Drum assembly chip, its working method, drum assembly, and electrophotographic apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a drum assembly chip, a working method thereof, a drum assembly, and an electrophotographic apparatus. The drum assembly chip includes a main controller and a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit is provided with a voltage detection point, one or more switching devices, and one or more resistors. The main controller controls the on / off of the switching devices to change the connection state of the resistors, and thereby changes the voltage value of the voltage detection point, so that the voltage detection point presents different voltage values when the drum assembly chip is not connected to the powder cartridge chip, the drum assembly chip is initially connected to the powder cartridge chip, the state of the powder cartridge rotation detection switch changes, the state of the powder cartridge powder addition end switch changes, the powder cartridge rotates, and the powder cartridge is removed. The present invention also provides a working method of the above drum assembly, and also provides a drum assembly and an electrophotographic apparatus. The drum assembly chip of the present invention can be compatible with powder cartridges with or without powder cartridge chips, and no delay needs to be set, making the user's powder addition operation more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrophotography. Specifically, it relates to a drum assembly chip, a working method of the drum assembly chip, a drum assembly having such a drum assembly chip, and an electrophotographic apparatus. Background Art

[0002] As common office equipment, electrophotographic apparatuses provide great convenience for modern office work. Common electrophotographic apparatuses include printers, copiers, etc. Existing printers are divided into inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers use an ink cartridge containing ink as a consumable container to spray ink onto paper to form the text or pattern to be printed on the paper; laser printers use a toner cartridge containing toner as a consumable container to form the text or pattern to be printed on a medium.

[0003] Generally, the toner capacity contained in the toner cartridge is limited. When the toner in the toner cartridge is used up, it is necessary to replace the toner cartridge or add toner to the toner cartridge. For this reason, a drum assembly is provided in an existing laser printer, and a toner containing cavity is provided in the drum assembly, and a certain amount of toner can be contained in the toner containing cavity. If the toner in the toner containing cavity is used up, the user can add toner by himself. Specifically, insert the powder cylinder into the drum assembly so that the powder outlet of the powder cylinder faces the powder adding port of the drum assembly, and send the toner in the powder cylinder into the toner containing cavity.

[0004] During the toner adding process, multiple operations are required: insert the powder cylinder into the drum assembly so that the powder cylinder contacts the drum assembly; rotate the powder cylinder so that the powder outlet of the powder cylinder faces the powder adding port of the drum assembly and the valve at the powder outlet of the powder cylinder is opened; push the push rod on the powder cylinder to push the toner in the powder cylinder into the drum assembly; after the push rod slides to the bottom, rotate the powder cylinder and take out the powder cylinder. In order for the laser printer to monitor the toner adding process of the powder cylinder, chips are respectively provided on the drum assembly and the powder cylinder, that is, a drum assembly chip is provided on the drum assembly, and a powder cylinder chip is provided on the powder cylinder. Multiple resistors are provided on the drum assembly chip and the powder cylinder chip.

[0005] In addition, multiple detection switches are respectively provided on the drum assembly and the powder cylinder, including a powder cylinder rotation detection switch, a powder cylinder toner adding end switch, etc. By changing the states of these detection switches, the resistance values on the drum assembly chip and the powder cylinder chip are changed, so that the voltage value detected by the laser printer is changed. The laser printer knows the progress of the user's toner adding operation and confirms whether the toner adding operation is completed according to the change of the detected voltage value.

[0006] See Figure 1, the detection circuit 11 of the laser printer is provided with a detection chip. The power supply pin VCC of the detection chip outputs a power supply signal, and the detection pin Test is used to receive the detection signal. A resistor R12 is arranged inside the drum unit chip 12, and the resistor R12 is connected in parallel with the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S11. The toner cartridge chip 13 is provided with a resistor R13 and a resistor R14, and a toner cartridge powder addition end switch S12 is arranged between the resistor R13 and the resistor R14. Among them, the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S12 is in a closed state in the initial state. After the user slides the push rod to the bottom, the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S12 changes and becomes an open state.

[0007] When the toner cartridge is not inserted, the drum unit chip 12 and the toner cartridge chip 13 are not connected. The power supply signal output by the power supply pin VCC of the detection circuit 11 cannot form a loop after passing through the resistors R11 and R12. Therefore, the voltage of the detection pin Test is the power supply voltage VCC. When the toner cartridge is inserted into the drum unit, the toner cartridge chip 13 is connected to the drum unit chip 12. When the toner cartridge is not rotating, the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S11 is in an open state and the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S12 is in a closed state. At this time, the resistors R12, R13, and R14 are connected to the circuit, and the resistor R13 is connected in parallel with R14. At this time, the voltage of the detection pin Test is [R12 + R13*R14 / (R13 + R14)] / [R11 + R12 + R13*R14 / (R13 + R14)]*VCC.

