JP2009163006A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of detecting erroneous mounting of a process cartridge by suitably utilizing an existing constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: a first cartridge 33BK provided with a paper powder eliminating means 35 for eliminating paper powder utilizing a first voltage VS; a first cartridge mounting part 31BK mounted with the first cartridge; a second cartridge not provided with a powder eliminating means; first applying means 73, 74 applying the first voltage VS to the paper powder eliminating means 35; a first detecting means 74 generating a first detection signal Sd1 based on the first voltage VS applied by the first applying means; and a control means 61. The control means 61 detects erroneous mounting of the second cartridge onto the first cartridge mounting part, based on the first detection signal Sd1 or based on a first control signal Sp1 outputted to the first applying means to make the first voltage VS a predetermined value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color laser printer.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a color laser printer, a plurality of process cartridges are arranged side by side along a belt for paper conveyance, and a toner image is sequentially transferred from each process cartridge to the paper conveyed on the belt. A so-called tandem type image forming apparatus is known.

In such a tandem printer, paper dust is generated as the paper is transported, and the quality of the formed image may be reduced by the paper dust. For this reason, in order to remove the paper dust, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a paper dust removing means (photoconductor cleaning means) in the upstream process cartridge of the paper flow, and the downstream process cartridge is provided in the process cartridge. Discloses a technique in which paper dust removing means is not provided.
JP-A-2005-114756

  However, in the tandem printer having a plurality of process cartridges as in Patent Document 1, there is a concern that the process cartridges are erroneously mounted, for example, the black cartridge and the color cartridge are erroneously mounted. In order to detect and prevent such erroneous mounting, it may be possible to adopt a dedicated sensor or a cartridge shape, but this is not preferable because the configuration becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of detecting erroneous mounting of a process cartridge by suitably utilizing an existing configuration.

  As means for achieving the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes paper dust removing means for removing paper dust mixed in the housing using the applied first voltage. Applying the first voltage to a first cartridge, a first cartridge mounting portion on which the first cartridge is mounted, a second cartridge not including the paper dust removing means, and the paper dust removing means of the first cartridge First detecting means for generating, a first detecting means for generating a first detection signal based on the first voltage applied by the first applying means, and the first voltage based on the first detection signal. Control means for detecting that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion based on a first control signal output to the first application means in order to set the value to a predetermined value.

  According to this configuration, the control unit simply applies the first application unit based on the first detection signal corresponding to the application of the first voltage by the first application unit or to set the first voltage to a predetermined value. Based on the first control signal to be output, it is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion. For this reason, the existing configuration of the presence / absence of the paper dust removing means and the control signal of the first voltage applied to the paper dust removing means is preferably used, and the second cartridge is attached to the first cartridge mounting portion without complicating the configuration. It is possible to detect that the cartridge is erroneously installed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the control means is generated when the value of the first detection signal is outside a predetermined range or based on the first detection signal. When the value of the first control signal is outside a predetermined range, it is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, the control unit simply includes the first cartridge mounting portion when the value of the first detection signal is outside the predetermined range or when the value of the first control signal is outside the predetermined range. It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, the first cartridge and the second cartridge each include a photoconductor and a means for collecting toner remaining on the photoconductor. And the paper dust removing means removes the paper dust on the collecting means.
According to this configuration, in addition to the above effects, it is easy to suppress reattachment of paper dust to the photoreceptor.

  According to a fourth aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, a second cartridge having a voltage value different from the first voltage is applied to the second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted, and the collecting means. And a second detection means for generating a second detection signal based on the second voltage applied by the second application means, wherein the control means is based on the second detection signal. Or based on a second control signal output to the second application means for setting the second voltage to a predetermined value, it is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion. To do.

  According to this configuration, the control means simply applies the second application means based on the second detection signal corresponding to the application of the second voltage by the second application means, or in order to set the second voltage to a predetermined value. Based on the second control signal to be output, it is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion. For this reason, it is possible to detect that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion without suitably complicating the configuration by suitably using the existing configuration.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the control means is configured such that the value of the second detection signal generated based on the second detection signal is outside a predetermined range, or When the value of the second control signal is outside a predetermined range, it is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, the control means simply detects the second cartridge mounting portion when the value of the second detection signal is out of the predetermined range or when the value of the second control signal is out of the predetermined range. It is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration.

  A sixth invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the second cartridge has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to a terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge. The dummy terminals are set to a predetermined potential.

  According to this configuration, when the second cartridge is mounted on the first cartridge mounting portion, the dummy terminal of the second cartridge is set to a predetermined potential, for example, the ground potential, and erroneous mounting based on the first detection signal or the first control signal is performed. Is more reliable. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably detect that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion simply by providing the second cartridge with a dummy terminal having a predetermined potential.

  A seventh invention is the image forming apparatus of the fourth or fifth invention, wherein the second cartridge has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to a terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge, and the collection The means has a conductor portion for receiving the second voltage, and the dummy terminal is connected to the conductor portion of the collecting means.

  According to this configuration, when the second cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion, since the dummy terminal of the second cartridge is connected to the conductor portion of the collecting means, the voltage of the dummy terminal is equal to the second voltage. Will be equal. For this reason, for example, erroneous mounting can be detected when the first detection signal and the second detection signal are at the same potential, and it is easier to more reliably detect that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion. .

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, the second cartridge mounting portion is located at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge. A dummy terminal having a predetermined potential is provided.

  According to this configuration, when the first cartridge is mounted on the second cartridge mounting portion, a dummy terminal whose terminal of the paper dust removing means of the first cartridge is set to a predetermined potential of the second cartridge mounting portion, for example, a ground potential. Connected to. At this time, the load to which the second voltage is applied fluctuates, and accordingly, the value of the second control signal easily exceeds a predetermined range. For this reason, it is easier to more reliably detect that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion simply by providing a dummy terminal having a predetermined potential in the second cartridge mounting portion.

  According to a ninth invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the fourth to seventh inventions, the second cartridge mounting portion is located at a position corresponding to a position of the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge. The controller has a dummy terminal, and the control means detects that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion based on detection of a predetermined voltage from the dummy terminal.

  According to this configuration, a dummy terminal is simply provided in the second cartridge mounting portion, and erroneous mounting is detected only by detecting from the dummy terminal a predetermined voltage that is not detected during normal mounting. Therefore, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of erroneous mounting without complicating the configuration.

