JP2022178339A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an interface connector that, when an option cassette 70 and an option large capacity cassette 80 different in the number of signal lines used are exclusively connected with a common interface connector 300, that does not provide unnecessary signal lines to the option cassette 70 requiring the smaller number of signal lines and prevents a failure in pressure welding of harnesses.SOLUTION: Signal lines (sensor signals 1, 2) not used by an option cassette 70 but used by an option large capacity cassette 80 are arranged to be located on both sides of an interface connector 300.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an interface connector to which different option units can be exclusively connected.

In recent years, as image forming apparatuses have become multifunctional, the types of connectable option units have increased. For example, a device is known in which a plurality of option units are electrically connected to an apparatus main body via signal lines (Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-170889 A

In the image forming apparatus, when different option units are exclusively connected to the same connector of the apparatus main body, it is necessary to make the electrical interface specifications the same. However, the required number of signal lines may differ depending on the connected option unit. In that case, unnecessary signal lines are also connected to the option unit that requires fewer signal lines.

Therefore, by reducing the number of signal lines of the harness to be connected to the optional unit that requires fewer signal lines without changing the number of connector poles, it is possible to reduce unnecessary signal lines. The cost of the option unit can be reduced.

However, in the pressure contact type connector used for the signal line, it is necessary to consider insufficient strength of the connector, poor pressure contact, poor connection, and the like when providing empty terminals.

Therefore, the present invention is to connect option units without unnecessary signal lines while suppressing insufficient strength, pressure contact failure, connection failure, etc. of connectors for exclusively connecting option units that require different numbers of signal lines. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes:
an image forming means for forming an image on paper;
A first option unit, each used for image formation by the image forming means and using a first number of signal lines, is connected via a first harness, and a first option unit that is greater than the first number an interface connector to which a second option unit using two signal lines is exclusively connected to the first option unit via a second harness;
There is no idle terminal between the signal lines commonly used by the first option unit and the second option unit, and the signal line is not used by the first option unit but is used by the second option unit. The signal lines are arranged so that the signal lines used in common are not located between the signal lines used in common.

According to the present invention, it is possible to connect option units without unnecessary signal lines while suppressing insufficient strength, pressure contact failure, connection failure, etc. of the connector for exclusively connecting option units that require different numbers of signal lines. can.

Overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus Configuration diagram of optional large-capacity cassette Block diagram of a control unit of an image forming apparatus Diagram showing the connection interface of the option unit Cross section of harness side connector Signal arrangement table of interface connector 300 Diagram showing the harness of the option unit

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 is a tandem type intermediate transfer type full-color printer in which image forming units 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are arranged along the downward surface of the intermediate transfer belt 2. As shown in FIG.

The document scanner 50 reads an image of a document and sends the read image to the printer 30 as image data. The printer 30 can print not only the image data read by the document scanner 50 but also the image data sent from the outside.

A cassette 4 accommodates the recording material P used for image formation. The registration rollers 9 receive and wait the recording material P in a stopped state, and send the recording material P to the secondary transfer portion T2 in timing with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 2 .

The image forming units 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are configured almost identically, except that the colors of toner used in them are different from yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Hereinafter, the image forming section 1a will be described, and the other image forming sections 1b, 1c, and 1d will be described by replacing the letter a at the end of the reference numeral with b, c, and d.

The photosensitive drum a has a photosensitive layer having a negative charging polarity formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is uniformly charged to a negative potential by a charging roller (not shown).

The exposure device 6 scans a laser beam with a rotating mirror to write an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an input image on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum a. The electrostatic latent image written on the photosensitive drum a is developed with toner by a developing device (not shown) incorporated in the image forming section 1a to form a toner image.

Subsequently, by applying a positive DC voltage to the primary transfer roller 2a, the negative toner image carried on the photosensitive drum a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2 passing through the primary transfer portion Ta.