[0008] When the toner cartridge rotates, the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S11 changes from an open state to a closed state, and the resistor R12 is short-circuited. The voltage of the detection pin Test is [R13*R14 / (R13 + R14)] / [R11 + R13*R14 / (R13 + R14)]*VCC. When the toner cartridge powder addition is completed, that is, the switch state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S12 changes from a closed state to an open state, then the resistor R14 is not connected to the circuit. At this time, the voltage of the detection pin Test is [R13 / (R11 + R13)]*VCC. When the user rotates the toner cartridge back, the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S11 changes from a closed state to an open state. At this time, the voltage of the detection pin Test is [R12 + R13 / (R11 + R12 + R13)]*VCC.

[0009] Since a drum unit can be refilled with toner using multiple toner cartridges during its lifespan, and the I / O terminals of the drum unit chip are connected to those of the toner cartridge chip, a method has emerged that uses the drum unit chip to communicate with the printer instead of the toner cartridge chip. This method does not require an additional chip on the toner cartridge. To ensure that the test pin Test of the laser printer can receive the corresponding voltage signal, some existing drum unit chips simulate the voltage changes in each step of toner refilling through a step-by-step delay method, enabling the drum unit to be compatible with toner cartridges without a toner cartridge chip. Specifically, a control circuit is set in the drum unit chip, and the control circuit forms different voltage signals at different steps during the toner refilling process of the toner cartridge, allowing the laser printer to detect different voltage signals and achieve the operation of simulating toner refilling. Since this control circuit is not linked to the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S11 and the toner refilling end switch S12, it can only simulate the change in voltage values at each step through a delay operation, that is, after outputting the voltage value corresponding to the previous step, a delay is set, and then the voltage value corresponding to the next step is output.

[0010] However, if the actual operation duration of each step by the user is longer than the delay time set by the drum unit chip itself, unexpected results may occur. For example, if the user does not rotate the toner cartridge to refill toner for a long time after inserting the toner cartridge, there may be a situation where the toner has not been filled into the toner storage cavity of the drum unit, but the drum unit chip already considers the toner addition to be complete. In addition, since this drum unit chip will communicate with the printer instead of the toner cartridge chip, if the user inserts a toner cartridge with a toner cartridge chip, the communication data of the toner cartridge chip and the communication data of the drum unit chip will be superimposed and conflict, resulting in abnormal operation and causing inconvenience to the user. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The first object of the present invention is to provide a drum unit chip that can simulate different voltage values in each step of toner refilling according to the state changes of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch and the toner refilling end switch.

[0012] The second object of the present invention is to provide a working method for the above drum unit chip.

[0013] The third object of the present invention is to provide a drum unit provided with the above drum unit chip.

[0014] The fourth object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus provided with the above drum unit.

[0015] To achieve the first object of the present invention, the drum assembly chip provided by the present invention includes a main controller and a voltage control circuit. The voltage control circuit is provided with a voltage detection point. Among them, the voltage control circuit is provided with more than one switching device and more than one resistor. The main controller controls the on and off of the switching device to change the connection state of the resistor, and thereby changes the voltage value of the voltage detection point, so that the voltage detection point presents different voltage values when the drum assembly chip is not connected to the toner cartridge chip, the drum assembly chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip, the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch changes, the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch changes, the toner cartridge rotates, and the toner cartridge is removed.

[0016] As can be seen from the above solution, the main controller can change the connection state of the resistor by changing the state of the switching device. For example, the resistor can be connected to the circuit or not connected to the circuit. And combined with the change of the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch and the toner cartridge powder addition end switch, the access state of the resistor can be further changed, so as to simulate the change of the voltage value in each step during the toner cartridge powder addition operation, and ensure that the laser printer can correctly identify the powder addition operation of the toner cartridge.

[0017] A preferred solution is that the voltage control circuit includes a first switching device and a fifth resistor connected in parallel. The main controller controls the on and off of the first switching device so that the fifth resistor is connected to or not connected to the voltage control circuit.

[0018] A further solution is that the voltage detection point is set at the first end of the fifth resistor, and the second end of the fifth resistor is connected to the first end of the second resistor. The first end of the second resistor is also connected to a pin of the main controller.