  In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the second applying unit that applies a second voltage having a voltage value different from the first voltage to the collecting unit is applied by the second applying unit. Second detection means for generating a second detection signal based on the second voltage, and the second cartridge is set at a predetermined potential at a position corresponding to the terminal of the recovery means in the first cartridge. A dummy terminal, wherein the control means is based on the second detection signal or based on a second control signal output to the second application means in order to set the second voltage to a predetermined value; It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, even when the terminal of the collecting unit of the second cartridge is installed at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the paper dust removing unit in the first cartridge, the terminal by the second applying unit is simply used. Based on the second detection signal corresponding to the application of the second voltage or the second control signal output to the second application means for setting the second voltage to a predetermined value, the second cartridge is erroneously inserted into the first cartridge mounting portion. It can detect suitably that it was mounted | worn. In other words, even when the installation positions of the terminals of the collecting means are different between the first cartridge and the second cartridge, the existing configuration is preferably used, and the first cartridge mounting portion can be used without complicating the configuration. It can be suitably detected that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted.

  An eleventh invention is the image forming apparatus according to the tenth invention, wherein the control means is generated when the value of the second detection signal is outside a predetermined range or based on the second detection signal. When the value of the second control signal is outside a predetermined range, it is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, the control unit simply includes the first cartridge mounting unit when the value of the second detection signal is outside the predetermined range or when the value of the second control signal is outside the predetermined range. It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the first cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration.

According to a twelfth aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the first or second control signal is a PWM signal.
According to this configuration, for example, when the duty ratio of the PWM signal exceeds a predetermined range, for example, when the duty ratio reaches the maximum value (MAX), the control unit detects that the cartridge is erroneously mounted. To do. That is, it is possible to preferably detect that the cartridge is erroneously mounted based simply on the duty ratio of the PWM signal.

  According to a thirteenth aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, a second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted and a second voltage having a voltage value different from the first voltage are applied to the recovery means. The second cartridge mounting portion has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the collecting means in the first cartridge, and the control means includes the dummy terminal. , It is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, even when the terminal positions of the collecting means are different between the first cartridge and the second cartridge, the dummy terminal is simply provided in the second cartridge mounting portion, and a predetermined voltage that is not detected during normal mounting is applied to the dummy cartridge. Misinstallation is detected only by detecting from the terminal. Therefore, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detection that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a first cartridge comprising a photoconductor, a collecting unit for collecting toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a paper dust removing unit for removing paper dust on the collecting unit. A first cartridge mounting portion on which the first cartridge is mounted, a second cartridge including the photoconductor, and the collecting means, a second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted, Applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to the recovery means; detecting means for generating a detection signal based on the predetermined voltage applied by the applying means; and based on the detection signal or setting the predetermined voltage to a predetermined value Therefore, control means for detecting that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion based on a control signal output to the application means.

  According to this configuration, the control means simply attaches the second cartridge based on the detection signal corresponding to the application of the predetermined voltage by the applying means or based on the control signal for setting the predetermined voltage to the predetermined value. It is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the part. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration of the conventional image forming apparatus.

  According to a fifteenth aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the control means is configured to output the control signal when the value of the detection signal is outside a predetermined range or when the control signal generated based on the detection signal is When it is outside the predetermined range, it is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion.

  According to this configuration, the control means simply connects the first cartridge to the second cartridge mounting portion when the value of the detection signal is out of the predetermined range or when the value of the control signal is out of the predetermined range. It is detected that is installed incorrectly. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion without complicating the configuration.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects further includes an informing means for informing the erroneous mounting of the cartridge.
According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of the erroneous mounting of the cartridge and correct the erroneous mounting in a timely manner.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, the first cartridge is a cartridge disposed at the uppermost stream of the flow relating to image formation, and the second cartridge is the The cartridge is disposed downstream of the first cartridge.
According to this configuration, a paper dust removal configuration is provided on the upstream side, paper dust is removed on the upstream side, and the configuration on the downstream side is omitted in order to reduce costs. Made.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a first cartridge including a paper dust removing unit that removes paper dust mixed in a housing using a predetermined voltage applied, and the first cartridge. A cartridge mounting unit, an application unit that applies the predetermined voltage to the paper dust removing unit of the first cartridge, a detection unit that generates a detection signal based on the predetermined voltage applied by the application unit, Based on a detection signal or based on a control signal output to the applying unit to set the predetermined voltage to a predetermined value, a second cartridge that does not include the paper dust removing unit is erroneously mounted on the cartridge mounting unit. Control means for detecting this.

  According to this configuration, the control means simply selects the cartridge based on the detection signal corresponding to the application of the predetermined voltage by the application means, or based on the control signal output to the application means for setting the predetermined voltage to the predetermined value. It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the attachment portion. For this reason, the existing configuration of the presence / absence of the paper dust removing means and the detection signal or control signal of the predetermined voltage applied to the paper dust removing means is preferably used, so that the cartridge mounting unit can It is possible to detect that two cartridges are erroneously mounted.

  For example, when the image forming apparatus is a monochrome printer and the monochrome cartridge (first cartridge) includes paper dust removing means, a color cartridge (second cartridge) that does not include paper dust removing means is mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion. If so, the erroneous mounting is suitably detected.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to detect erroneous mounting of a process cartridge by suitably using an existing configuration.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1. Overall Configuration of Printer FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printer 1 (an example of an image forming apparatus) according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the left side in FIG. The printer 1 is a color printer that forms a color image with colorants of four colors (black BK, yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C). It is assumed that BK (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) indicating each color are added to the end of the reference numerals of the component parts.

  The printer 1 includes a main body casing 3, and a supply tray 7 on which sheets 5 serving as recording media are stacked is provided at the bottom of the main body casing 3. An upper cover 3A (an example of a cover) is provided on the upper surface of the main casing 3 so as to be openable and closable around the rear end.

  A paper feed roller 9 is provided above the front end of the supply tray 7, and the uppermost sheet 5 stacked in the supply tray 7 is sent out to the registration roller 11 as the paper feed roller 9 rotates. The registration roller 11 performs the skew correction of the paper 5 and then conveys the paper 5 onto the belt unit 15 of the image forming unit 13.

The image forming unit 13 includes a belt unit 15, an exposure unit 17, a process unit 19, a fixing unit 21, and the like.
The belt unit 15 has a configuration in which a belt 25 made of polycarbonate or the like is stretched between a pair of front and rear belt support rollers 23 and 23. Then, the belt support roller 23 on the rear side is driven to rotate, whereby the belt 25 circulates in the clockwise direction on the paper surface, and the paper 5 on the upper surface of the belt 25 is conveyed backward. Further, on the inner side of the belt 25, transfer rollers 29 are provided at positions opposed to respective photosensitive drums (photosensitive members) 27 of the process unit 19 described later with the belt 25 interposed therebetween. A cleaning device 28 that collects toner, paper dust, and the like attached to the surface of the belt 25 is provided below the belt unit 15.

