JPH0525457U - Toner sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a toner sensor that does not require an input / output connector and lead wires, is inexpensive, and is easy to assemble. 1. A case 17 has a storage section 171 containing a signal processing section, a toner detection section 173 at the bottom, and a circuit board 172 led out from the inside of the storage section 171 to an external lead-out section 174. The holes 175 to 177 are provided at intervals corresponding to the number of output terminals. Input / output terminal 18
No. 20 to No. 20 are connected to the signal processing unit inside the storage unit 171, each of the conductor patterns formed on the circuit board 172 is extended to the external lead-out unit 174, and the holes 175 to 175 are provided.
Lands 181 and 19 for connecting external wiring around 177
1 and 201.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a toner sensor used for detecting the toner concentration in an electrophotographic developer.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As illustrated in FIG. 7, this type of toner sensor includes a toner detection element 1, a signal processing unit 2, an input terminal 3 and an output terminal 4. Reference numeral 5 is an adjusting portion, 6 is a toner, and 7 is a magnetic carrier. The toner detection element 1 outputs an electric signal according to the toner concentration in the electrophotographic developer, which is a mixture of the toner 6 and the magnetic carrier 7. As a typical example, the toner concentration is detected as an inductance change. A known type, a type that detects a change in capacitance, or a type that detects a change in vibration characteristics of a piezoelectric element is known.

The signal processing unit 2 outputs a toner concentration detection signal based on the electric force signal input from the toner detection unit 1. Regarding the signal processing section 2, various circuits corresponding to the detection method of the toner detection element 1 have been proposed and put into practical use.

The input terminal 3 is electrically connected to the signal processing unit 2 and supplies the signal processing unit 2 with power and the like necessary for operation. The output terminal 4 is also electrically connected to the signal processing unit 2 and is used as an output end of the toner concentration detection signal output from the signal processing unit 2.

The adjusting unit 5 gives a control signal for sensitivity adjustment, level adjustment, or the like to the signal processing unit 2.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional toner sensor, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the same. Reference numeral 8 is a case, 9 is a connector which constitutes the input terminal 3 and the output terminal 4 of FIG. 7, and 10 is an adjuster which constitutes the adjusting unit 5 of FIG.

The case 8 is made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic and has a storage portion 81 and mounting portions 82 and 83. The storage section 81 contains the signal processing section 2 of FIG. Further, a toner detecting portion 84 is provided so as to project from the bottom surface side of the storage portion 81, and the toner detecting element 1 of FIG. 7 is arranged inside the toner detecting portion 84. The mounting portions 82 and 83 are provided at appropriate positions such as both sides of the storage portion 81, and have mounting holes 85 and 86 in their surfaces.

The input / output connector 9 has lead wires 111, 112, 113 having appropriate lengths, and the lead wires 111 to 113 are guided to the inside of the accommodating portion 81 and are connected to the signal processing portion 2 shown in FIG. It is electrically connected. The adjuster 10 is composed of, for example, a variable resistor, and has lead wires 121, 122, 123 having appropriate lengths, and the lead wires 121, 122, 123 are guided to the inside of the storage section 81 to perform signal processing. It is electrically connected to the section.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the above-described conventional toner sensor mounting structure, in which 13 is a toner sensor and 14 is a developer container. The toner sensor 13 is arranged so that the toner detection portion 84 projects into the developer container 14, and the outer surface of the developer container 14 is connected by the coupling tools 15 and 16 such as screws having the mounting holes 85 and 86 inserted therethrough. Is attached to.

