JPH0264575A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a developing device housing device housing a plurality of developing devices is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, and particularly relates to an electrophotographic or static image forming apparatus. This can be suitably implemented in an electro-recording multi-color or full-color image forming apparatus.

Recently, the demand for color copying or color recording has increased rapidly not only in specialized fields but also in general office fields, and a small and simple multicolor image forming apparatus is desired.

Currently, for example, in an electrophotographic copying apparatus, there is a copying apparatus on the market in which two developing units containing different color developers are installed in one image forming apparatus to obtain two-color copies.
Or proposed.

Although such a copying device is extremely useful, if, for example, the operator wishes to obtain a color copy with a color different from that installed in the copying device, the operator can manually select the developer of the desired color. It was complicated because it had to be replaced. Furthermore, in order to eliminate this complexity, it was necessary to install developing devices for all the colors that could potentially be used inside the device, which forced the device to be larger and more expensive. .

Furthermore, a copying apparatus having such a structure has a problem in that since a plurality of developing devices are arranged around an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum, the image formation time becomes longer and the speed at which one image is formed becomes longer. Kototoru.

In order to solve the above problem, the present applicant has installed a multiple developer storage device that houses a plurality of developers in the image forming apparatus main body, and automatically connects the developer in the image forming apparatus according to the operator's request. The present invention relates to an improvement of an image forming apparatus having such a configuration.

In such an apparatus, it is extremely important to exchange information between the image forming apparatus main body and the multiple developer storage device, and therefore a communication means is provided between the two to ensure that they operate optimally. They are configured to mutually control each other.

When a multiple developer storage device is installed in the image forming apparatus main body, information such as the color and number of the developers in the multiple developer storage device is transmitted from the image forming device main body to the multiple developer storage device via a communication means. Preferably, a command is issued to perform an initial operation for understanding, initializing the state of the developing device, etc.
Disadvantages may arise if such operations are not carried out.

On the other hand, the multiple developer storage device is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and even when the multiple developer storage device is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming device main body is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is configured to be operable using a developing device housed in the . In this way, even if the multiple developer storage device is not installed in the image forming apparatus main body, if the image forming device main body is operated under the same control regardless of whether the multiple developer storage device is installed, the image This is not preferable in terms of forming operation efficiency.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication means between an image forming apparatus main body and a plurality of developing device storage devices, and to communicate whether the plurality of developing device storage devices are installed in the image forming apparatus main body or not. In.

To provide an image forming apparatus that can control the image forming body differently, improve the efficiency of image forming operation, and avoid the occurrence of inconvenient situations due to the installation of a plurality of developing device storage devices. .

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In summary, the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body having an image bearing member that forms a WI image and a developing section that develops a latent image on the gt rejection member, and a plurality of developing devices used in the developing section. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device storage means in which a plurality of developing device storage sections are formed, and a multiple developing device storage device is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. A communication means for mutually transmitting information is provided between the forming apparatus main body and the multiple developing device storage device, and when the multiple developing device storage device is installed in the image forming device main body and when it is not installed, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus main body is controlled differently.

1 Cliff 1 Next, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied in an electrophotographic copying apparatus that is capable of forming two-color or more multiple images and also capable of forming double-sided images.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the electrophotographic copying apparatus of this embodiment, a photosensitive drum 11, which is an image carrier, is rotatably supported in the direction of the arrow, and is charged by a charger 12 in the direction of -.
Thereafter, the exposure means irradiates the original image, and the image carrier 1
A latent image is formed on 1.

The exposure means may have any configuration, but in this embodiment, a lamp 3 that illuminates the original 2 placed on the original am glass l is used.
and an optical system for scanning and exposing the image of the original 2 onto the photosensitive drum 11, that is, reflecting mirrors 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.9.
and an optical system consisting of a zoom lens l0. The lamp 3 and the mirrors 4, 5, 6 move together in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined speed to scan the original 2. Exposure means equipped with an optical system are well known to those skilled in the art, so further detailed explanation will be omitted.

A developing section for visualizing the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is provided around the photosensitive drum 11. In this embodiment, the developing section contains a color developing device 13 containing color toner, and in FIG. A line ring device 13C containing toner and a black developing device 14 containing a black donor are provided. Developing device 13c, 1
4 is movable in the directions of arrows c and c'', respectively, so that it can take a developing operating position close to the photosensitive drum and a developing non-operating position spaced apart from the photosensitive drum 11. In the figure, the &i developing device 13C is in the non-developing position, and the black developing device 14 is in the developing activating position close to the photosensitive drum 11, so that the latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is visualized with black toner. A black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum ll.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to a transfer material 17 such as transfer paper by a transfer charger 15.

Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 reaches a cleaner 16, where residual toner on the drum surface is removed, and the process proceeds to the next image forming step in the same manner.

The transfer material 17 is supplied from a selected one of a plurality of, in this example two, cassettes 18.24 provided in the lower part of the device.