[0019] Furthermore, the main controller judges whether each step of the powder addition operation is completed according to the voltage change on this pin. After the corresponding step is completed, the main controller then controls the on and off of the switching device to make the voltage monitoring point present different voltage values.

[0020] Thus, since the voltage value change on the pin of the main controller is related to whether the toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip, when the user inserts a toner cartridge with a toner cartridge chip into the drum assembly, the powder addition operation can also be carried out normally. Therefore, the drum assembly chip provided by the present invention can cooperate with both toner cartridges with toner cartridge chips and toner cartridges without toner cartridge chips, and has good compatibility.

[0021] In addition, since the voltage value change of the voltage detection point is also related to the change of the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch and the toner cartridge powder addition end switch, the main controller can accurately detect the user's operations in each step. It does not need to output the voltage value after a delay, and only needs to adjust the on and off states of multiple switching devices according to the change of the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch and the toner cartridge powder addition end switch, so as to avoid the situation where the user's actual operation is inconsistent with the state recorded by the drum assembly chip.

[0022] A further solution is that the voltage control circuit includes a second switching device and a seventh resistor. One end of the seventh resistor is grounded, and the other end is connected to the second switching device. The main controller controls the on / off of the second switching device so that the voltage control circuit is grounded through the seventh resistor or not.

[0023] Thus, the drum unit chip only needs to change the on / off state of the second switching device to simulate the voltage value when the toner cartridge is refilled, and the control of the main controller is very simple.

[0024] To achieve the above second object, the working method of the drum unit chip provided by the present invention includes obtaining the voltage value of the voltage detection point, judging whether a toner cartridge chip is provided on the toner cartridge connected to the drum unit chip according to the voltage value of the voltage detection point. If a toner cartridge chip is provided, then control the on / off of the switching device so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point sequentially presents the voltage values when the drum unit chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip, the state of the toner rotation detection switch changes, the state of the toner refill end switch changes, the toner cartridge rotates back, and the toner cartridge is taken out.

[0025] Thus, the voltage control circuit can change the connection state of the resistor by changing the state of the switching device, and further change the access state of the resistor in combination with the change of the state of the toner rotation detection switch and the state of the toner refill end switch, so as to simulate the change of the voltage value in each step during the toner refill operation of the toner cartridge, ensuring that the laser printer can correctly identify the toner refill operation of the toner cartridge.

[0026] The working method of the drum unit chip provided by the present invention may further include obtaining the voltage value of the voltage detection point, judging whether a toner cartridge chip is provided on the toner cartridge connected to the drum unit chip according to the voltage value of the voltage detection point. If no toner cartridge chip is provided, then control the first switching device and the second switching device to be cut off so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the drum unit chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip; before the state of the toner rotation detection switch changes, keep the cut-off states of the first switching device and the second switching device unchanged, and after the toner rotates, so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the state of the toner rotation detection switch changes; after the state of the toner refill end switch changes, control the first switching device to be cut off and control the second switching device to be turned on so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the state of the toner refill end switch changes; the main controller simulates the communication between the toner cartridge chip and the electrophotographic device, and the electrophotographic device sends information on increasing the number of printed pages to the main controller; before the state of the toner rotation switch changes, keep the first switching device cut off and the second switching device turned on, and after the toner rotates back, so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the toner rotates back; when the toner cartridge is taken out, control the first switching device to be turned on and control the second switching device to be cut off so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the toner cartridge is taken out.

[0027] As can be seen from the above solution, in the case where the toner cartridge does not have a toner cartridge chip, changing the state of the switching device can change the connection state of the resistors, and by combining the detection of the rotation of the toner cartridge and the change in the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch, the access state of the resistors can be further changed, simulating the change in the voltage values of the voltage detection points in each step of powder addition.

[0028] To achieve the above third objective, the drum assembly provided by the present invention includes a frame, and the above-mentioned drum assembly chip is provided on the outer wall of the frame.

[0029] To achieve the above fourth objective, the electrophotographic apparatus provided by the present invention includes a body, and the above-mentioned drum assembly is provided inside the body.

[0030] A preferred solution is that the drum assembly chip can be connected to an adapter circuit board, and a toner cartridge insertion detection switch is provided on the adapter circuit board. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is the circuit schematic diagram of the existing drum assembly chip.

