JPH0635281A - System for detecting sensitivity of photosensitive body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely automatically adjust the grid voltage or the exposing power of an electrophotographic device at low cost in accordance with a mounted photosensitive body though the sensitivity of the photosensitive body does not become the same level individually and is set up in a state where it is divided into about eight steps. CONSTITUTION:A card 60 having an automatic recognition code coincident with the sensitivity inherent in each photosensitive body 31 is provided corresponding to the photosensitive body 31 and as a different body independent of the photosensitive body or a process cartridge 30 housing the photosensitive body; when the photosensitive body 31 or the process cartridge 30 is set in an electrophotographic device main body 1, the card 30 is inserted in the specified position of the device main body 1, and the sensitivity is read by the device main body 1, so that laser power and grid potential are set, and an optimum latent image is formed by the photosensitive body 31 or the process cartridge 30 in the device main body 1 based on the set value in this system for detecting the sensitivity of the photosensitive body. When the cartridge is taken out from the device main body, the card is removed by interlocking with it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a photoconductor replacement set in view of the fact that the photoconductors used in an electrophotographic apparatus do not all have a constant value and have sensitivity data unique to each photoconductor. , A system that instantly completes automatic adjustment to match the sensitivity without error.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sensitivity of a photoconductor is not constant for each photoconductor, and in electrophotography, the grid voltage, laser power, or exposure amount of a band electrode that matches the sensitivity value of the photoconductor is adjusted when the photoconductor is exchanged and set. ing. This was quite difficult and required a lot of skill, and there were cases where the operation was continued with the image quality deteriorated due to incorrect adjustment.

In order to improve this, a notch corresponding to the sensitivity is provided on the photoconductor or the process cartridge accommodating the photoconductor, and the position and number of the notches are automatically read by the machine body to switch to the required voltage or exposure energy. Means, etc. have been proposed. There are also some that use bar codes instead of notches.

[0004]

However, the positions and the number of such notches are provided at the ends of the outer portion of the process cartridge for accommodating the photosensitive member. Such cartridges are made of precision synthetic resin molded products, but they are quite large molded products, and molds are prepared for each type of sensitivity by determining the notch position and number when molding according to the sensitivity of the photoconductor. Since the manufacturing cost of the molding die will increase too much,
Notch processing is not performed at the time of molding, and there is no choice but to machine it according to its sensitivity when the photosensitive body is housed and assembled in the cartridge after molding.

However, in the mechanical processing, the cartridge must be set on a large processing table jig and carefully punched out or scraped off so that cracks do not enter, considerable man-hours are required and the defective rate is so low. Also, it is not desirable because it may make processing mistakes.

In addition, when a bar code is attached, an appropriate grid voltage or exposure power instruction signal is generated according to the symbol read by the machine body, but it is indirect, and the bar code is read by dirt such as toner. It may be misread, and it is not a good idea because you have to prepare an expensive bar code reader separately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a photoconductor sensitivity detection system which eliminates such problems.

[0008]

This object is achieved by the following technical means a or b.

(A) A card having an automatic identification code matching the sensitivity peculiar to each photoconductor is provided in association with the photoconductor and as a separate body independent of the photoconductor or the process cartridge accommodating the photoconductor. As the photoconductor or the process cartridge is set in the electrophotographic apparatus main body, the card is inserted into a predetermined position of the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body reads the sensitivity to set the laser power and the grid potential. The photosensitive member sensitivity detection system is characterized in that the photosensitive member or the process cartridge forms an optimum latent image in the main body of the apparatus according to the set value.

(B) In addition to the item (a), the photosensitive member sensitivity detecting system is characterized in that the card can be removed from the main body of the apparatus in association with an operation of taking out the photosensitive body or the process cartridge from the main body of the apparatus.

[0011]

EXAMPLE A photosensitive drum used in an electrophotographic apparatus is generally known as a drum or endless belt type using selenium, zinc oxide, or an organic semiconductor, but it is attempted to keep the sensitivity constant during manufacturing. However, the sensitivity of the finished photoreceptor has its own unique value. Moreover, it is necessary to sort the ranks from low to high in about 8 ranks, and determine the grid voltage and laser power values to be applied to the sensitivity of each group and adjust the device body.