The transfer material 17 loaded in the cassette 18 is fed by a paper feed roller 19 to a roller pair 20, and then to a guide plate 21, 22, 28, and a feed roller pair 50. Guide plate 51
．． It reaches the registration roller 23 via 52 and 53. Similarly, the transfer material 17 loaded in the cassette 24 is fed by a paper feed roller 25 to a pair of rollers 26, and then to guide plates 27, 28, 21. Feeding roller pair 50. It reaches the registration roller 23 via guide plates 51, 52, 53.

The registration roller 23 starts rotating at a timing such that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer material 17 are aligned, and the upper transfer guide 31. The transfer material 17 is sent to the outer surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via the lower transfer guide 32.As described above, the transfer material 17 has the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 transferred by the transfer charger 15, and is separated and charged. It is separated from the surface of the drum 11 by the device 33 and sent via the conveying section 34 to the fixing device 35 having a heating roller and a pressure roller. Transfer material 17 heated and pressurized by the fixing device 35
The image above is fixed as a permanent image.

Next, the transfer material 17 is sent to the first ejection roller 36, and then reaches the second ejection roller 39 via flappers 37, 38, and is ejected out of the machine.

Next, the flow of the transfer material 17 in the double-sided image forming mode and the multiple image forming mode will be explained.

When the double-sided image forming mode is instructed to the image forming apparatus, the transfer material 17 is transferred and fixed on one side (first side) in the same manner as in the single-sided image forming mode described above. is first sent to the second discharge roller 39 and onto a tray (not shown) outside the machine. At this time, transfer material 1
When the rear end of the transfer material 17 is detected by a transfer material detection mechanism consisting of a detection lever 40 and an optical sensor 41, and a predetermined period of time has passed since then, that is, when the rear end of the transfer material 17 passes the flapper 38, the second discharge roller 39 starts to reverse the transfer material 17
was sent back into the plane.

As a result, the transfer material 17 is transferred to the flapper 38 with the rear end first.
Then, through the left slope of the flapper '37 and the guide plate 42, and further through the guide plates 43 and 44, the second
The paper is sent to the roller 45 with the surface facing up.

Thereafter, the transfer material 17 passes through the rollers 46 and reaches the horizontal registration rollers 47. At this point, the lateral registration roller 47 has stopped, and after the transfer material 17 has completely abutted against the roller 47, the rollers 45 and 48 also stop. The transfer material 17 is now in a standby state for the image forming operation on the second surface.

Next, when an image forming signal for the second side is issued, the horizontal registration roller 47 starts rotating and sends the transfer material 17 to the registration roller 23 via the guide plate 49.51.The transfer material 17 arrives at the registration roller 23. Transfer material 1 before
The side edge of the transfer material 17 is detected by an optical sensor (not shown), and the Maki registration roller 47 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the transfer material 17 so that the side edge is at the same position as when forming the image on the first surface. That is, the transfer material 1 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
Correct the lateral position of 7. The operation after the transfer material 17 reaches the registration roller 23 is the same as in the case of single-sided image formation, and the transfer material 17 with the image formed on the second side is finally removed from the machine by the second discharge roller 39. is ejected onto the tray.

Next, a case where a multiple image forming mode is instructed to one image forming apparatus will be explained. When the multiple image formation mode is instructed, the first image formation is performed in the same manner as in the case of single-sided image formation. However, the flapper 37 is located in the state shown by the broken line after the first image formation, and therefore, the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 with the front end first, and the transfer material 17 is sent out by the first discharge roller 36 to the right of the flapper 37. It is fed along the slope to guides 42.43 and then via guides 43.44 to rollers 45. Thereafter, the transfer material 17 passes through the rollers 46 and reaches the horizontal registration rollers 47.

The rear end of the transfer material 17 is detected by the detection lever 40 and the optical sensor 41, and after a predetermined period of time, the flapper 37 returns to the position indicated by the solid line. Then, when the second image forming signal is issued, the horizontal registration rollers 47 start rotating.
The movement of the transfer material 17 at this time is the same as in the case of image formation on the second side of the double-sided image formation described above.

Transfer material 1 on which the second image formation was performed in this way
7 is finally discharged onto a tray outside the machine by the second discharge roller 39.

Note that although the explanation has been given regarding multiple image formation twice, the transfer material 17 can also be used for multiple image formation more frequently.
The movements are basically the same. However, in such a case, the return of the flapper 37 from the broken line position to the solid line position is performed before the final image formation.

Next,)1. Image forming apparatus main body 1 configured as shown below.
The multiple developing device storage device tto detachably installed outside the 00 will be described.

In this embodiment, there is only one multiple developing device storage device 110.

When it is desired to form a color image using a color developing device other than the black developing device 14 fixedly installed in the developing section of the image forming apparatus main body 100, the desired color developing device is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 1.
00, that is, the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11.

The multiple developer storage device 110 has an outer housing tti provided with mounting means (not shown) that can be attached to and detached from one image forming apparatus, and a vertical direction (Y direction) with respect to the outer housing 111. It has a developing device storage means, ie, a storage case l12, which is movably supported and has a plurality of storage portions for storing a plurality of developing devices.