[0032] Figure 2 is the circuit schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 is the circuit schematic diagram of the toner cartridge chip cooperating with the first embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 is the first part of the flowchart of the working method embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 is the second part of the flowchart of the working method embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 6 is the circuit schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 7 is the circuit schematic diagram of the toner cartridge chip cooperating with the second embodiment of the drum assembly chip of the present invention.

[0038] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The drum unit chip of the present invention can be installed on the drum unit, and the drum unit is detachably installed in an electrophotographic device, such as a laser printer. A toner storage chamber is provided in the drum unit, and the toner used for electrophotography can be stored in the toner storage chamber. As the toner is consumed, if the remaining amount of toner is small, the user can add toner by himself, for example, inserting a toner cartridge filled with toner into the drum unit and adding the toner in the toner cartridge to the drum unit. Since some toner cartridges are provided with toner cartridge chips and some are not, the drum unit chip of the present invention is provided with a special voltage control circuit to adapt to toner cartridges with or without toner cartridge chips. The user can add toner to the drum unit using both types of toner cartridges, and can make the laser printer recognize that the toner addition to the drum unit is completed.

[0040] First embodiment of the drum unit chip:

[0041] See Figure 2 , a laser printer as an electrophotographic device is provided with a detection circuit 21. A detection chip is provided in the detection circuit 21. The detection chip includes a power supply pin VCC, a detection pin Test, a data transmission pin I / O, and a ground pin GND. Among them, the power supply pin VCC outputs a power signal, and the voltage value of the power signal is the power supply voltage. The detection pin Test is used to receive a detection signal, that is, the voltage signal of the voltage detection point on the drum unit chip, so as to judge whether the toner cartridge is inserted into the drum unit and judge the current toner addition state. In addition, a resistor R1 is provided between the power supply pin VCC and the detection pin Test.

[0042] The drum unit is provided with a drum unit chip 22. A main controller U1 and a voltage control circuit are provided in the drum unit chip 22. The voltage control circuit includes two switching devices, namely a first switching device Q1 and a second switching device Q2. Preferably, both switching devices are NPN-type field effect transistors. Two pins of the main controller U1 are respectively connected to the gates of the two switching devices, and the on / off of the two switching devices is controlled by controlling the voltage applied to the gates of the two switching devices. In addition, a voltage detection point P1 is provided on the voltage control circuit. As Figure 2 can be seen, the voltage detection point P1 is connected to the detection pin Test of the printer detection chip 21. Therefore, the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 is the voltage value of the detection pin Test. In addition, when the first switching device Q1 is turned on, the voltage detection point P1 is connected to the pin P3 of the main controller U1 through the switching device Q1. At this time, the main controller U1 can obtain the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1.

[0043] The voltage control circuit is also provided with three resistors, including resistor R2, R5, and R7. Among them, the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S1 is connected in parallel with resistor R2. In the initial state, the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S1 is in the open state. When the powder cartridge rotates by a certain angle, the state of the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S1 changes from the open state to the closed state. The gate of the first switching device Q1 is connected to the pin P10 of the main controller U1. The first switching device Q1 is connected in parallel with resistor R5. When the first switching device Q1 conducts, resistor R5 is short-circuited, and the voltage at the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U1. The first end of resistor R5 is connected to the voltage detection point P1, the second end of resistor R5 is connected to the first end of resistor R2, and the second end of resistor R2 is connected to terminal A1. The gate of the second switching device Q2 is connected to the pin P11 of the main controller U1. When the first switching device Q1 is cut off, the second switching device Q2 conducts, and the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S1 is open, the voltage detection point P1, resistor R5, resistor R2, the second switching device Q2, and resistor R7 are connected in series in sequence.

[0044] The drum assembly chip 22 is also provided with three terminals A2, A3, and A4. Terminal A2 is connected to the data transmission pin I / O, terminal A3 is connected to the ground pin GND. A diode D1 and a capacitor C1 are connected in series between terminal A2 and the ground pin of the main controller U1. Terminal A4 is connected to the pin P2 of the main controller U1.

[0045] See Figure 3 , the drum assembly chip 22 is connected to the powder cartridge chip 25 through the adapter circuit board 23. The adapter circuit board 23 is provided with a powder cartridge insertion detection switch S3. When the powder cartridge is not inserted, the powder cartridge insertion detection switch S3 is in the open state. When the powder cartridge is inserted, the powder cartridge insertion detection switch S3 is in the closed state. The four terminals of the adapter circuit board 23 are respectively connected to the four terminals A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the drum assembly chip 22.