Instead of adjusting this by seeing the sensitivity data of each photoconductor, in the present invention, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG.
An N1 card 60 having a predetermined number of claws at a predetermined position in a process cartridge 30 incorporating a photoconductor 31 showing the sensitivity of
Corresponding to the above, similarly, N2 card for S2 sensitivity
In the process cartridge 30 in which the photoconductor 31 exhibiting the sensitivity of S8 is incorporated in the order of 60, eight groups are formed corresponding to N8 cards.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the card 60 has claws 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 61 on one side of the card.
E, 61F are formed, and the portions 61A, 61B, 61C are used for designating the grid potential of the strip electrodes, and the remaining 61D, 61E,
The 61F part is used to specify the voltage of the laser power. When the three nails are completely eliminated, one piece, two pieces, and three pieces are combined and knitted, it is possible to identify eight kinds by the position and the number. And
As shown in Fig. 4 (b), when making a card, all six nails, each with three nails, need to be cut off with a cutter to make it specific to each group. Just leave it alone.

Next, a case where the laser printer which is an electrophotographic apparatus is used in the apparatus main body 1 will be described with reference to a partial side view of the printer shown in FIG.

The device body 1 of this printer is of a clamshell type, and the device body 1 includes a lower portion 1B and an upper frame body 1A.
Although the lower part 1B is installed on a desk or the like and is kept stationary, the upper frame 1A can be rotated around the support shaft 2 to open upward from the position X on the front surface. I can do it.

A process cartridge 30 containing a photoconductor 31 is mounted on the upper frame 1A. However, if the function of the printer is fulfilled for a predetermined number of times, the photoconductor 31 deteriorates, and therefore a new process cartridge 30 containing the new photoconductor 31 must be replaced.

To remove the old process cartridge 30,
The upper frame 1A is rotated to keep it open upward, and the process cartridge 30 is rotated in the opposite direction around the rotation support shaft 32A to be in a substantially horizontal state. There is no guide, but it is designed to be guided by rails. Also, at that time, the card 60 paired with the process cartridge 30 which has been loaded in the upper frame portion 1A and is paired with the cartridge will be described later in detail. Will be discharged.

Then, the process cartridge 30 accommodating the new photoconductor 31 is installed in the upper frame 1 in the reverse order of the above-mentioned removal.
After the card A is loaded in the upper frame 1A in a state where A is opened upward, the card 60 paired with the card is inserted into a predetermined position of the upper frame 1A, which is the main body of the apparatus, and the grid voltage of the band electrode and the laser Set it so that an appropriate power value can be obtained.

Then, if possible, the card 60 is loaded and set in this way so that a special switch is turned on, and the printer is controlled so as not to operate unless it is turned on (unless the card is loaded). Is desirable.

Next, the upper frame 1A of the device body of the card 60
2 is a partial side view of the printer of FIG. 2 and its enlarged view shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
The switch mechanism and the card structure shown in FIG.

A card insertion slot 40 is provided in the upper frame portion 1A of the apparatus main body.
Also, guide plates 46 and 47 that form the insertion path are fixed, and windows 46A and 47A are opened in the guide plates 46 and 47.

Two levers 42 and 43, which are integral with a shaft 41A that rotates around a bearing 41, are urged counterclockwise in the figure by a torque spring 45, and the tip of one lever 43 extending from the shaft 41A is An inclined surface 43A is formed, and a front surface of the inclined surface 43B is formed slightly in front of the inclined surface 43A, and is perpendicular to the windows 46A and 47A. Further, the other lever 42 extends from the shaft 41A to the outer shell 32 of the process cartridge 30. So as to kick the tip of the other lever 42 when the projection 33 attached to the outer shell 32 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation support shaft 32A when the process cartridge 30 is removed. I am doing it.

The leaf springs 53A and 53 are provided in front of the guide plates 46 and 47 forming the insertion path of the card 60 (on the rear side in the insertion direction).
B, 53C, 53D, 53E, 53F are attached to the base 51 by being urged so as to always hit the front edge of the card (claw etc.), and the claws 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 61E of the card 60, 61F
Is attached to the base 51 at a position corresponding to, and the operation switches 52A, 52B, 52 are provided on the far side in the insertion direction.
C, 52D, 52E and 52F are arranged.