The secondary transfer portion T2 is configured by contacting the intermediate transfer belt 2 with the secondary transfer roller 22 . A positive DC voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 22 from a power supply (not shown), thereby forming a toner image transfer electric field between the secondary transfer tension roller 25 and the ground potential.

The fixing unit 5 presses a pressure roller 5b against a fixing roller 5a provided with a heater to form a heating nip. adhere to the surface of the

The paper discharge roller 11 discharges the recording material P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 5 to the paper discharge tray 7 .

The option cassette 70 is connected to the lower portion of the printer 30 and has two stages of recording material cassettes 71 and 72 capable of storing recording materials of various sizes. As with the paper feeding section of the main body, separation rollers 73 and 74 separate the recording materials Q 1 and R one by one and feed them to the registration rollers 9 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optional large-capacity cassette 80. As shown in FIG. It has a recording material tray 82 which is connected exclusively to the option cassette 70 shown in FIG. The recording material S is separated sheet by sheet by the separation roller 83 and sent out to the registration roller 9 in the same manner as the paper feed section of the main body. The detailed configuration of the optional large-capacity cassette 80 is the same as that described in JP-A-2016-166095.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The control unit 200 serves to drive each load in the image forming apparatus 100 , collect and analyze information from sensors, control images, and exchange data with the operation unit 202 . The control unit 200 is equipped with a CPU 201, and the CPU 201 executes various sequences related to a predetermined image forming sequence according to programs stored in the ROM 201a. It also has a RAM 201b for storing rewritable data that needs to be temporarily or permanently stored. The RAM 201b stores, for example, high voltage setting values for the high voltage control unit 205, various data described later, image formation command information from the operation unit 202, types of recording paper (size, blank paper, colored paper, thick paper, transparent paper, etc.), various Save settings. The RAM 201b uses a battery (not shown) or the like to retain data even when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned off.

The image forming apparatus 100 has DC loads such as motors and clutches/solenoids, and sensors such as photointerrupters and microswitches at various locations inside the apparatus. That is, the transfer material is conveyed and each unit is driven by appropriately driving the motor and each DC load, and various sensors monitor these operations.

The control unit 200 causes the motor control unit 207 to control each motor 212 based on signals from various sensors 214, and causes the DC load control unit 208 to operate the clutch/solenoid 213 to execute the image forming operation. Let Various high voltage control signals are output from the high voltage controller 205 to the high voltage unit 206, and the high voltage unit 206 applies appropriate high voltages to the primary charger, the transfer charger, and the developing roller in the developing device. ing. Further, the fixing roller 5a incorporates a heater 211 for heating the fixing roller 5a, and each heater 211 is ON/OFF controlled by an AC driver 210. FIG. The fixing roller 5a is provided with a thermistor 204 for measuring the temperature thereof, and an A/D converter 203 converts the resistance value change of the thermistor 204 according to the temperature change of the fixing roller 5a into a voltage value. After that, it is input to the control unit 200 as a digital value. The control unit 200 controls the AC driver 210 based on this temperature data.

The option control unit 220 controls communication with the option cassette 70 and the option large-capacity cassette 80 when the option cassette 70 or the option large-capacity cassette 80 is connected. The option cassette 70 and the option large-capacity cassette 80 are exclusively connected to the printer 30 as a paper feeding device, and are controlled by a common communication interface.

Next, the connection interface of the option unit in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

4A shows a state in which the option cassette 70 or the option large-capacity cassette 80 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100. FIG.

A harness 400 from the option cassette 70 or the option large-capacity cassette 80 is connected to the interface connector 300 on the image forming apparatus 100 side for electrical coupling.

FIG. 4(b) shows the signals required when the optional cassette 70 is connected, and FIG. 4(c) shows the signals required when the optional large-capacity cassette 80 is connected. there is As can be seen by comparing the two, the number of signals required for the optional large-capacity cassette 80 is greater, and the signals other than the sensor signals 1 and 2 are the same as those for the optional cassette 70 .