  The exposure unit 17 includes four LED units 17BK, 17Y, 17M, and 17C corresponding to the respective colors. Each LED unit 17BK, 17Y, 17M, 17C has an LED head 18 at its lower end, and its upper end is supported on the lower surface of the upper cover 3A by a predetermined means (not shown). The LED head 18 has a plurality of light emitting units made of LEDs arranged in the left-right direction. Each light emitting unit is controlled to emit light based on the image data to be formed, whereby the light emitted from each light emitting unit is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 27, and the surface is exposed.

  The process unit 19 includes a plurality (four in this embodiment) of process cartridges 33 (33BK, 33Y, 33M, and 33C) corresponding to the above four colors, and a mounting frame 31 on which the process cartridges 33 are mounted. The process cartridge 33 (any one of the process cartridges 33 corresponds to “first cartridge” or “second cartridge” in the present invention) includes a monochrome cartridge 33BK and color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C.

  A monochrome cartridge 33BK (an example of a first cartridge) is covered with a positively chargeable photosensitive layer at the bottom of the cartridge frame 32, and is a high-resistance photosensitive drum 27, scorotron charger 37, drum cleaning roller. A (toner collecting means) 34 and a drum cleaning shaft (paper dust removing means) 35 are provided, and a developing cartridge 40BK is provided above the cartridge frame 32.

  The drum cleaning roller (hereinafter simply “cleaning roller”) 34 includes a roller shaft (conductor portion) 34a to which a high voltage roller voltage VR is applied, and a roller portion 34b having high resistance. To collect the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 27.

  Further, the drum cleaning shaft (hereinafter simply referred to as “cleaning shaft”) 35 is made of a conductive metal, and applies a shaft voltage (corresponding to “first voltage” in the present invention) VS which is higher than the roller voltage VR. Thus, the paper dust on the cleaning roller 34 is removed. That is, the cleaning shaft 35 removes the paper dust mixed in the main body casing (housing) 3 using the shaft voltage VS.

  On the other hand, each of the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C (an example of the second cartridge) has a photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron-type charger 37, and a lower surface of the cartridge frame 32 that are similarly covered with a positively chargeable photosensitive layer. A cleaning roller 34 is provided, and the developing cartridges 40Y, 40M, and 40C are provided above the cartridge frame 32. The color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C do not include the cleaning shaft 35.

  Each developing cartridge 40 is detachably attached to the cartridge frame 32 of each process cartridge 33. Then, the developing cartridge 40 or the process cartridge 33 is replaced by opening the upper cover 3A, or a paper jam removal process (jam process) is performed with the process cartridge 33 removed.

  Each developing cartridge 40 is provided with a toner storage chamber 42 for storing toner of each color as a developer (coloring agent) on the inner upper side of a box-shaped casing, and a supply roller 41, a developing roller 43, and a layer thickness are provided on the lower side thereof. A regulation blade 45, an agitator 47, and the like are provided.

  The toner discharged from the toner storage chamber 42 is supplied to the developing roller 43 by the rotation of the supply roller 41, and is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 41 and the developing roller 43. Further, the toner supplied onto the developing roller 43 enters between the layer thickness regulating blade 45 and the developing roller 43 as the developing roller 43 rotates, and is further sufficiently frictionally charged to have a constant thickness. It is carried on the developing roller 43 as a thin layer.

  At the time of image formation, the photosensitive drum 27 is rotationally driven, and accordingly, the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 37. The positively charged portion is exposed by high-speed scanning of light from the LED head 18 of the exposure unit 17, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper 5 is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27. Is done.

  Next, when the developing roller 43 is rotated and the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller 43 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 27 so as to face the surface of the photosensitive drum 27, the static charge is formed. The electric latent image is supplied. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 27 is visualized, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 carries a toner image with toner attached only to the exposed portion.

  Thereafter, the toner image carried on the surface of each photosensitive drum 27 is transferred to the transfer roller while the sheet 5 conveyed by the belt 25 passes through each transfer position between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 29. The images are sequentially transferred to the paper 5 by a negative transfer voltage applied to the paper 29. The sheet 5 having the toner image transferred thereon is then conveyed to the fixing unit 21.

  The fixing unit 21 includes a heating roller 49 having a heat source and a pressure roller 51 that presses the paper 5 toward the heating roller 49, and heat-fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper 5 on the paper surface. The sheet 5 thermally fixed by the fixing unit 21 is conveyed upward and discharged onto a discharge tray 53 provided on the upper surface of the main body casing 3.

  Further, a control unit 50 is provided in the casing 3. The control unit 50 controls the overall operation of the printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, electrode terminals for applying a voltage to each process cartridge 33 are provided on the outer wall of the cartridge frame 32 of each process cartridge 33. Specifically, a power receiving electrode terminal P1 for receiving the shaft voltage VS to the cleaning shaft 35 and a power receiving electrode for receiving the roller voltage VR to the cleaning roller 34 are provided at the lower part of the outer wall of the cartridge frame 32 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK. A terminal P2 is provided.

  On the other hand, a power receiving electrode terminal P2 and a dummy electrode terminal Pdm for receiving a roller voltage VR to the cleaning roller 34 are provided below the outer wall of the cartridge frame 32 of each of the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting frame 31 to which each process cartridge 33 is mounted is provided with cartridge mounting portions 31BK, 31Y, 31M, and 31C corresponding to each process cartridge 33, respectively. In addition, an application electrode terminal A1 for applying the shaft voltage VS and an application electrode terminal A2 for applying the roller voltage VR are provided in the inner lower portion of the cartridge mounting portion 31BK. The application electrode terminal A1 and the application electrode terminal A2 are provided so as to be in contact with and electrically coupled to the power reception electrode terminal P1 and the power reception electrode terminal P2, respectively, when the monochrome cartridge 33BK is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 31BK. ing.

  In addition, an application electrode terminal A2 and a dummy electrode terminal Adm for applying the roller voltage VR are respectively provided in the inner lower portions of the cartridge mounting portions 31Y, 31M, and 31C. Similarly, each of the application electrode terminals A2 comes into contact with and electrically couples to the power receiving electrode terminal P2 when the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C are mounted in the cartridge mounting portions 31Y, 31M, and 31C, respectively. It is provided to do.

  The power receiving electrode terminals P1 and P2 are configured by, for example, metal plate electrode terminals, and the application electrode terminals A1 and A2 are configured by, for example, spring-type metal plate electrode terminals that press the power receiving electrode terminals P1 and P2 of the metal plate. Has been.