As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage case 112 has four vertical frames 113a, b, and c.
, d, and both side plates 114a, b provided between the frames 113a, d and 113b, d. Predetermined openings are formed as necessary in the two side plates, and the frames 113a, d and 113b, d are provided with side plates 114a, d. However, the detailed shapes of the side plates are omitted in the accompanying drawings.

Furthermore, the storage case 112 is divided into three parts by partition plates 115a, b, and c placed between the two side plates 114a and b.
In this embodiment, there are three developing device storage sections 151A, B, and C. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Or four or more are formed.

On the developer storage portions 151A, 151B, and 151c, there are color developers storing different color toners, for example, a red developer 13A storing red toner.

A blue current device 13B containing blue toner and a line ring device 13c containing green toner are housed so as to be movable in the left and right direction in FIG. In order to smoothly move within the storage case, each developing device is preferably provided with a guide member 116 at the bottom and configured to slide within a guide rail 117 provided on a partition plate.

As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the multiple developer storage device ito is moved in the vertical direction by storage case moving means Y, and a desired color developer is loaded by this case moving means Y. The storage section 151 placed therein is stopped in line with the loading port 55 on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and then a desired color developing device is transported into the main body 100 by the developing device moving means X.

The case moving means Y for moving the developing device storage case 112 in the vertical direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The storage case 112 has vertical frames 113a and 113b.
A rack 118 is provided on the side facing the image forming apparatus main body 100.
a and 118b are fixed.

On the other hand, pinions 119 are provided in the racks 118a and 118b.
a and 119b are in mesh with each other, and both pinions are attached to the rotating shaft 12.
They are connected at 0. Also, the pinion 119b is the gear 1
21 and meshes with the output gear 122 of the vertical motor M2. Therefore, the rotational output of the vertical motor M2 is transmitted to the racks 118a and 118b of the storage case 112, and the storage case 112 is moved in the upward and downward directions shown in FIG.
move in the wn) direction.

The vertical home position of the storage case 112 is determined by the home position sensor 12 consisting of a flag 125m provided on the storage case 112 and a sensor, that is, a photointerrupter 125b attached to the outer housing.
Controlled by 5.

Further, the position of each stage of the storage case 112 is determined by the output count of the encoder of the vertical motor M2 from the position of the home position sensor 125, or by the count of a timer.

As will be explained in more detail later, color developing devices 13A, 13B, and 13c are placed on each stage within the storage case 112.
What is the color development function of the color developer, that is, the color recognition of the color developer,
And whether or not a developing device is stored in each stage, that is, the presence or absence of a developing device, can be determined by moving the storage case 112 up and down using the case moving means Y by checking the color detection marks 180A, B, and C attached to the side of each color developing device. The color detection sensor 181 provided in the outer housing ill detects the color by moving the color in the direction. The color detection sensor tat is configured to read and output information from the color detection mark 180 using a reflective photointerrupter.

Next, regarding the developing device moving means X for moving the developing device in the selected developing device storage section from the developing device storage case 112 into the image forming apparatus main body 100 or from the outside to the developing device storage case 112. explain.

Particularly with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the developing device moving means or the developing device 13 is shown in FIGS.
A storage case! The moving means 131A horizontally moves between the 12 storage sections 151C and the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the developing device 13c carried into the 1 image forming apparatus main body 100 is stored in the developing section near the photosensitive drum 11 and the storage case 112. A moving means 131 for horizontally moving between the parts 151B and 151B.
B, and a moving means 131c for horizontally moving between the storage section 151b of the storage case 112 and the outside.

As can be understood from FIG. 4, the developing device moving means 131A is a developing device loaded in a storage section corresponding to the entrance 55 to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and in FIG. They are installed symmetrically at corresponding positions. The developer moving means 131A includes color developer drive gears 132a and 132b that mesh with racks 135a and 135b provided on the side surface of the developer 13c. The developer driving teeth $132a and 132b are each a gear 133a.

133b, l wheels 134a, 134b, bevel gear 135a,
135b, bevel gears 136a, 136b, and belt drive transmission device 137, the rotational force of horizontal motor M1 is transmitted. Incidentally, the developing unit driving gear 132 is connected from the horizontal motor M1.
The intermittent rotational force transmitted to a and 132b is controlled by clutch CL.
Controlled by 2.

Further, in the developing device horizontal moving means 131A, the developing device driving gears 132a and 132b are the rack 135a of the developing device 13G,
The developer storage case 112 is biased by a spring means (not shown) so as to mesh with the developer case 135b, and the developer storage case 112 is moved in the up force direction and the down direction shown in FIG. 2 by the developer vertical movement means Y. In this case, in order to prevent the horizontal moving means 131A from interfering with the color developing device vertical moving means Y, the developing device horizontal moving means 131A is connected to the solenoids 5Lla and 5.
It is separated from the storage case 112 at Llb (the fourth
figure).