Therefore, if the option large-capacity cassette 80 can be connected, the option cassette 70 can also be connected, but signal lines unnecessary for the option cassette 70 are also connected.

The control unit 200 can determine which of the optional cassette 70 and the optional large-capacity cassette 80 is connected using predetermined signal lines (communication TXD, communication RXD, connection detection). When the optional large-capacity cassette 80 is connected, the sensor signal 1 and sensor signal 2 signal lines are used. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector 401 on the harness 400 side in the interface connector connecting portion of the image forming apparatus 100 . As the connector 401, a pressure contact type connector as shown in FIG. 5 is used in consideration of current capacity, manufacturing cost, and the like. Electrical connection is made by press-fitting the electric wire 500 to the connector 401 .

Here, in the press-contact type connector, the wires are press-contacted on both sides of the press-contact wall portion 405 in FIG. 5, thereby ensuring sufficient strength against the press-contact of the wires. However, if an empty terminal exists near the center of the connector 401, the wall strength with the adjacent pin cannot be ensured, and the wire is likely to come off. Alternatively, poor pressure contact may occur. Therefore, in order to secure the wall strength when the empty terminals are provided, it is necessary to use the empty terminals as the ends of the connector.

A harness of an option unit connected to the interface connector 300 of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a table showing the signal arrangement of the interface connector 300 in this embodiment. 7A shows the harness 400a of the option cassette 70 in this embodiment, and FIG. 7B shows the harness 400b of the option large-capacity cassette 80 in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, common signals used by both the option cassette 70 and the option large-capacity cassette 80 are arranged on the sides other than the ends (both ends). On the other hand, signals that are not used in the option cassette 70 but are used in the option large-capacity cassette 80 are arranged on the end side (both ends) of the connector. In other words, the signal lines that are not used by the option cassette 70 but are used by the option large-capacity cassette 80 are arranged so as not to be positioned between the common signal lines. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 7A, the harness 400a of the option cassette 70 can reduce unnecessary electric wires while suppressing poor pressure contact in the harness.

Note that the sensor signal 1 and the sensor signal 2 may be arranged side by side at one end of the connector.

Also, when the difference between the number of signals used by the option cassette 70 and the number of signals used by the option large-capacity cassette 80 is one or three or more, an empty terminal is provided between signals common to both. are arranged so that In addition, signal lines not used in the option cassette 70 but used in the option large-capacity cassette 80 are arranged so as not to be positioned between common signal lines.

As described above, when option units that require different numbers of signal lines are exclusively connected to the common interface connector of the image forming apparatus, the pressure contact failure of the harness is suppressed, and unnecessary signal lines for one option unit are suppressed. No signal line is required.

30 printer 70 option cassette 80 option large capacity cassette 100 image forming apparatus 200 control unit 220 option control section 300 interface connector 400, 400a, 400b harness

Claims (6)

an image forming means for forming an image on paper;
A first option unit, each used for image formation by the image forming means and using a first number of signal lines, is connected via a first harness, and a first option unit that is greater than the first number an interface connector to which a second option unit using two signal lines is exclusively connected to the first option unit via a second harness;
There is no idle terminal between the signal lines commonly used by the first option unit and the second option unit, and the signal line is not used by the first option unit but is used by the second option unit. 2. An image forming apparatus, wherein the signal lines are arranged so that the signal lines used in common are not located between the signal lines used in common. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal line which is not used by said first option unit but used by said second option unit is arranged so as to be positioned at an end of said interface connector. When the number of signal lines used in the second option unit and not used in the first option unit is two, the two signal lines are arranged so as to be positioned at both ends of the interface connector. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first harness and the second harness have press-contact type connectors. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first option unit and said second option unit are sheet feeding devices for feeding sheets on which images are to be formed by said image forming means. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. It is characterized by comprising control means for determining whether the first option unit is connected or the second option unit is connected, using a predetermined signal line among the commonly used signal lines. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images