[0010]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional toner sensor shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has the following problems. (A) The input / output connector 9 and the lead wires 111 to 113 are essential. Therefore, the cost is high. (B) As described with reference to FIG. 10, the toner sensor 13 is attached to the outer surface of the developer accommodating container 14 by the coupling members 15 and 16 such as screws having the mounting holes 85 and 86 inserted, and then the lead wire is attached. It is necessary to draw the connectors 111 to 113 to guide the connector 9 to a predetermined connection position and connect it to an external connector (not shown). An electrophotographic copying machine, etc., in which a toner sensor is incorporated is a typical high-density mounting device and has a small space space. Therefore, the workability of assembling the conventional toner sensor, which involves the work of connecting and connecting the connector 9, deteriorates.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, to provide a toner sensor that does not require an input / output connector and a lead wire, is inexpensive, and is easy to assemble. is there.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a toner sensor including a case and an input / output terminal, wherein the case has a storage section and a circuit board, and the storage section has a signal processing section. It has a built-in toner detection section at the bottom, and the signal processing section outputs a toner concentration detection signal based on an input signal input from the toner detection section, and the circuit board moves from the inside of the storage section to the outside. The external lead-out portion has holes at a number corresponding to the number of the input / output terminals at intervals, and the input / output terminals are composed of a conductor pattern formed on the circuit board. Each of the conductor patterns is connected to the signal processing unit inside the storage unit, extends to the external lead-out unit of the circuit board, and has a land for connecting an external wiring around the hole. Characterized by To.

[0013]

[Action]

 In the case, the circuit board is led out from the inside of the storage part and has holes at the outer lead part at intervals, so that the case inside the hole provided in the circuit board is installed in the electrophotographic copying machine. The toner sensor can be fixed to the electrophotographic copying machine side by a screw or other coupling tool that is inserted through.

In addition, the case has holes in the external lead-out portion, the number of which corresponds to the number of input / output terminals at intervals, and the input / output terminals are composed of conductor patterns formed on the circuit board. Since each of the conductor patterns is connected to the signal processing section inside the storage section and has a land for connecting an external wiring around the hole, it can be installed in an electrophotographic copying machine or the like. , The toner sensor is fixed to the electrophotographic copying machine side by a fastener such as a screw inserted through the hole provided on the circuit board, and at the same time, the external wiring is electrically connected to the land formed around the hole. Can be made

That is, the fixing of the toner sensor and the electrical connection can be achieved at the same time by utilizing the coupling tool inserted through the hole provided in the circuit board. For this reason, the lead wires and input / output connectors, which have been indispensable in the past, are unnecessary.

In the case, the accommodating section has a signal processing section built-in, the bottom has a toner detecting section, and the signal processing section outputs a toner concentration detection signal based on an input signal input from the toner detecting section. Since each of the conductor patterns that make up the I / O terminals is connected to the signal processing unit inside the storage unit, the bottom is attached to the electrophotographic copying machine side to detect the toner concentration, and at the same time, the power is supplied through the I / O terminals. A toner sensor that obtains the supply and toner concentration detection signals is obtained.

[0017]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toner sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the same. Reference numeral 17 is a case, and 18 to 20 are input / output terminals including an input terminal and an output terminal.

The case 17 has a storage portion 171 and a circuit board 172. The storage unit 171 has a signal processing unit (see FIG. 7) built therein and a toner detection unit 173 at the bottom. As described with reference to FIG. 7, the signal processing unit outputs the toner concentration detection signal based on the toner detection signal input from the toner detection element that constitutes the toner detection unit 173. The circuit board 172 is led out from the inside of the housing 171 and the external lead-out portion 174 has holes 175 to 177 corresponding to the number of the input / output terminals 18 to 20 at intervals d.

The input / output terminals 18 to 20 are composed of conductor patterns formed on the circuit board 172. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the conductor patterns is connected to the signal processing section and is extended to the external lead-out section 174 of the circuit board 172, and the lands 181 for external wiring connection are provided around the holes 175 to 177. , 191 and 201.

As described above, in the case 17, the circuit board 172 is led out from the inside of the accommodating portion 171, and has holes 175 to 177 in the external lead-out portion 174 at intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, in assembling into the electrophotographic copying machine or the like, the toner sensor is attached to the electrophotographic copying machine 22 by the coupling tools 211 to 213 such as screws inserted through the holes 175 to 177 provided in the circuit board 172. Can be fixed to.