Therefore, sensors 170a and 170b are arranged on the horizontal movement means 131A to detect when the means is sufficiently separated from the storage case 112. sensor 170
a and 1°70b are known photointerrupters.

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the developing device horizontal moving means 131B is a rack 1 provided on the upper surface of the developing device 13C.
Color developer drive gear 56a meshing with 38a and 138b
, 56b. The developing device driving gears 56a, 56b
The rotational force of the motor M1 is transmitted through the gears 57a, 57b and the belt drive transmission device 58, respectively.

Incidentally, the developing unit driving gears 56a, 56 are connected to the horizontal motor M1.
The on/off of the rotational force transmitted to b is controlled by clutch CLI.

Similarly, the developing device horizontal moving means 131c moves the developing device 1
It has color developer driving gears 161a and 161b that mesh with racks 138a and 138b provided on the upper surface of the color developing device 3c. The rotational force of the horizontal motor M1 is transmitted to the developing device driving gears 181a and 181b via the belt drive transmission device 162, and the developing device driving gears 161a and 181b are transmitted from the horizontal motor M1 to the developing device driving gears 161a and 181b.
The on/off of the rotational force transmitted to 161b is controlled by clutch CL3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control section of an image forming apparatus equipped with a multiple developer storage device according to the present invention configured as described above. Only relevant parts are specified.

The control section is composed of a control fi (hereinafter referred to as "main body control section") 203 of one image forming apparatus and a control section 200 of the multiple developer storage device 150. Control is performed by exchanging abnormality data, color information of the color developing device, etc. using data communication (serial communication) well known to those skilled in the art.

The main body control section 203 includes a pressure drive clutch for pressurizing the color developing device 13 transferred into the main body by the control @200 onto the photosensitive drum 11, and a pressure driving clutch for applying pressure to the photosensitive drum 11 by the color developing device 13 carried into the main body of the image apparatus. a color code signal CNa of the color developing device 13, which is input by being connected to the device connector CN;
It controls CN7b, CNc and one main body operation section 204.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body operation unit 204 is a man-machine interface for inputting a start key (copy key) for image formation and inputting/outputting various information.
This will be explained in more detail later.

The control fi200 of the multiple developer storage device is controlled by the main body control section 2.
Color developer 13 is activated by communication data sent from 03.
control for transporting the color developing device 13 near the photosensitive drum 11 of the main body of the image forming apparatus into the storage case 112 of the multiple developer storage device; Control for transporting the color developer 113 to the vicinity of the door 171 of the storage device, control for transporting the color developer 113 manually brought into the vicinity of the door 171 to the storage case 112 and fixing it, and storage. Control for reading the color detection mark 180 of the color developing device 13 in the case 112 from the output from the color detection sensor tat and transmitting the data to the main body control section, and a display operation section 20 to be described later.
5 to storage sections 151A, 151B, 1 of storage case 112
LEDs 224a, 224b, 2 that display colors in 51c
It performs control such as lighting up lights 24c and 224d.

Further, the control unit 200 controls the motor M1. It also performs control to detect abnormalities in M2 and transmit error data to the main body control section.

The control unit 200 includes human power and solenoids for each of the sensors,
A known input circuit and drive circuit for controlling the clutch, controller 201 of said horizontal motor Ml. It is composed of an I/F (interface) circuit with the controller 202 of the vertical motor M2, a circuit for communicating with the main body control section, an LED drive circuit of the operation section 205, and a key input circuit.

The horizontal motor controller 201 includes a known PLL circuit that controls the speed of the horizontal motor M1, and a horizontal motor M1 that controls the speed of the horizontal motor M1.
It consists of a circuit that drives Control signals from the control unit 200 to the horizontal motor controller 201 include a start signal ON to rotate the motor, a signal F/B to determine the rotation direction of the motor, a BLK signal to brake the rotation of the motor, and a BLK signal to brake the rotation of the motor. A clock signal CLK of a frequency shell to be determined is input. The F/B signal that determines the rotational direction of the motor is the F/B signal of the developing device horizontal movement means.
This corresponds to the d direction (the direction from the developer storage device to the main body of the image forming apparatus) and the Back direction (the direction from the developer storage device to the outside).

The vertical motor controller 202 receives an ON signal from the control unit 20G to drive the vertical motor M2, and a signal to determine the rotational direction of the motor (the U/D signal corresponds to the up and down directions of the developing unit moving means Y). ), and BLK and CLK signals similar to the horizontal motor controller 201 are input.

FIG. 6 shows the operation section 204 of the main body image forming apparatus and the operation section 205 of the multiple developer storage device.

The input switches (keys) in the main body operation section 204 are 2 power switch 213, numeric keypad 205. Clear/stop key 2 for stopping input values and image formation
09. A reset key 206 for canceling the mode entered by the key person Canilia 214 for inputting special modes such as the multiple copy mode, a color selection key 217 for the developer, and a supply of the storage cassette 18 and 24 for the transfer material 17. It consists of a cassette (selection) key 208 for selecting paper.