[0046] If the powder cartridge is not provided with a chip, an analog powder cartridge chip circuit 24 is provided on the powder cartridge. The analog powder cartridge chip circuit 24 only needs to be provided with a powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4. The two ends of the powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4 are respectively connected to terminal A1 and terminal A3. In the initial state, that is, before the powder addition ends, the powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4 is in the closed state. When the powder addition ends, the powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4 is in the open state. For example, the powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4 can be an iron sheet. In the initial state, the iron sheet is not damaged by the push rod. When the powder addition is completed, the push rod is pushed to the bottom of the powder cartridge, and the iron sheet is damaged by the push rod, and the powder cartridge powder addition end switch S4 is in the open state.

[0047] If the toner cartridge is provided with a toner cartridge chip 25, the toner cartridge chip 25 is provided with a resistor R3 and a resistor R4, and also provided with a toner cartridge powder addition end switch S2. Both ends of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S2 are respectively connected to the first ends of the resistor R3 and the resistor R4, and the second ends of the resistor R3 and the resistor R4 are both connected to the ground pin GND. Moreover, the toner cartridge chip 25 is also provided with a diode D2 and a capacitor C2 connected in series, and the anode end of the diode D2 is connected to the data transmission pin I / O. And, in the initial state, that is, before the powder addition ends, the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S2 is in the closed state. When the powder addition ends, the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S2 is in the open state. For example, the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S2 can be an iron sheet that can be damaged by a push rod.

[0048] Embodiment of the working method of the drum unit chip:

[0049] The following combines Figure 4 with Figure 5 to introduce the working process of the above-mentioned drum unit chip 22. First, execute step S31. The laser printer determines whether the service life of the drum unit has expired. For example, the laser printer calculates the usage time, the number of printed pages, etc. of the drum unit, and determines whether the service life of the drum unit has expired according to parameters such as the usage time and the number of printed pages. If it has expired, then execute step S32, stop the printing operation, and issue a prompt message to let the user replace the drum unit as soon as possible. If the service life of the drum unit has not expired, then execute step S33, and perform the printing operation according to the user's operation.

[0050] During the execution of the printing operation, execute step S34, calculate the remaining toner amount in the drum unit. For example, a sensor for detecting the remaining toner amount is provided in the drum unit, or the number of printed pages of the drum unit is calculated, and it is determined whether the remaining toner amount in the drum unit is sufficient according to the result detected by the sensor or according to the calculated number of printed pages. If the remaining toner amount is sufficient, there is no need to replenish the toner, and continue to execute step S33. If the remaining toner amount is insufficient, a prompt message for replenishing the toner is issued, and the monitoring process for replenishing the toner is executed.

[0051] Specifically, in the initial state, the first switching device Q1 is turned on and the second switching device is turned off. The main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22 executes step S35, and determines whether the toner cartridge is inserted by detecting whether the P2 pin is at a low level. When the toner cartridge is not inserted, the P2 pin is floating. When the toner cartridge is inserted, since the toner cartridge insertion detection switch S3 is in the closed state, the P2 pin is grounded and is a low-level signal. Therefore, it is determined whether the toner cartridge has been inserted by detecting whether the P2 pin is at a low level.

[0052] If the toner cartridge is not inserted, then execute step S40, confirm that the toner cartridge is not inserted, return the information that the toner cartridge is not inserted to the laser printer, and the laser printer returns to execute step S31. Otherwise, execute step S37.

[0053] Preferably, the switch S3 on the adapter circuit board 23 is a touch switch or a membrane switch with a certain height without a self-locking function. The height of the switch S3 can be the same as the height of other terminals connected to the powder cartridge chip, and it is arranged near other terminals connected to the powder cartridge chip to ensure that when the powder cartridge is inserted, it does not affect the electrical contact of other terminals connected to the powder cartridge chip, and the switch S3 can be closed. When the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 detects that the P2 pin is at a low level, it means that the powder cartridge has been inserted. Since the first switch device Q1 is turned on and the second switch device Q2 is turned off at this time, that is, the resistor R5 is short-circuited, the voltage at the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage at the first end of the resistor R2, that is, the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22.

[0054] After setting the states of the first switch device Q1 and the second switch device Q2, the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 executes step S37 to obtain the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1, and then executes step S38 to determine whether the powder cartridge is a powder cartridge with a chip based on the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1.

