JPH0633155U - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause a fixing error even if a color developing unit is replaced. When the color developing device unit 21 is replaced, a resistor having a value corresponding to the developing device unit 21 is incorporated into the circuit shown in the figure, and a signal corresponding to the developing device unit 21 is changed to C.
It is taken into PU23. On the other hand, STS (Thermistor) 2
7 detects the temperature of the fuser 26 and inputs the detected temperature information to the CPU 23. Since the CPU 23 has a target fuser temperature corresponding to the developing unit 21 in advance, the temperature information input from the STS 27 is compared with the target fuser temperature. If the former is higher than the latter, SSR2
4 is shortened, and conversely, if it is low, the SSR 24 is controlled to be long. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause a fixing error.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of copying different colors by simply replacing a developing unit.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In the conventional copying machine of this type, there is a copying machine in which the developing units for black, red, blue and yellow are exchanged so that copying of these colors can be performed. These developing device units have toners corresponding to the respective colors therein. Since the toner has different components depending on its color, the fixing temperature and its consumption are not constant. Therefore, it is necessary to change the fuser temperature and the toner supply motor rotation speed according to the color of the developing unit.

Table 1 shows an example of the data.

[0004]

[Table 1] Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the button switches 11 to 14 corresponding to the colors of the developing device units are provided, and by turning them on, what color developing device is set in the CPU 15? I am trying to enter. When the color signal of the set developing device unit is input from the button switches 11 to 14, the CPU 15 sets the fuser and the value corresponding to the color shown in Table 1 to a value corresponding to the color. Controls the number of rotations of the toner supply motor.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the above conventional apparatus, it is necessary to manually input the color signal of the developing unit. Therefore, if the wrong button switch is pressed, the fuser temperature and the toner supply motor rotation speed will be incorrect, and problems such as fixing error (offset) and toner supply miss will occur. In addition, if a toner supply error occurs, there is a problem that the copy becomes too dark or too light. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when the developing unit is installed, the fuser temperature is automatically controlled to a suitable value, so that the fixing error can be prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause the above problem.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a color developing device unit, a color determining means for determining the color of a developing device based on a signal generated by replacing the developing device unit, and the color determining device. It is characterized in that a control means for controlling the fuser temperature according to the toner color based on the discrimination signal of the means is provided.

[0007]

[Action]

 According to the present invention, when the color developing unit is replaced, the color discriminating unit automatically discriminates the color of the developing unit, and the control unit automatically sets the fuser temperature suitable for the toner color. Controlled. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not cause a fixing error.

[0008]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, A indicates an electronic copying machine, and B indicates a replaceable developing device unit. D is a cassette containing copy paper. The developing unit B is provided with a drawer connector C that is detached when it is replaced. The drawer connector is composed of a developing device connector and a main body side connector provided on the main body side of the copying machine.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, the developing device connector and the main body side connector, which are essential parts of one embodiment of the present invention, will be described. Note that FIG. 1 shows these perspective views. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a developing device connector connected to the developing device unit, and 2 is a main body side connector fixed to the copying machine, which is provided facing the developing device connector.

A female connector 3 is provided below the developing device connector 1, and a male connector 4 is formed above the main body side connector 2. Then, these connectors are configured to be fitted to each other. On the female connector 3, pins fixed to the respective tips of the lead wires 5 drawn out from the developing device unit are arranged at predetermined positions. On the other hand, the male connector 4 is provided with pins 7a to 7e connected to the tips of lead wires 6 connected to the body side. Therefore, when the developing device connector portion 1 and the main body side connector 2 are fitted to each other, the corresponding lead wire 5 on the developing device unit side and the corresponding lead wire 6 on the main body side are electrically connected. It will be.

The developing device connector portion 1 is further provided with a resistor 8 which is a feature of the present invention. The resistance 8 has a resistance value corresponding to the color of the developing device unit. For example, 1 KΩ for a black developing device unit, 2 KΩ for red, and 3 KΩ for blue and yellow. Are connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device of an electronic copying machine. In the figure, 21 is a replaceable copying machine unit, and 22 is a resistor (corresponding to the resistor 8 in FIG. 1) fixed to the copying machine unit. That is, when the copying machine unit 21 is replaced, the resistor 8 fixed to the copying machine unit 21 is connected to the position of the resistor 22. Further, reference numeral 23 is a CPU, and in this embodiment, it is possible to use NEC87A / D which is a CPU having a built-in A / D conversion circuit.

Therefore, when the copying machine unit 21 is replaced, the value of the resistor 22 changes, so that the input voltage Vin of the CPU 23 varies depending on the color of the copying machine unit 21. For example, when a black developing unit is used, the resistance value of the resistor 22 is 1 KΩ, and the Vin voltage is about 1.5V. On the other hand, when changing to a blue developing unit, the resistance value of the resistor 22 becomes 3 KΩ, and Vin becomes about 2.25V. Therefore, the CPU 23 can judge the color of the copying machine unit 21 based on the magnitude of Vin.

When the CPU 23 determines the color of the copying machine unit connected to the copying machine, the CPU 23 determines the fuser temperature and the fuser temperature based on the data shown in Table 1 stored in advance in the ROM or the like. Toner supply motor speed is controlled. For example, when a black developing unit is mounted, the CPU 23 controls the fuser temperature to 185 ° C. and the toner supply motor rotation speed to 3 rpm. When the blue developing unit is installed, the fuser temperature is controlled to 170 ° C and the toner supply motor rotation speed is controlled to 6 rpm.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 24 is a solid state relay (SSR), which is turned on and off by a signal from the CPU 23. When the SSR 24 is turned on, electric power from the AC power supply 25 is supplied to the fuser lamp 26. The temperature of the fuser heated by the fuser lamp 26 is detected by a soft touch sensor (STS) 27. The STS 27 is a thermistor sensor, which detects the temperature of the fuser by lightly contacting it. The resistance of the STS 27 changes according to the temperature of the fuser, and a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the STS 27 is taken into the CPU 23. The CPU 23 compares the signal concerning the planned temperature of the fuser, which is held in advance, with the signal fetched by the CPU 23, and if the temperature of the fuser is higher than the planned temperature, the ON time of the SSR 24 is turned on. Is shortened, and conversely, if it is low, the on-time of the SSR 24 is controlled to be lengthened.

The rotation speed of the toner supply motor 31 is controlled by driving the driver 30 by a signal from the CPU 23 and feeding back the signal detected by the tachometer 32 or the like to the CPU 23. To be done. Then, the data is compared with the data stored in advance in the CPU 23, and is controlled to rotate at a stable predetermined rotation speed. The toner supply motor 31 is provided in the developing device and supplies the toner from the developing toner box to the carrier chamber in the developing device. It is a stable toner supply by constant rotation. Do. The control of the fuser lamp 26 and the toner supply motor 31 is the same as that of the conventional one, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when the developer unit is replaced by the user, the color of the developer is automatically discriminated and the fuser temperature is automatically adjusted according to the toner color. Since it is controlled automatically, there is an effect that fixing error (offset) does not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer connector of a developing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the copying machine showing a state where the developing device unit is housed in the copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Developer connector part, 2 ... main body side connector, 3 ... female connector, 4 ... male connector, 8 ... resistor, 21 ... copier unit, 22 ... resistor, 23 ... CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A color developing unit, a color discriminating unit for discriminating a color of the developing unit based on a signal generated by replacing the developing unit, and a toner color based on the discriminating signal of the color discriminating unit. And a control unit for controlling the fuser temperature according to the above.