Moreover, the external lead-out portion 174 of the circuit board 172 has holes 175 to 177 at a number corresponding to the number of the input / output terminals 18 to 20, and the input / output terminals 18 to 20 are , The conductor patterns formed on the circuit board 172, each of the conductor patterns being connected to the signal processing unit inside the storage unit 171 and surrounding the holes 175 to 177 for external wiring connection. , 191 and 201, the toner sensor is electrophotographically mounted by means of coupling tools 211 to 213 which are inserted through the holes 175 to 177 provided in the circuit board 172 when the electrophotographic copying machine 22 is incorporated. At the same time as being fixed to the copying machine 22, the external wirings 231 to 233 are electrically connected to the lands 181, 191 and 201 formed around the holes 175 to 177. You can

That is, the fixing of the toner sensor and the electrical connection can be achieved at the same time by using the coupling tools 211 to 213 inserted through the holes 175 to 177 provided in the circuit board 172. For this reason, the lead wire and the input / output connector, which have been indispensable in the past, are unnecessary, and the connection work is facilitated.

In the embodiment, the case 17 has a support plate portion 178 extending from the storage portion 171, and the circuit board 172 is placed on the surface of the support plate portion 178. The holes 175 to 177 are provided so as to penetrate the circuit board 172 and the support plate portion 178. Therefore, the back surface of the support plate portion 178 serves as a mounting surface, and the circuit board 172 is reinforced by the support plate portion 178. Further, the adjuster 24 is also provided on the circuit board 172 and is connected to the inside of the accommodating portion 171 through the conductor patterns 251 to 253, thereby further reducing the cost and improving the assembling workability.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of a toner sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same components. In this embodiment, the circuit board 172 is attached to the electrophotographic copying machine 22 without a supporting plate, and the surface of the circuit board 172 opposite to the surface on which the conductor patterns forming the input / output terminals 18 to 20 are provided. (See FIG. 6).

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, the present invention is a toner sensor including a case and an input / output terminal. In the case, the storage unit has a built-in signal processing unit, and the toner detection unit is provided at the bottom of the case. Outputs a toner concentration detection signal based on the input signal input from the toner detection section, and the circuit board is led out from the inside of the storage section to the external lead-out section with holes of the number corresponding to the number of input / output terminals. The input and output terminals are spaced apart and are composed of conductor patterns formed on the circuit board.Each of the conductor patterns is connected to the signal processing section inside the housing section, and Since it extends to the external lead-out part and has a land for connecting external wiring around the hole, it does not require an input / output connector or lead wire, is low in cost, and has a toner sensor that is easy to assemble. Can be provided .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toner sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a toner sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a usage state of the toner sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line A1-A1 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial front sectional view of another embodiment of the toner sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the toner sensor shown in FIG. 5 in use.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a toner sensor.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional toner sensor.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a conventional toner sensor.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a usage state of a conventional toner sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Case 171 Storage Section 172 Circuit Board 173 Toner Detection Section 174 External Lead Out Section 175-177 Hole 18-20 Input / Output Terminal 181, 191, 201 Land

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A toner sensor including a case and an input / output terminal, wherein the case has an accommodating portion and a circuit board, and the accommodating portion has a signal processing portion built-in and a toner at the bottom. A detection unit, the signal processing unit outputs a toner concentration detection signal based on an input signal input from the toner detection unit, and the circuit board is led out from the inside of the storage unit to the outside lead-out unit. The input / output terminals are formed of conductor patterns formed on the circuit board, and each of the conductor patterns has a corresponding number of holes. While being connected to the signal processing unit inside the unit,
A toner sensor, which has a land for external wiring connection, which extends to the external lead-out portion of the circuit board and is provided around the hole. 2. The case has a support plate portion extended from the storage portion, the circuit board is laid on a surface of the support plate portion, and the hole is the circuit board. The toner sensor according to claim 1, wherein the toner sensor is provided so as to penetrate the support plate portion, and the back surface of the support plate portion forms a mounting surface. 3. The toner sensor according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the circuit board opposite to the surface on which the conductor pattern is provided constitutes a mounting surface.