In addition, an operation unit 204 as a man-machine interface
A liquid crystal display section 215 displays the size of the paper stored in the cassette 18 and 24 and the state of copying (image formation), and an LE displays the color of the selected developing device.
D210 (black), 211a (red), 211b (blue),
It consists of 211c (brown) and 211d (green).

The operating section 225 shown in FIG. 6 is connected to the storage case 112 (
7) 5 select key 220 for selecting each storage section 151A, 151B, 151C. Eject instructs to transfer the developing device to the vicinity of the drum 171 of the multiple developing device storage device
key 221. 5elect display LEDs 223a and 22 that display the storage section specified by the 5eled key 220;
3b, 223c, a color display LED 2 that displays the color of the developer L in the storage section specified by the 5 select key 220;
24a (red), 224b (blue), 224c (brown), 2
24d (green), and LED 2 to indicate that the color developing device is being transferred.
It consists of 22.

Next, the main operating mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained.

φHorizontal Direction Carrying Sequence Referring to FIG. 8 and FIGS.
The case where the image is guided to the developing section provided near the image forming apparatus 1 will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, by the action of the vertical moving means Y, the storage portion 151c is moved to the position of the main body loading port 55. Each developer.

Therefore, the developing device 13c also has a developing device lock pawl 165a provided on both side plates 114a and 114b.

165b is a recess 186 formed on the upper surface of the developing device 13c.
It is fixed to the storage portion 151c by engaging with the portions a and 166b.

First, the developing device locking pawls 165a, 165b are released from the color developing device 13c by the developing device lock releasing solenoids 5L2a, SL2b (step 500). After driving the color developing device lock releasing solenoids 5L2a, 5L2b, The horizontal motor 1'40 is rotated to drive the horizontal moving means 131A. At this time, solenoid SLl&
, 5LIb is also deactivated, and the horizontal movement means 131A
is applied to the developer @13C in the storage section 151C.

By rotating the driving gears 132a and 132b in the direction f, the developing device 13c is transferred to the main body loading port 55. The passage of the developing device is detected (step 504), and as a result, the clutch CLI is activated, and the horizontal moving means 131B is activated by the horizontal motor Ml (step 505), and the developing device 13 is activated.
C is transferred to the developing section near the photosensitive drum 11 by gears 56a and 56b.

At this time, the developer pressurizing levers Boa and Bob inside the first image forming apparatus main body 100 are pressed against the black developing device 14 inside the apparatus I main body.
is pressurized, and does not interfere with the transfer of the developing device 13c.

In this state, the developer 13c moved into the image forming apparatus main body 100 is connected to the developer connector CNg in the main body, and an input signal CNc from the developer connector CN is transmitted to the main body control section 203.

Thereafter, the developing device 13 is
When image formation is performed in step c, the pressure lever B
oa and 60b are rotated, and the black developing device 14 is connected to the photosensitive drum 11.
The developer 3113c is moved further away, and the developer 3113c is pressurized and set to the developer operating position.

・Horizontal direction unloading sequence Next, as shown in FIG. 9 and wIJ2 to FIG.
We will explain the case of transferring to.

If the developing device 130 is pressurized against the photosensitive drum 11 inside the apparatus main body 100 and set at the developing operation position, the pressure levers 60a and 60b are rotated to release the developing device 13G.Next, the horizontal motor M1 Rotate the clutch CLI
The gear 58 for transporting the developing device of the horizontal moving means 131B
a, rotate 58b (step 508), developing device 13
C moves horizontally toward the storage case 112.

Along with the rotation of the developing unit conveying gear 56, the horizontal moving means 13
1A also operates, and the developing device 13c is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
from there into the storage section 151C of the storage case 112.

The developer 13c is detected by a horizontal home position sensor 170 such as a photointerrupter to be carried into the storage case (step 509), and is stopped after moving a predetermined distance (step 511), and at the same time the developer is unlocked. By releasing the lenses 5L2a and 5L2b, the developer lock levers 165a and 185b lock the developer 13C.
is fixed in the storage portion 151 (step 512), and the developer lock sensor 167a indicates that the developer 13c is fixed.
, 167b.

Horizontal Door Closing Sequence As shown in FIG. 2, the multiple developer storage device is provided with a door 171 on the outer housing 111 to allow developers to enter the storage device from the outside. , the door 1
71 is detected by the door switch 172 and input to the control unit 200.

Next, referring to FIG. 10 and FIG.
This section explains how to manually transport the product into the 0.

After opening the door 171 and manually carrying the developer 13C into the storage section 151C of the multiple developer storage device, the door 171 is opened.
When the developer detection sensor 17 is closed (step 513), the developer detection sensor 17
4a and 174b detect whether or not the developing device 13C has been carried in (step 514). If it has been carried in, the horizontal motor M1 and clutch CL3 are driven to drive the conveying gear 16.
1 a.

161b and at the same time, solenoid 5LIa, 5
By releasing Llb and activating the horizontal moving means 131A, the developing device 13c is transferred into the storage section 151C (steps 515 to 517).