  The application electrode terminals A1 and A2 and the dummy electrode terminal Adm are provided inside the cartridge mounting portions 31BK, 31Y, 31M, and 31C. However, in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the monochrome cartridge 33BK is disposed at the uppermost stream in the flow of image formation on the image forming paper, and the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 3C are disposed downstream of the monochrome cartridge 33BK. . Here, the flow direction related to the image formation of the image forming paper is equal to the paper transport direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. With this configuration, a cleaning shaft 35 that is a configuration for removing paper dust is provided on the upstream side, paper dust is removed on the upstream side, and the configuration on the downstream side is omitted to reduce costs, thereby eliminating paper dust. Is preferably made.

2. Configuration of High-Voltage Control Device On the control board 50A of the control unit 50, each electrical load provided in the printer 1, such as the transfer roller 29, the cleaning roller 34, the cleaning shaft 35, the charger 37, and the developing roller 43, is applied. A high-voltage control device 60 that generates a voltage to be applied is mounted. FIG. 3 shows a control circuit 61 and a monochrome high voltage circuit 62 that generate the shaft voltage VS and the roller voltage VR to the monochrome cartridge 33BK in the high voltage control device 60. 4 shows a control circuit 61 and a color high voltage circuit 63 for generating a roller voltage VR to the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C in the high voltage control device 60.

  The control circuit (corresponding to “control means” in the present invention) 61 is constituted by a CPU, for example, and controls the monochrome high voltage circuit 62 and the color high voltage circuit 63 so as to generate predetermined voltages. Here, for example, the monochrome high voltage circuit 62 and the color high voltage circuit 63 are controlled at a constant voltage by appropriately changing the duty ratio of a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal.

  Further, the control circuit 61 detects an erroneous mounting of the cartridge, and when the erroneous mounting is detected, the control circuit 61 displays it on the display device (notification unit) 4a on the operation panel 4 shown in FIG. Let them know. Therefore, the user can correct the erroneous mounting in a timely manner.

  The color high voltage circuit 63 is provided corresponding to each of the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C. However, since the configuration is the same, only one circuit is shown in FIG. Further, in the following description of each circuit of the high-voltage control device 60, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

2.1 Monochrome high-voltage circuit
As shown in FIG. 3, the monochrome high-voltage circuit 62 generally includes a shaft voltage generator 70 that generates a shaft voltage VS and a roller voltage generator 80 that generates a roller voltage VR.

2.1.1 Shaft voltage (first output voltage) generator
The shaft voltage generator 70 includes a first PMW signal smoothing circuit 71, a first transformer driving circuit 72, a first boosting / rectifying circuit 73, and a first output voltage detection circuit 74. The first PMW signal smoothing circuit 71 includes a resistor R1 and a first smoothing capacitor C1, and is supplied with a first PMW signal (corresponding to a “first control signal” in the present invention) Sp1 supplied from the control circuit 61 via the first PWM port 61A. And the smoothed first PMW signal Sp1 is supplied to the first transformer driving circuit 72. The first transformer driving circuit 72 is configured to flow an oscillating current through the primary winding T1A of the first boosting / rectifying circuit 73 based on the smoothed first PMW signal Sp1.

  The first step-up / rectifier circuit 73 includes a first transformer (transformer) T1, a first rectifier diode D1, a second smoothing capacitor C2, and a resistor R2, and is generated in the secondary winding T1B of the first transformer T1. The secondary voltage Vt1b is rectified to generate a first output voltage (for example, 100V) Vo1. Here, the first transformer driving circuit 72 and the first boosting / rectifying circuit 73 correspond to the “first applying means” in the present invention.

  The first output voltage detection circuit (corresponding to “first detection means” in the present invention) 74 includes a detection winding T1d, a second rectifying diode D2, and a third smoothing capacitor provided on the primary side of the first transformer T1. C3 and resistor R3 are included. Here, the polarity of the detection winding T1d and the polarity of the secondary winding T1B are the same. The first output voltage detection circuit 74 detects the AC voltage Vt1a by the detection winding T1d based on the secondary side voltage Vt1b generated in the secondary side winding T1B of the first transformer T1, and rectifies the AC voltage Vt1a. Thus, the first detection signal Sd1 that is a DC voltage signal is generated.

  The first detection signal Sd1 is supplied to the first A / D port 61B of the control circuit 61. Since the AC voltage Vt1a, that is, the first detection signal Sd1 is proportional to the first output voltage Vo1, the control circuit 61 sets the duty ratio of the first PWM signal Sp1 so that the first detection signal Sd1 becomes a predetermined constant value. Is appropriately changed to execute constant voltage control to set the first output voltage Vo1 to a target value (for example, 100 V).

  The shaft voltage generator 70 adds a second roller voltage, which will be described later, to the first output voltage Vo1 to generate a shaft voltage (corresponding to the “first voltage” in the present invention) VS. When the monochrome cartridge 33BK is mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK, the shaft voltage VS is supplied to the application electrode terminal A1 of the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK via the first output terminal J1 and the connection line L1 on the substrate 50A. The Then, the shaft voltage VS is applied to the cleaning shaft 35 via the power receiving electrode terminal P1. The cleaning shaft 35 removes paper dust via the cleaning roller 34 in response to application of the shaft voltage VS.

2.1.2 Roller voltage (first and second roller voltage) generator
The roller voltage generator 80 is largely a first roller voltage generation circuit 80A that generates a first roller voltage VR1 that is a negative high voltage (for example, −500 V), and a positive high voltage (for example, 800 V). A second roller voltage generation circuit 80B that generates a second roller voltage VR2 (corresponding to a “second voltage” in the present invention) VR2, and a second output voltage detection for detecting the first and second roller voltages VR1 and VR2. Circuit 81.

  The first roller voltage generation circuit 80A includes a second PMW signal smoothing circuit 82, a second transformer driving circuit 83, and a second boosting / rectifying circuit 84. The second PMW signal smoothing circuit 82 includes a resistor R4 and a fourth smoothing capacitor C4. The second PMW signal Sp2 supplied from the control circuit 61 via the second PWM port 61C is smoothed to obtain a smoothed second PMW signal Sp2. The second transformer driving circuit 83 is supplied. The second transformer drive circuit 83 is configured to cause an oscillation current to flow through the primary winding T2A of the second booster / rectifier circuit 84 based on the smoothed second PMW signal Sp2.

  The second booster / rectifier circuit 84 includes a second transformer T2, a third rectifier diode D3, a fifth smoothing capacitor C5, and a resistor R5, and a secondary voltage generated in the secondary winding T2B of the second transformer T2. The first roller voltage VR1 is generated by rectifying Vt2b.