[0055] In the initial state, if the powder cartridge is not inserted, that is, the drum assembly chip 22 is not connected to the adapter circuit board 23, the voltage at the voltage detection point P1 is the power supply voltage VCC. If the powder cartridge is inserted and the powder cartridge has a powder cartridge chip 25, since the powder cartridge powder filling end switch S2 is in a closed state, the resistor R3 is connected in parallel with the resistor R4, and after the parallel connection, they are connected in series with the resistor R1 and the resistor R2. Therefore, the voltage value V1 at the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0056] V1=[R2+R3R4 / (R3+R4)] / [R1+R2+R3R4 / (R3+R4)]*VCC.

[0057] If the powder cartridge does not have a powder cartridge chip 25, a simulated powder cartridge chip circuit 24 is provided on the powder cartridge. In the initial state, the powder cartridge powder filling end switch S4 is in a closed state, and the resistor R1 and the resistor R2 divide the voltage. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0058] V1=R2 / (R1+R2)*VCC.

[0059] As described above, since the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 is different between the powder cartridge with the powder cartridge refilling end switch S2 and the powder cartridge chip 25 of the controller and the powder cartridge with only the powder cartridge refilling end switch S4, and when the first switch device Q1 is turned on, the voltage of the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U1. Therefore, the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 can determine whether the powder cartridge has the powder cartridge chip 25 based on the voltage value of the pin P3.

[0060] It should be noted that the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 can also use other methods to determine whether the inserted toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip. For example, after detecting that a toner cartridge is inserted, the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 can simulate the printer to issue an addressing instruction on the I / O bus. If there is a device response on the bus, it means that the toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip 25; otherwise, it means that the toner cartridge does not have a toner cartridge chip. When R3R4 / (R3 + R4) is much smaller than R1 + R2, if the method of detecting voltage division is used to determine whether the toner cartridge has a chip, it is required that the main controller U1 of the drum assembly chip 22 has a high AD accuracy, and the resistance value errors of resistors R1 and R2 should be as small as possible. However, using the method of simulating printer addressing can reduce the accuracy requirements for circuit devices.

[0061] If it is confirmed that the toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip 25, the first switching device Q1 is kept in the conducting state, and the second switching device Q2 is kept in the cut-off state. The toner cartridge chip 25 communicates with the detection chip of the laser printer, and the detection chip determines which step of the toner cartridge refilling operation is currently being executed by obtaining the voltage value of the detection pin Test, that is, the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1.

[0062] Specifically, after the toner cartridge rotates, the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 changes from the open state to the closed state. At this time, the resistor R2 is short-circuited. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0063] V1 = [R3R4 / (R3 + R4)] / [R1 + R3R4 / (R3 + R4)] * VCC.

[0064] Subsequently, the user fills the toner in the toner cartridge into the drum assembly. When the push rod of the toner cartridge does not slide to the bottom, the toner cartridge refilling end switch S2 is in the closed state. When the push rod slides to the bottom, that is, after all the toner in the toner cartridge is poured into the drum assembly, the toner cartridge refilling end switch S2 is in the open state. At this time, the resistor R4 is not connected to the circuit. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0065] V1 = R3 / (R1 + R3) * VCC.

[0066] Then, the drum assembly chip needs to communicate with the detection chip of the laser printer to write the number of printed pages corresponding to the added toner into the drum assembly chip 22. After the data writing is completed, the user needs to rotate the toner cartridge again to close the refilling valve. When the toner cartridge rotates back, the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 returns to the open state again. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0067] V1 = [(R2 + R3) / (R1 + R2 + R3)] * VCC.

[0068] It can be seen that when the toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip 25, by detecting the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1, the detection chip of the laser printer can confirm which step the toner addition operation of the toner cartridge is in.

[0069] If the judgment result of step S38 is negative, that is, the toner cartridge does not have a toner cartridge chip 25, then step S41 is executed, and the main controller U1 controls the first switching device Q1 to turn off. At this time, the voltage detection point P1, the resistor R5, and the resistor R2 are connected in series in turn. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0070] V1 = [(R2 + R5) / (R1 + R2 + R5)] * VCC.

[0071] At this time, the voltage V of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 P3 = [R2 / (R1 + R5 + R2)] * VCC.

[0072] In order to simulate the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 when there is a toner cartridge chip 25, the resistance value of the resistor R5 in this embodiment is equal to the resistance value of the parallel connection of the resistor R3 and the resistor R4, that is, R5 = R3R4 / (R3 + R4). In this way, when the second switching device Q2 is turned off, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 when the toner cartridge chip 25 is in the toner cartridge insertion state.