The position of the developing device 13C carried into the storage case 112 is detected by the horizontal home position sensor 175 (
Step 518), the horizontal motor Ml is reversed by the position detection (step 519), and the developing device 13c is stopped after being moved a predetermined distance according to the horizontal direction unloading sequence described with reference to FIG. 520)
.

The horizontal door closing sequence described here is always executed as a protection sequence immediately before the vertical sequence for moving the storage case in the vertical direction. Further, when the door is opened, the drive source of each motor is cut off and becomes immobile.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the configuration of the developing device detection sensors 174a, b and the horizontal home position sensors 175a, 175b. According to this embodiment, these sensors are directly connected to the actuating piece 178a and Developer detection lever (flag) 176b! ! i&, and the photointerrupter 177 is activated by the flag.

Exposure Horizontal Direction External Removal Sequence Next, with reference to FIG. 11 and FIGS. 2 to 4, a case in which the developing device 13C is taken out from the multiple developing device storage device 110 of the present invention will be described.

Step 522) to drive the developer lock release solenoids 5L2a and 5L2b, the developer lock lever 185a,
165b from the developing device (step 523), then the horizontal motor Ml is moved wA, and the Teso L//ide 5Lla and 5Llb are released, and the horizontal moving means 131A,
131B, the developing device 13c is driven a predetermined distance toward the door 171 (step 524).
- 526), whereby the developing device 13c is transferred to the vicinity of the door 171 (step 527), making it easy to take it out from the storage device.

O Developing Device Replacement Sequence The operation of the developing device replacement sequence when a copy color is specified on the image forming apparatus main body side will be explained with particular reference to FIG.

When a color is designated using the developer color selection key on the main body operation section 204 (step 528), the designated color developer is carried into the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the developer exchange sequence shown in FIG.

Color code signals CNa, C input to the main body control unit 203
The color of the color developing device in the main body determined by Nb and CNc and the color of the developing device in each stage housed in the storage case 112 are compared with the specified color (step 529), and the color of the developing device in the main device is specified. If the colors are equal, the developer exchange sequence ends.0 If there is no color developer in the main body, the process proceeds to step 534.The explanation of steps 534 and subsequent steps will be described later.

? If the tt main body has a color developer different from the specified color, search for an empty stage in the storage case 112 (step 53).
0) At this time, there is a method of preferentially searching from the upper and lower stages, but searching from the lower stage has the advantage that the moving distance of the storage case 112 is shorter.

Next, the storage case 112 is moved in the vertical direction according to the above-described vertical movement sequence, and the empty case is stopped at a position corresponding to the outlet 55 (step 531).
After the developing device in the main body is stored in a predetermined storage section of the storage case 112 in the carry-out sequence shown in FIG. 9, the storage case 112 is returned to the vertical home position (steps 532 and 533).

Next, the storage case is moved in the vertical direction, and the storage section containing the designated color developing device is aligned with the developing device loading position (step 534).Then, the developing device is loaded into the main body according to the loading sequence shown in FIG. 148. (Step 535)
.

Image forming apparatus main body 100 side and multiple developer storage device 111
Since the communication with 0 ends here, the image forming apparatus main body 100 may start the image forming operation.

The multiple developer storage device 110 is then returned to the home position (step 53B).

With this method, all the developing devices stored in the multiple developing device storage device fillo can be installed one after another into one main unit, making it possible to make multicolor copies such as blue, red, black, and brown. It is.

Sequence for taking out the developing device from the outside Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the sequence for taking out the developing device from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the multiple developing device storage device 110 will be described.

Select the color of the developing device to be taken out using the 5 select key 220 on the storage device operation section 225 (step 537
), by pressing the eject key 221, the color developer to be taken out is determined, and it is determined whether it is in the image forming apparatus main body lOO or in the multiple developer storage device 1110 (step 538).

If it is inside the image forming apparatus main body, the storage case 112
(step 539), and move the developing device into the storage case 112 according to the horizontal unloading sequence shown in FIG. 9 (step 540). If the desired developing device is in the multiple developing device storage device 110, the storage section in which the desired developing device is stored is similarly moved to the unloading position that coincides with the unloading port 55 (step 541).

Next, in both of the above cases, the developer is moved to the front of the door 171 by the horizontal extraction sequence shown in FIG. 11 (step 542), and then the operator opens the door 171 and takes the developer outside. and can be taken out.

・Initialization sequence Next, referring to FIG. 14, the following steps are performed when the power is turned on.
The operation of the initialization sequence for checking the color of the developer stored in each storage part of the multiple developer storage device and the presence or absence of the developer will be described.

First, the developer is fixed at a predetermined position in the storage case 112 by the door closing sequence explained in FIG.
Step 544), Next, the vertical home position sensor 125 determines whether the storage case 112 is at the home position or not (Step 545). If it is not at the home position, the vertical moving means Y is driven to move the storage case 112 to the vertical home position. , return to position (steps 546, 547)
.