  When the monochrome cartridge 33BK is mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK, the first roller voltage VR1 is applied to the application electrode terminal A2 of the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK via the second output terminal J2 and the connection line L2 on the substrate 50A. Supplied. Then, the first roller voltage VR1 is applied to the cleaning roller 34 via the power receiving electrode terminal P2. The cleaning roller 34 sucks the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 27 in response to the application of the first roller voltage VR1.

  On the other hand, the second roller voltage generation circuit 80B includes a third PMW signal smoothing circuit 85, a third transformer driving circuit 86, and a third boosting / rectifying circuit 87. The third PMW signal smoothing circuit 85 includes a resistor R6 and a sixth smoothing capacitor C6. The third PMW signal Sp3 supplied from the control circuit 61 via the third PWM port 61E is smoothed to obtain a smoothed third PMW signal Sp3. The third transformer drive circuit 86 is supplied. The third transformer driving circuit 86 is configured to flow an oscillation current to the primary winding T3A of the third boosting / rectifying circuit 87 based on the smoothed third PMW signal Sp3.

  The third boosting / rectifying circuit 87 includes a third transformer T3, a fourth rectifying diode D4, a seventh smoothing capacitor C7, and a resistor R7, and a secondary side voltage generated in the secondary side winding T3B of the third transformer T3. The second roller voltage VR2 is generated by rectifying Vt3b. Here, the third transformer driving circuit 86 and the third boosting / rectifying circuit 87 correspond to the “second applying unit” in the present invention.

  When the monochrome cartridge 33BK is mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK, the second roller voltage VR2 is supplied via the resistor R5 of the first roller voltage generation circuit 80A, the second output terminal J2 on the substrate 50A, and the connection line L2. It is supplied to the application electrode terminal A2 of the monochrome cartridge mounting part 31BK. Further, the second roller voltage VR2 is applied to the cleaning roller 34 through the power receiving electrode terminal P2. In response to application of the second roller voltage VR2, the cleaning roller 34 discharges the toner remaining on the attracted photosensitive drum 27 to the surface of the belt 25, for example.

  Further, the second roller voltage VR2 is supplied to one end of the resistor R2 of the shaft voltage generator 70 via the resistor R5 of the first roller voltage generation circuit 80A, and is generated by the secondary winding T1B of the first transformer T1. The shaft voltage VS (for example, 900 V) higher than the second roller voltage VR2 is generated by being added to the first output voltage Vo1.

  The second output voltage detection circuit 81 (corresponding to the “second detection means” in the present invention) includes three resistors R8, R9, and R10, and supplies the first roller voltage VR1 or the second roller voltage VR2 to two. The voltage is divided by the resistors R9 and R10 to generate a second detection signal (corresponding to the “second detection signal” in the present invention) Sd2. The second detection signal Sd2 is supplied to the second A / D port 61D of the control circuit 61. Since the second detection signal Sd2 is proportional to the first roller voltage VR1 or the second roller voltage VR2, the control circuit 61 sets the second PWM signal so that the second detection signal Sd2 has a predetermined constant value. Constant voltage control is performed to set the first roller voltage VR1 or the second roller voltage VR2 to a target value by appropriately changing the duty ratio of Sp2 or the third PWM signal Sp3.

2.2 Color high voltage circuit
As shown in FIG. 4, the color high voltage circuit 63 includes the roller voltage generator 80 of the monochrome high voltage circuit 62 shown in FIG. In the color high voltage circuit 63, the second PMW signal Sp2 is supplied from the control circuit 61 via the fourth PWM port 61F, the third PMW signal Sp3 is supplied via the fifth PWM port 61H, and the second detection signal Sd2 Is supplied to the control circuit 61 via the third A / D port 61G.

  Then, when the color cartridge 33Y (33M, 33C) is mounted on the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y (31M, 31C), the first roller voltage is used in a timely manner for sucking or discharging the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 27. VR1 or the second roller voltage VR2 is generated. The generated first roller voltage VR1 or second roller voltage VR2 is supplied to the application electrode terminal A2 of the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y (31M, 31C) via the third output terminal J3 and the connection line L3 on the substrate 50A. Then, it is applied to the roller shaft (conductor portion) 34a of the cleaning roller 34 via the power receiving electrode terminal P2.

3. Next, an embodiment relating to detection of erroneous cartridge mounting according to the present invention will be described. In addition, in each color cartridge mounting part 31Y, 31M, and 31C and each color cartridge 33Y, 33M, and 33C, since the structure which concerns on the detection of the incorrect mounting | wearing of a cartridge is the same, in the following description, they are only used for convenience. Only the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y and the color cartridge 33Y will be described.

3.1 When Color Cartridge 33Y is Incorrectly Installed in Monochrome Cartridge Mounting Unit 31BK Here, the control circuit 61 generates the first PWM signal Sp1 based on the first detection signal Sd1, and the value of the first detection signal Sd1 is When the color cartridge 33Y is out of the predetermined range, or when the value of the first PWM signal Sp1 is out of the predetermined range, it is detected that the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously attached to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK.

Example 1
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a dummy electrode terminal (dummy terminal) Pdm is provided below the cartridge frame 32 of the color cartridge 33Y. The dummy electrode terminal Pdm is provided in the cartridge frame 32 at a position where it contacts the application electrode terminal A1 of the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK, that is, a position corresponding to the power reception electrode terminal P1 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK. The dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to, for example, the ground by a predetermined connection line and is set to the ground potential (predetermined potential).

  In this configuration, when the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK and the shaft voltage VS is applied to the dummy electrode terminal Pdm, the dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to the ground, so the shaft voltage VS Fluctuates. Accordingly, the voltage value of the first detection signal Sd1 is also surely out of the predetermined range (outside the assumed voltage value range of the first detection signal Sd1), and the control circuit 61 causes the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK to color. It is reliably detected that the cartridge 33Y is erroneously mounted.

  In this case, since the value of the first detection signal Sd1 is outside the predetermined range, the duty ratio of the first PWM signal Sp1 is outside the predetermined range so that the first detection signal S1d becomes a predetermined constant value. The control circuit 61 can also detect that the color cartridge 33 is erroneously attached to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK by becoming the (MAX) value.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to the power receiving electrode terminal P1 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK at the lower portion of the cartridge frame 32 of the color cartridge 33Y. It is provided at the corresponding position. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to the roller shaft 34a of the cleaning roller 34 by a predetermined connection line.