[0073] Then, step S42 is executed to judge whether the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 changes, that is, to judge whether the toner cartridge rotates to a preset position. Specifically, if the toner cartridge does not rotate to the preset position, the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 is in the open state, and the resistor R2 is connected to the circuit. If the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 is closed, the resistor R2 is short-circuited. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0074] V1 = [R5 / (R1 + R5)] * VCC.

[0075] At this time, the pin P3 of the main controller U1 is directly pulled low to the ground through the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 and the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4, that is, V P3 = 0.

[0076] Therefore, by obtaining the voltage value V of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 P3It can be confirmed whether the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 has changed. If not, continue to wait. If the toner cartridge has rotated in place, execute step S44 to determine whether the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4 has changed. Specifically, if the toner cartridge has not finished adding powder, the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4 is in a closed state. At this time, as described above, the voltage value of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 is equal to 0. Once the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4 changes to the open state, since the entire Test line does not form a loop at this time, the voltage value of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 will be pulled back from 0 to VCC. Therefore, the main controller U1 can determine whether the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4 has changed according to the voltage change of the pin P3.

[0077] If the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch S4 has not changed, continue to wait. If it has changed, execute step S45 to control the second switching device Q2 to conduct. At this time, the resistor R7 is connected to the circuit and a loop is formed again. At this time, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0078] V1 = (R5 + R7) / (R1 + R5 + R7)*VCC.

[0079] The voltage V of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 P3 = [R7 / (R1 + R5 + R7)]*VCC.

[0080] In order to simulate the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 when the toner cartridge chip 25 is present, the resistance value of the resistor R7 in this embodiment is equal to the resistance value of the resistor R3 minus the equivalent resistance value of the parallel connection of R3 and R4, that is, R7 = R3 - R3R4 / (R3 + R4). Also, since R5 = R3R4 / (R3 + R4), substituting into the above formula, we can get V1 = [R3 / (R1 + R3)]*VCC. In this way, when the first switching device Q1 is cut off and the second switching device Q2 is conducting, the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 when the toner cartridge chip 25 is present and the toner cartridge has finished adding powder.

[0081] Then, execute step S46. The main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22 communicates with the laser printer instead of the toner cartridge chip 25, and the laser printer sends the information of the increased number of printed pages to the main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22. Since the I / O pins of the drum unit chip 22 and the toner cartridge chip 25 are connected together, the main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22 can communicate with the laser printer instead of the toner cartridge chip 25. For example, the main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22 can respond to the ID instruction that the laser printer originally wanted to send to the toner cartridge chip 25. The main controller U1 of the drum unit chip 22 communicating with the laser printer instead of the toner cartridge chip 25 can be implemented in an existing manner and will not be elaborated here.

[0082] Subsequently, step S47 is executed to determine whether the user has rotated the toner cartridge. If the user has rotated the toner cartridge, the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S1 changes from closed to open. At this time, the resistor R2 is reconnected to the circuit, and the voltage detection point P1 is connected in series with the resistors R5, R2, and R7 in sequence. The voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is as follows:

[0083] V1 = [(R5 + R2 + R7) / (R1 + R5 + R2 + R7)] * VCC.

[0084] Since R5 + R7 = R3, substituting it into the above formula, we can get:

[0085] V1 = [(R2 + R3) / (R1 + R2 + R3)] * VCC.

[0086] The voltage V of the pin P3 of the main controller U1 P3 = [(R2 + R7) / (R1 + R2 + R5 + R7)] * VCC.

[0087] In this way, the main controller U1 can determine whether the user has rotated the toner cartridge according to the voltage change of the pin P3, and the voltage value V1 of the voltage detection point P1 is equal to the voltage value of the voltage detection point P1 after the toner cartridge is rotated with the toner cartridge chip 25.

[0088] Then, step S48 is executed to determine whether the state of the toner cartridge insertion detection switch S3 changes to the open state. For example, the main controller U1 determines whether the pin P2 is at a low level. If the toner cartridge insertion detection switch S3 is in the open state, the pin P2 of the main controller U1 is suspended and no signal is connected. If the state of the toner cartridge insertion detection switch S3 does not change, step S47 is continued to be executed. If the state of the toner cartridge insertion detection switch S3 changes to the open state, step S49 is executed to control the first switching device Q1 to conduct and the second switching device Q2 to cut off. Since Q2 is cut off, a loop cannot be formed on the Test line. At this time, the voltage of the voltage detection point P1 returns to VCC, and the printer considers that the user has removed the toner cartridge, and the current toner addition process ends, waiting for the next toner addition operation.