Subsequently, the vertical motor M2 of the vertical moving means Y is driven to drive the storage case 112 downward until the count is counted up (step 548).

According to the present invention, as will be described in more detail later, color detection marks 180AB and 180C are attached to the side surface of each developing unit, and the color detection marks are detected by the color detection sensor 181 (step 550). The detection signal is input to the control section 200.

Finally, the vertical motor M2 is driven upward to return the storage case 112 to the home position (step 552,
553).

- Cooperative operation between the image forming apparatus and the developing device storage device Next, the cooperative operation between the image forming device and the developing device storage device when forming one image will be explained.

A color is selected using the color selection key 217 on the operation section 204 of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a copy mode is set using other keys. If the one-color developer is replaced at this point, the color may be changed before the copy key 207 is pressed, so determine the color developer to be used at the time the copy key 207 is pressed. The process moves to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG.

When two or more colors are used, priority is given to the color developing device in one image forming apparatus main body, thereby reducing the time required to replace the developing device. Moreover, the image forming apparatus main body 10
0 is during the wait-up period, such as immediately after turning on the power, it is possible to replace the color developer selected with the color selection key, pressurize the color developer inside the main body, or even change the color developer unit. Performing operations such as pre-stirring is effective in shortening the time when the color developing device is used.

When a new developing device is installed at the time of replacing the developing device, the movement of the storage case 112 is unrelated to the copying sequence of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the copying sequence can begin before the storage case 112 returns to its vertical home position.

During the copying sequence, if it is determined that transfer paper and toner particles need to be replenished, color selection on the main body operation unit 204 is performed in order to prohibit the replacement of the developing devices in the main body of the image forming apparatus and in the multiple developing device storage device ztto. Input of the key 217 and the Ejeat key 221 of the operation unit 225 of the storage device 110 is prohibited.

This is to ensure a developer for the designated color when restarting the copying sequence.

- Manual feed sequence According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multiple developer storage device 110 includes a paper feed roller 191 for one manual feed.
．． 192 and guide plates 193, 194, 195, 196
A manual paper feed unit is provided, and the transfer paper manually fed by the manual paper feed unit is fed to a manual paper feed roller 54 provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus, and fed to the image forming process. Door 1 is installed on the outer housing 111 of the multiple developer storage device ITO for maintenance of the manual paper feed section.
97 and a door opening/closing detection switch 198 are arranged.

Referring to FIG. 15, when the manual paper detection sensor 190 provided in the manual paper feed unit detects that paper has been inserted into the manual paper feed unit, it drives the horizontal motor Ml (staple 554). The paper feed rollers 191 and 192 are driven by the clutch CL4 (not shown) (step 5).
5B), and when the manual paper feed section is in fjA operation, clutch C
Due to L2, the horizontal moving means 131A and 131B are configured so that the drive of the horizontal motor Ml is not transmitted to them.

Also, f! When driving the direct motor M2 and the horizontal motor Ml, they are always driven after making the determination shown in the horizontal and vertical simultaneous drive prohibition flow shown in FIG. Although this makes it impossible to drive the developing unit in the horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously, it is possible to drive the manual paper feed section and move the storage case 112 in the vertical direction simultaneously.

If the specified color developing device is not in the main body, the manual feed paper is pulled in by the paper feed roller 191 to the position of the paper feed roller 192, and then the driving of the horizontal motor M1 is switched to the developer conveyance side, and the drive of the horizontal motor M1 is switched to the developer conveying side, as shown in FIG. After pre-stirring the zero-color developing device whose developing device is to be replaced according to the developing device replacement sequence shown in FIG.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above, as shown in FIG. Information is exchanged by serial communication, which is well known to those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, as described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention achieves various operation sequences by exchanging information through the communication means formed between the image forming unit and the multiple developing device storage device. However, in particular, when a multiple developer storage device is installed in an image forming apparatus, the developer stored in each storage section of the multiple developer storage device must be loaded before the main body of the image forming apparatus is operated. In other words, it is necessary to execute the initialization sequence described in connection with FIG.

In other words, the initialize fist sequence must be completed before the user of the image forming apparatus selects the desired color and starts the image forming operation. The control flow at this time should be executed at the same time as the first
It is shown in Figure 7.

When the image forming apparatus main body 100 is powered on, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body is initialized (step 300,
301) Next, it is determined whether the multiple developer storage device 11O is installed in the image forming device main body 100 by serial communication, which is a communication means provided between the image forming device main body 100 and the multiple developer storage device 1tto. If the multiple developer storage device 110 is installed (step 302), the color of the developer stored in each storage section of the multiple developer storage device and the presence or absence of the developer are still determined at this time. (number) is not known, color selection and mode setting are prohibited (step 303), and an initialization command for the multiple developer storage device 1110 is issued (step 304).
As a result, the initialization sequence described in connection with FIG. 14 is executed.

When it is confirmed through the communication means that the initialization sequence has been completed (step 305), color selection and mode setting are permitted (step 306), and the image forming mW main body 100 enters a normal standby state.