  In this configuration, when the color cartridge 33 is erroneously mounted on the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK and the shaft voltage VS is applied to the dummy electrode terminal Pdm, the dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to the roller shaft 34a of the cleaning roller 34. Therefore, both ends of the resistor R2 of the monochrome high voltage circuit 62 are short-circuited. Therefore, the secondary side voltage Vt1b is not generated in the secondary side winding T1B of the first transformer T1, and the first detection signal Sd1 is not detected. Accordingly, the voltage value of the first detection signal Sd1 is surely outside the predetermined range (outside the range of the voltage value of the assumed first detection signal Sd1), and the control circuit 61 is connected to the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK. It is reliably detected that the color cartridge 33 is erroneously mounted.

  In this case, since the value of the first detection signal Sd1 is outside the predetermined range, the duty ratio of the first PWM signal Sp1 is outside the predetermined range, for example, the maximum (MAX) so that the first detection signal Sd1 has a predetermined constant value. ) Value, the control circuit 61 can detect that the color cartridge 33 is erroneously attached to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK.

3.2 When Monochrome Cartridge 33BK is Incorrectly Installed in Color Cartridge Installation Unit 31Y Here, the control circuit 61 generates the second PWM signal Sp2 based on the second detection signal Sd2, and the value of the second detection signal Sd2 is When it is out of the predetermined range, or when the value of the second PWM signal Sp2 is out of the predetermined range, it is detected that the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y.

(Example 3)
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y is a dummy electrode terminal (connected to the ground) at a position corresponding to the electrode terminal P1 of the cleaning shaft 35 in the monochrome cartridge 33BK. Dummy terminal) Adm. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the dummy electrode terminal Adm is connected to the ground in the color high-voltage circuit 63 via the connection line L4, and is set to the ground potential (predetermined potential).

  In this configuration, when the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously mounted on the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y and the roller voltage VR is applied to the cleaning roller 34 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK, the cleaning shaft 35 is connected to the ground, so the roller voltage VR The value of fluctuates. That is, the load (resistance value) as viewed from the color high voltage circuit 63 side changes compared to the case where the color cartridge 33Y not having the cleaning shaft 35 is mounted. Along with this, the value of the roller voltage VR changes.

  Therefore, the voltage value of the second detection signal Sd2 also changes, and accordingly, the duty ratio of the second PWM signal Sp2 is out of a predetermined range, for example, the maximum (MAX) value, so that the control circuit 61 causes the color cartridge mounting unit to It can be detected that the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to 31Y.

Example 4
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, as in the third embodiment, the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y is located at a position corresponding to the position of the power receiving electrode terminal P2 of the cleaning roller in the monochrome cartridge 33BK. It has a dummy electrode terminal Adm. As shown in FIG. 8, the dummy electrode terminal Adm is connected to the terminal J4 of the color high-voltage circuit 63 via the connection line L4. The color high voltage circuit 63 includes a resistor R11 and a resistor R12 for detecting the terminal voltage Vj of the terminal J4. The terminal voltage Vj is divided by the resistors R11 and R12 and supplied to the fourth A / D port 61K of the control circuit 61 as the detection signal Sd4.

  In this configuration, when the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y and the roller voltage VR is applied to the cleaning roller 34 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK, the cleaning shaft 35 is connected to the resistor R11 of the color high voltage circuit 63. Therefore, the terminal voltage Vj based on the roller voltage VR is detected by the resistor R11 and the resistor R12 via the dummy electrode terminal Adm.

  That is, when the color cartridge 33Y not having the cleaning shaft 35 is mounted, the terminal voltage Vj based on the roller voltage VR is not detected by the resistor R11 and the resistor R12 via the dummy electrode terminal Adm. Therefore, the control circuit 61 receives the detection signal Sd4 (terminal voltage Vj) and detects that the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y. Note that the values of the resistors R11 and R12 are appropriately set so that a detection signal Sd4 having a predetermined voltage level is obtained.

4). Effects of First Embodiment As described above, in the first embodiment, in order to detect erroneous mounting of a process cartridge, the existing control circuit 61, monochrome high-voltage circuit 62, and color high-voltage circuit 63 of the printer 1 are basically used. Configuration is utilized. In addition, an erroneous mounting of the cartridge is detected by suitably utilizing the existing structural difference between the monochrome cartridge 33BK having the cleaning shaft 35 for removing paper dust and each of the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C not having the cleaning shaft 35. The In addition, the dummy electrode terminal Pdm (Embodiments 1 and 2) is simply provided on the color cartridge 33Y, or the dummy electrode terminal Adm (Embodiments 3 and 4) is provided on the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y. The high-voltage circuit 63 is provided with detection resistors R11 and R12 (Example 4).

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to detect erroneous mounting of the process cartridge without using a complicated configuration by suitably using the configuration of the existing printer 1.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted, and only components different from those in the first embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the installation position of the power receiving electrode terminal P2 that receives the roller voltage VR to the cleaning roller 34 is provided in the same place in the monochrome cartridge 33BK and the color cartridge 33Y as shown in FIG. It was.

  However, in the second embodiment, the installation position of the power receiving electrode terminal P2 is different between the monochrome cartridge 33BK and the color cartridge 33Y. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in the color cartridge 33Y of the second embodiment, the power receiving electrode terminal P2 for the cleaning roller 34 is provided at a position corresponding to the installation position of the power receiving electrode terminal P1 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK. . Correspondingly, in the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y of Embodiment 2, the application electrode terminal A2 of the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y is provided at a position corresponding to the installation position of the application electrode terminal A1 of the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the second embodiment, the first output voltage detection circuit 74A of the monochrome high-voltage circuit 62 has three resistors R13 and R14, similar to the second output voltage detection circuit 81 of the first embodiment. , R15, and the shaft VS is divided by the two resistors R14 and R15 to generate the first detection signal Sd1a. That is, the first output voltage detection circuit 74A in the second embodiment divides the shaft voltage VS obtained by adding the first output voltage Vo1 to the second roller voltage VR2 to generate the first detection signal Sd1a.

5. 5.1 Incorrect cartridge detection 5.1 When the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously mounted in the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK (Example 5)
In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a dummy electrode terminal Pdm is provided at the lower part of the cartridge frame 32 of the color cartridge 33Y. The dummy electrode terminal Pdm is provided in the cartridge frame 32 at a position where it contacts the application electrode terminal A2 of the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK, that is, a position corresponding to the power reception electrode terminal P2 of the monochrome cartridge 33BK. The dummy electrode terminal Pdm is connected to, for example, the ground by a predetermined connection line.