The card 60 is inserted from the card insertion opening 40 in such a state, and the card is inserted along the insertion path between the guide plates 46 and 47.
When 60 is advanced, the claws 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 61E, 61F or the cut surfaces of the claws move while pushing away the tip end inclined surface 43A of the lever 43, and each claw operates each switch via each leaf spring. And, of course, the portion without the claw does not reach the leaf spring and the switch is not activated.

In this way, when the card 60 reaches the back through the plate spring, the window 64 of the card and the windows 46A and 47A of the guide plates 46 and 47 are aligned with each other, and the lever 43 moves the torque spring 45. The urging force causes the lever 43 to jump into the window, and the surface 43A of the lever 43 perpendicular to the window receives one inner edge of the window 64 of the card 60, and the card is completely locked with a necessary switch turned on.

This state is maintained until the process cartridge 30 accommodating the photoconductor 31 completes the printing for the durable number of times and replaces it with a new one. However, the reading of the signal of the pressed switch is not always maintained.

When the process cartridge 30 that has been used up to now is taken out for replacement with a new process cartridge 30, a protrusion 33 attached to the outer shell 32 of the cartridge 30.
Has entered the window 64 of the card 60 by kicking the tip of the other lever 42 of the two integrated levers.
The card 60, which had been locked since the original cartridge 30 was loaded, is unlocked as the card escapes from the window 64. Then, the card 60 is repelled by the leaf spring 53 (A to F) and collected.

Then, the new cartridge 30 is loaded into the upper frame 1A at a predetermined position, and a new card 60 paired with the new cartridge 30 is inserted.

As described above, a specific card corresponding to the process cartridge 30 having a specific photoconductor in a one-to-one correspondence
Since 60 is arranged, a label 66 is attached to the groove 67 of the card 60 in order to ensure that the correspondence function accurately, and its originality is kept and the card is completely inserted from the insertion opening 40 At this time, a fixed knife 55 set on the upper frame 1A was used to cut it.

As a result, this once-used card 60
Attention is paid to prevent the cartridge from being used in correspondence with another cartridge 30.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the photoconductors having various variations in sensitivity or the process cartridge accommodating the photoconductors and the card are in a one-to-one correspondence, and the claws peculiar to the card are arranged to correspond. The sensitivity of the photoconductor to be stored is stored, and when it is loaded into the electrophotographic apparatus, the correct grid voltage and the correct laser power (exposure power) for the correct sensitivity conditions are set, so that it is always high without any troublesome adjustment. Now you can get high quality prints.

Further, by using the card as described above, it is possible to perform reliable sensitivity management control with a low-cost card, as compared with the difficulty in marking the photoconductor and the process cartridge and the high cost involved therewith. Became possible.

Further, by providing the card having a one-to-one correspondence with the photoconductor or the cartridge thereof with originality, it is possible to prevent mixture and mis-insertion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a correspondence between a process cartridge of a photoconductor and a card storing its sensitivity.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an arrangement of grid voltage and laser power voltage input switches with respect to sensitivity. (B)
Shows a structure of a card.

5A is a view obtained by adding a knife mechanism to FIG. 4A.
4B is a view in which the original label is attached to FIG. 4B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A Upper frame 1B Lower 2 Spindle 30 Process cartridge 31 Photoconductor 32 Outer shell 32A Rotating spindle 33 Protrusion 40 Insertion port 41 Bearing 41A Shaft 42 Other lever 43 One lever 43A Inclined surface 43B Rear surface 45 Torque spring 46, 47 Guide plate 46A, 47A Window 51 Base 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, 52F Operation switch 53A, 53B, 53C, 53D, 53E, 53F Leaf spring 55 Knife 60 Card 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 61E, 61F Claw 64 window 66 label 67 groove

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A card having an automatic identification code matching the sensitivity peculiar to each photoconductor is provided in correspondence with the photoconductor and as a separate body independent of the photoconductor or the process cartridge containing the photoconductor. As the photoconductor or the process cartridge is set in the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus, the card is inserted into a predetermined position of the main body of the apparatus, and the main body of the apparatus reads the sensitivity to set the laser power and the grid potential. The photosensitive member sensitivity detection system is characterized in that the photosensitive member or the process cartridge forms an optimum latent image in the main body of the apparatus according to the set value. 2. The photosensitive member sensitivity detecting system according to claim 1, wherein the card is removed from the main body of the apparatus in association with an operation of taking out the photosensitive body or the process cartridge from the main body of the apparatus.