole extending in the axial direction of the sleeve 8 interposed therebetween, and are configured to hold the edge of the toner cartridge 12. This toner cartridge 12 is provided with detection pieces 13 and 14 made of protrusions corresponding to the color and other types of toner contained in the container, and a detection piece 15 for detecting whether or not the cartridge is attached, on the top of the toner cartridge 12. It is configured with the following settings.

On the other hand, on the back surface of the upper body 2 on the developing unit side, there is a normally open contact located at a position facing the detection pieces 13 to 15 of the toner cartridge 12 when the developing unit 6 is attached to the lower body 3 as shown in FIG. Toner cartridge color detection switch 16.17 consisting of three microswitches with
．． 18, and a toner cartridge detection switch 19 consisting of a microswitch with a normally closed contact. When the upper main body 2 engages the lower main body 3, the levers lea, 17a, 18a, 19a contacts the detection pieces 13 to 15 to turn ON and OFF, and operates the toner color display 21 and high-voltage power supply 22 via the main controller 2o connected thereto.

In this embodiment, when the upper main body 2 is expanded to replace the developing unit 6, the toner cartridge detection switch 19 is turned from OFF to ON, and all of the toner color detection switches 16 to 18 are turned OFF. In such a state, replace the developing unit 6 with one of the desired color,
When the upper main body 2 is set in the lower main body 3 again, the toner cartridge detection switch 19 is activated by the cartridge detection piece 1.
5, it switches from ON to OFF and outputs a signal indicating that the cartridge is installed.

On the other hand, toner cartridge color detection switch 16.18
is in contact with the detection pieces 13 and 14, and the toner cartridge color detection switch 17 does not come into contact with the detection pieces, so it still maintains the 0 and FF states, thereby detecting the color of the toner contained in the cartridge. The signal corresponding to the code is encoded and output. Upon receiving this detection signal, the control device 20 operates the toner color display 21 to display the color of the toner, and at the same time adjusts the output voltage of the high voltage source 22 so that the voltage is optimal for the toner of the selected color. Control.

Thereby, the type of toner in the toner cartridge installed in the electrophotographic apparatus is displayed on the toner color display 21 on the panel surface, and the type of toner can be confirmed before operating the copy start button.

In this embodiment, the detection piece is provided on the top of the toner cartridge, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be achieved even if the detection piece is provided on the front, back, side, or other circumferential surfaces exposed from the developing unit. Nor. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the detection piece and the detector are composed of a protruding piece and a microswitch, but the detection piece is made of a magnetic material or a colored piece, and the detector is a reed switch, a photo-interchanger, a pigtail, etc. Even when used in combination, the same effect can be achieved.

(Effects) As explained above, according to the present invention, a detection piece is provided in the part exposed when the toner cartridge is installed in the developing unit, in accordance with the type of toner, and
Since the detector is placed on the side facing the toner cartridge of the electrophotographic device, the type of toner cartridge installed can be displayed on the panel when the upper body is set in the lower body, and the type of toner cartridge installed can be displayed on the panel surface. It is possible to prevent mounting errors from occurring.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 (A) is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a developing unit in the same apparatus, and FIG. 3 (A) (b) is
A perspective view and a front view showing the arrangement and operation state of the detector in the above device, and FIG. 4 are block diagrams showing an example of an electric circuit connected to the above device. 1... Electrophotographic device main body 2... Upper main body 3.
... Lower body 12 ... Toner cartridges 13 to 15 ... Detection piece

Claims (1)

[Claims] The exposed surface of the toner cartridge of an electrophotographic apparatus is configured to be separable into two parts, an upper body and a lower body, and a toner cartridge is mounted on the lower body side, corresponding to the type of toner contained in the cartridge. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a detection piece; a detection means for detecting the detection piece; disposed at a position opposite to the detection piece of the upper main body; and a toner type display means operated by a signal from the detection means. toner management device.