  In this configuration, when the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously attached to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK and the second roller voltage VR2 is applied to the application electrode terminal A2 of the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK, the second output is compared with the normal attachment. The value of the second detection signal Sd2 by the voltage detection circuit 81 changes. That is, since the dummy electrode terminal Pdm of the color cartridge 33Y is connected to the ground, the divided voltage value by the voltage dividing resistors R9 and R10 changes greatly with respect to the normal wearing value.

  Therefore, the second detection signal Sd2 is also surely outside the predetermined range (outside the assumed voltage range of the first detection signal Sd1), and the control circuit 61 erroneously attaches the color cartridge 33Y to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK. It is detected reliably.

  In this case, since the value of the second detection signal Sd2 is outside the predetermined range, the duty ratio of the second PWM signal Sp2 is outside the predetermined range so that the second detection signal Sd2 becomes a predetermined constant value. The control circuit 61 can also detect that the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously attached to the monochrome cartridge attachment portion 31BK by becoming the (MAX) value.

5.2 When the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y (Example 6)
In Example 6, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y has a dummy electrode terminal Adm at a position corresponding to the position of the power receiving electrode terminal P2 of the cleaning roller 34 in the monochrome cartridge 33BK. As shown in FIG. 11, the dummy electrode terminal Adm is connected to the terminal J4 of the color high-voltage circuit 63 via the connection line L4 as in the fourth embodiment. Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the color high-voltage circuit 63 includes a resistor R11 and a resistor R12 for detecting the terminal voltage Vj appearing at the terminal J4. The terminal voltage Vj is divided by the resistors R11 and R12 and supplied to the fourth A / D port 61K of the control circuit 61 as the detection signal Sd4. That is, the color high voltage circuit 63 of the sixth embodiment is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

  In this configuration, when the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y, the roller shaft 34a of the cleaning roller 34 is connected to the resistor R11 of the color high voltage circuit 63. When the roller voltage VR is applied to the cleaning shaft 35, the terminal voltage Vj based on the roller voltage VR is detected by the resistor R11 and the resistor R12 through the dummy electrode terminal Adm.

  That is, when the color cartridge 33Y not having the cleaning shaft 35 is mounted, the terminal voltage Vj based on the roller voltage VR is not detected by the resistor R11 and the resistor R12 via the dummy electrode terminal Adm. Therefore, the control circuit 61 detects that the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously attached to the color cartridge attachment portion 31Y by receiving the detection signal Sd4. Note that the values of the resistors R11 and R12 are appropriately set so that a detection signal Sd4 having a predetermined voltage level is obtained.

6). Effects of Second Embodiment In the fifth embodiment, the dummy electrode simply connected to the ground at the position corresponding to the power receiving electrode terminal P2 of the color cartridge 33Y that receives the roller voltage VR to the cleaning roller 34 in the monochrome cartridge 33BK. A terminal Pdm is provided.

  In the sixth embodiment, the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y is provided with the dummy electrode terminal Adm, and the color high voltage circuit 63 is simply provided with the detection resistors R11 and R12 in order to detect the voltage from the dummy terminal Adm. It is done.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the monochrome cartridge 33BK and the color cartridge 33Y have the same positions as in the first embodiment even when the installation positions of the power receiving electrode terminal P2 that receives the roller voltage VR to the cleaning roller 34 are different. Thus, it is possible to detect an erroneous mounting of the cartridge without making the configuration complicated by suitably using the existing configuration.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In Example 1 and Example 2 of the first embodiment, instead of the first output voltage detection circuit 74 that generates the first detection signal Sd1 using the detection winding T1d, the third example shown in Example 5 is used. The first detection signal Sd1a may be generated directly from the shaft voltage VS using the first output voltage detection circuit 74A including the two resistors R13, R14, and R15.

  (2) In the above embodiment, an example in which the shaft voltage VS (for example, 900 V) higher than the second roller voltage VR2 (for example, 800 V) has been shown, but the relationship between the voltage values of the second roller voltage VR2 and the shaft voltage VS Is not limited to this. For example, a shaft voltage VS lower than the second roller voltage VR2 may be generated according to the charging voltage of the paper dust.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the dummy electrode terminal Pdm and the dummy electrode terminal Adm are set to the ground potential as the predetermined potential has been described. However, the predetermined potential is not limited to this, and a situation of erroneous mounting detection It may be set appropriately according to the above. For example, a voltage of 1V may be applied to the dummy electrode terminal Pdm and the dummy electrode terminal Adm, and the potential may be set to 1V.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the control circuit 61 appropriately changes the duty ratio of the PWM signal (control signal) based on each detection signal Sd, that is, determines the monochrome high-voltage circuit 62 and the color high-voltage circuit 63 by feedback control. Although an example of voltage control has been shown, constant voltage control is not necessarily limited to feedback control. Further, the control signal from the control circuit 61 is not limited to the PWM signal. Further, the control circuit 61 is not limited to the CPU, and may be configured by, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  (5) In the above embodiment, the monochrome high-voltage circuit 62 and the color high-voltage circuit 63 generate each high voltage by a flyback method using a transformer. However, the method for generating a high voltage is not limited to this. I can't. For example, each high voltage may be generated by a forward method using a transformer.

  (6) In the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which both the case where the color cartridge 33Y is erroneously mounted in the monochrome cartridge mounting portion 31BK and the case where the monochrome cartridge 33BK is erroneously mounted in the color cartridge mounting portion 31Y are detected. Any one of them may detect an erroneous mounting.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the monochrome cartridge 33BK is a first cartridge provided with the cleaning shaft 35 for removing paper dust, and the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C are second cartridges not provided with the cleaning shaft 35. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any one of the color cartridges 33Y, 33M, and 33C may be the first cartridge, and the remaining cartridges including the monochrome cartridge 33BK may be the second cartridge.

  (8) In the above embodiment, an example in which the second roller voltage VR2 that is a positive voltage of the roller voltages VR is used as the second voltage has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first roller voltage VR1 that is a negative voltage may be used as the second voltage, and it may be determined that the cartridge is erroneously mounted when the detection signal is outside the range of the assumed voltage value.

  (9) The “image forming apparatus” of the present invention is not limited to a printing apparatus such as a printer (for example, a laser printer), but may be a facsimile machine or a multi-function machine having a printer function and a reading function (scanner function). Good.