Image formation? When the multiple developer storage device 110 is installed in the main body, by introducing the above control, it is possible to eliminate omissions in setting the color desired by the user.

Further, the developing device 13 used in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention
When the developer used is a two-component developer consisting of toner and a magnetic carrier, it has a toner storage section 80 and a developer storage section 82, as shown in FIG. The toner T supplied from the toner storage section 80 by the toner supply member 81 is mixed with the existing developer by the stirring and conveying members 83 and 84 of the developer storage section 82, and is stirred to achieve a uniform developer concentration. It is supplied to the developing roller 85.

In addition, it is important that the developer in the developing device is evened out internally in order to detect the remaining amount.Furthermore, in order to make the concentration of the developer uniform, the developer is sufficiently stirred, and the developer is It is extremely important that the rollers be supplied with sufficient developer.

Therefore, if a multiple developer storage device is not installed in the image forming apparatus main body, the developing devices installed in the image forming apparatus main body are sufficiently agitated, for example, when the image forming apparatus main body 100 is powered on. . However, when a multiple developer storage device is installed in the main body of an image forming apparatus, the developer devices in the multiple developer storage device are easily shaken when replacing the developer devices, and the developer devices are frequently put in and taken out. Therefore, the state of the developer inside the developing device cannot be determined from the outside.

Therefore, the developer carried into the main body of the image forming apparatus from the multiple developer storage device in the horizontal carry-in sequence explained in connection with FIG. It is necessary to perform a stirring sequence to obtain a normal state in terms of distribution and concentration distribution.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the developing device agitation sequence.6 During the image forming operation, when a color is selected and an image forming operation start command is issued, the flow of the first embodiment is called (step 310), and the developing device A stirring sequence is performed.

If the multiple developer storage device 1110 is not installed in the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming unit 13 and the developing units 13 in the apparatus main body are stirred when the power is turned on, so the process immediately proceeds to image forming operation (step 311). If the multiple developer storage device 110 is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100, it is determined whether one selected designated color developer has already been carried into the image forming apparatus main body (step 312), if it is inside the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming operation will proceed as is, but if there is no developing device for the desired designated color inside the image forming apparatus main body, multiple developing units will be activated. A color developer replacement operation request command is issued to the developer housing atto (step 313), and the developer replacement sequence described in FIG. 12 is executed.

When the developer replacement operation is completed (step 314), the desired color developer 13 is set at a predetermined position. In this state, the gears that drive the developer stirring and conveying members 83 and 84 of the developing device 13 are meshed with the driving gear 99 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the stirring and transporting members 83 and 84 in the developing device are meshed with each other. The driving gear 99 is driven by the operation request command, and the stirring operation of the developer stirring and conveying members 83 and 84 of the developing device is started (step 315).

By executing such a developing device stirring sequence, the developing devices 13 are carried into the image forming apparatus main body 100 from the multiple developing device storage device 110.

Before the development operation is started, the state of the developer inside the developer is brought to a normal state, and it is possible to obtain a high-quality image with a good development state.

Further, this embodiment includes a sequence of waiting before starting the image forming operation if the multiple developing device storage device 110 is installed when forming an image using color developing devices.

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication means between the image forming apparatus main body and the multiple developing device storage device, and the multiple developing device storage device is connected to the image forming device main body. The image forming apparatus main body is controlled differently depending on whether it is installed or not, and a special sequence is executed during the sequence of the image forming apparatus main body, thereby improving image forming operation efficiency. , and the inconvenient 88 caused by installing a multiple developer storage device.
This has the advantage of being able to avoid the occurrence of

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The first factor is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the multiple developing device storage device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a drive system of the multiple developing device storage device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a drive system of the multiple developer storage device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control mode of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the operation section of the image forming apparatus main body and the multiple developing unit storage device of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view showing one embodiment of the developing device detection sensor. 8 to 16 are flowcharts illustrating the main operating modes of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a flow diagram showing a control mode of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a developing device used in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the control m1 of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Y: Developing device accommodating means Moving means 1: Image carriers 3A, B, C: Color developing device 4: Black developing device 00: Image forming apparatus main body 1O: Multiple developing device accommodating device 11: Outer housing 12: Developing device accommodating device 51A, B, C: Developing device housing section 80A, B, C: Color detection mark: Developing device moving means Fig. 4 Fig. 10 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 12 Fig. 14 Fig. 16 Fig. 17 Fig. 19 figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An image forming apparatus main body having an image carrier that forms a latent image and a developing device that develops the latent image on the image carrier, and a plurality of developing devices capable of accommodating a plurality of developing devices used in the developing section. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device storage means in which a developing device storage section is formed, and a multiple developing device storage device is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the image forming device main body and the multiple developing device storage device are detachably attached to the image forming device main body. A communication means for mutually transmitting information is provided between the multiple developing device storage device and the image forming device main body to control the image forming device main body when the multiple developing device storage device is installed in the image forming device main body and when it is not installed in the image forming device main body. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus has different characteristics.