  (10) Further, the present invention can also be applied to a mechanism for detecting that a cartridge that is not suitable for the image forming apparatus is mounted when the “image forming apparatus” has only one cartridge mounting portion. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented not only in a color printer but also in a monochrome printer as an image forming apparatus.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the electrode of the cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the electrode of a cartridge mounting part Schematic circuit diagram for generating voltage applied to monochrome cartridge Schematic circuit diagram for generating the voltage applied to the color cartridge Schematic circuit diagram showing an example relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge in an embodiment Schematic circuit diagram showing another embodiment relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge Schematic circuit diagram showing another embodiment relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge Schematic circuit diagram showing another embodiment relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge Explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the electrode of the cartridge which concerns on another embodiment, and the electrode of a cartridge mounting part Schematic circuit diagram showing an example relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge in another embodiment Schematic circuit diagram showing another embodiment relating to erroneous mounting detection of a cartridge

Explanation of symbols

1. Color printer (image forming device)
3 ... Main body casing 4 ... Display device (notification means)
27 ... Photoconductor drum (photoconductor)
31 ... Mounting frame 31BK ... Monochrome cartridge mounting part (first cartridge mounting part)
31Y, 31M, 31C ... Color cartridge mounting part (second cartridge mounting part)
33BK ... Monochrome cartridge (first cartridge)
33Y, 33M, 33C ... Color cartridge (second cartridge)
34 ... Cleaning roller (toner collecting means)
34a ... Roller shaft (conductor part)
35 ... Cleaning shaft (paper dust removing means)
40BK, 40Y, 40M, 40C ... developing cartridge 61 ... control circuit (control means)
62 ... monochrome high voltage circuit 63 ... color high voltage circuit 70 ... shaft voltage generator 72 ... first transformer drive circuit (first application means)
73. First boosting / rectifying circuit (first applying means)
74: First output voltage detection circuit (first detection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 80 ... Roller voltage generation part 80A ... 1st roller voltage generation circuit 80B ... 2nd roller voltage generation circuit 81 ... 2nd output voltage detection circuit (2nd detection means)
86. Third transformer driving circuit (second applying means)
87. Third boosting / rectifying circuit (second applying means)
Adm ... dummy electrode terminal Pdm ... dummy electrode terminal Sd1 ... first detection signal Sd2 ... second detection signal Sp1 ... first PWM signal (first control signal)
Sp2: Second PWM signal (second control signal)
VR2 ... second roller voltage (second voltage)
VS ... shaft voltage (first voltage, predetermined voltage)

Claims (18)

A first cartridge having paper dust removing means for removing paper dust mixed in the housing using the applied first voltage;
A first cartridge mounting portion on which the first cartridge is mounted;
A second cartridge not provided with the paper dust removing means;
First application means for applying the first voltage to the paper dust removing means of the first cartridge;
First detection means for generating a first detection signal based on the first voltage applied by the first application means;
Based on the first detection signal, or based on a first control signal output to the first application means for setting the first voltage to a predetermined value, the second cartridge is inserted into the first cartridge mounting portion. A control means for detecting that it has been installed incorrectly;
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means includes
When the value of the first detection signal is out of a predetermined range, or when the value of the first control signal generated based on the first detection signal is out of a predetermined range, the first cartridge It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously attached to the attachment portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The first cartridge and the second cartridge each include a photoconductor and a means for collecting toner remaining on the photoconductor.
The paper dust removing means removes paper dust on the collecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
A second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted;
Second application means for applying a second voltage having a voltage value different from the first voltage to the recovery means;
Second detection means for generating a second detection signal based on the second voltage applied by the second application means;
Based on the second detection signal, or on the basis of a second control signal output to the second application means in order to set the second voltage to a predetermined value, the control means controls the second cartridge mounting portion. It is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4.
The control means includes
The second cartridge when the value of the second detection signal is outside a predetermined range, or when the value of the second control signal generated based on the second detection signal is outside the predetermined range. It is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the attachment portion. In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The second cartridge has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge,
The dummy terminal is set to a predetermined potential. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:
The second cartridge has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge,
The recovery means has a conductor portion for receiving the second voltage,
The dummy terminal is connected to the conductor portion of the collecting means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
The second cartridge mounting portion has a dummy terminal having a predetermined potential at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
The second cartridge mounting portion has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the paper dust removing means in the first cartridge,
The control means detects that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion based on detection of a predetermined voltage from the dummy terminal. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
Second application means for applying a second voltage having a voltage value different from the first voltage to the recovery means;
Second detection means for generating a second detection signal based on the second voltage applied by the second application means;
The second cartridge has a dummy terminal having a predetermined potential at a position corresponding to the terminal of the collecting means in the first cartridge,
Based on the second detection signal, or on the basis of a second control signal output to the second application means in order to set the second voltage to a predetermined value, the control means controls the first cartridge mounting portion. It is detected that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.
When the value of the second detection signal is out of a predetermined range, or when the value of the second control signal generated based on the second detection signal is out of a predetermined range , Detecting that the second cartridge is erroneously mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The first or second control signal is a PWM signal. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
A second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted;
A second application means for applying a second voltage having a voltage value different from the first voltage to the recovery means;
The second cartridge mounting portion has a dummy terminal at a position corresponding to the position of the terminal of the collecting means in the first cartridge,
The control means detects that the first cartridge is erroneously attached to the second cartridge attachment portion based on detection of a predetermined voltage from the dummy terminal. A first cartridge comprising a photoconductor, a collecting means for toner remaining on the photoconductor, and a paper dust removing means for removing paper dust on the collecting means;
A first cartridge mounting portion on which the first cartridge is mounted;
A second cartridge comprising the photoreceptor and the recovery means;
A second cartridge mounting portion on which the second cartridge is mounted;
Applying means for applying a predetermined voltage to the recovery means;
Detecting means for generating a detection signal based on the predetermined voltage applied by the applying means;
Based on the detection signal, or based on a control signal output to the applying means for setting the predetermined voltage to a predetermined value, it is detected that the first cartridge is erroneously mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion. Control means to
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.
The control means includes
When the value of the detection signal is out of a predetermined range, or when the control signal generated based on the detection signal is out of the predetermined range, the first cartridge is inserted into the second cartridge mounting portion. It detects that it was installed incorrectly. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
Further provided is an informing means for informing an erroneous mounting of the cartridge. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
The first cartridge is a cartridge arranged at the uppermost stream in the flow relating to image formation, and the second cartridge is a cartridge arranged downstream of the first cartridge. A first cartridge provided with a paper dust removing means for removing paper dust mixed in the housing using a predetermined voltage applied;
A cartridge mounting portion on which the first cartridge is mounted;
Applying means for applying the predetermined voltage to the paper dust removing means of the first cartridge;
Detecting means for generating a detection signal based on the predetermined voltage applied by the applying means;
Based on the detection signal or on the basis of a control signal output to the applying unit to set the predetermined voltage to a predetermined value, the second cartridge that does not include the paper dust removing unit in the cartridge mounting unit is erroneously mounted Control means for detecting
An image forming apparatus.

Images