[0089] Second Embodiment of the Drum Unit Chip:

[0090] See Figure 6 And Figure 7 , the laser printer is provided with a detection circuit 31, and a detection chip is provided in the detection circuit 31. The detection chip includes a power supply pin VCC, a detection pin Test, a data transmission pin I / O, and a ground pin GND. The detection pin Test is used to receive a detection signal, and a resistor R31 is provided between the power supply pin VCC and the detection pin Test.

[0091] The drum assembly is provided with a drum assembly chip 32, and a main controller U31 and a voltage control circuit are arranged inside the drum assembly chip 32. Similar to the first embodiment, the voltage control circuit in this embodiment includes two switching devices, namely a first switching device Q31 and a second switching device Q32. In addition, the voltage control circuit further includes three resistors R32, R35, and R37, and a voltage detection point P31 is arranged on the voltage control circuit. The connection relationships of the two switching devices, the three resistors, and the voltage detection point are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the resistance values of the three resistors are also the same as those in the first embodiment, which will not be elaborated here. In addition, the resistor R32 is connected in parallel with the toner cartridge rotation detection switch S31.

[0092] The drum assembly chip 32 is connected to the toner cartridge chip 35 through an adapter circuit board 33. Different from the first embodiment, the adapter circuit board 33 in this embodiment does not have a toner cartridge insertion detection switch. Therefore, the adapter circuit board 33 is only provided with three terminals, namely A1, A2, and A3. Correspondingly, the drum assembly chip 32 is also provided with three terminals A1, A2, and A3.

[0093] The circuit structure of the toner cartridge chip 35 is the same as that of the toner cartridge chip in the first embodiment, and is provided with two resistors R33 and R34, and a toner cartridge powder adding end switch S32, which will not be elaborated here. In addition, if the toner cartridge does not have a chip, an analog toner cartridge chip circuit 34 is arranged on the toner cartridge. The analog toner cartridge chip circuit 34 is provided with a toner cartridge powder adding end switch S34. Both ends of the toner cartridge powder adding end switch S34 are respectively connected to the terminal A1 and the terminal A3, and its working principle is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0094] Since the adapter circuit board 33 does not have a toner cartridge insertion detection switch, the pin P2 of the main controller U31 is floating. In the first embodiment, the pin P2 of the main controller U31 is used to determine whether the toner cartridge is inserted, that is, to judge the change in the state of the toner cartridge insertion detection switch. In this embodiment, it is determined whether the toner cartridge is inserted by detecting the voltage change of the pin P3 of the main controller U31.

[0095] Specifically, in the initial state, the first switching device Q31 is turned on and the second switching device Q2 is turned off. Before the toner cartridge is inserted, the voltage of the voltage detection point P31 is VCC, that is, the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U31 is VCC. When the toner cartridge is inserted, if the toner cartridge has a toner cartridge chip 35, due to the resistors R32, R33, and R34 being connected to the circuit, the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U31 drops, and its voltage

[0096] V P3 =[R32 + R33R34 / (R33 + R34)] / [R31 + R32 + R33R34 / (R33 + R34)]*VCC.

[0097] If the powder cartridge does not have a powder cartridge chip, that is, only a simulated powder cartridge chip circuit 34 is provided, before the powder adding is completed, the powder adding completion switch S34 is in a closed state, the resistor R32 is also connected to the circuit to form a voltage divider, and the voltage of the pin P3 of the main controller U31 also drops. Therefore, the main controller U31 can determine whether the powder cartridge is inserted by detecting the voltage change of the pin P3.

[0098] After the powder adding is completed and the powder cartridge rotates, that is, after the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S31 is detected to be reopened, the main controller U31 no longer detects whether the powder cartridge is removed through the powder cartridge insertion detection switch, but after a delay of a period of time after the powder cartridge rotation detection switch S31 is reopened, the first switch device Q31 is turned on and the second switch device Q32 is turned off to simulate the state of the powder cartridge being removed. At this time, the laser printer will recognize that the powder cartridge has been removed and the powder adding operation is completed. Since the powder adding port on the drum assembly has been closed after the powder cartridge rotates, whether the user has taken out the empty powder cartridge has no effect on the powder adding process.

[0099] Compared with the first embodiment, this embodiment does not need to provide a powder cartridge insertion detection switch on the adapter circuit board 33 , which can simplify the structure of the adapter circuit board 33 .

[0100] Drum Assembly Embodiment:

[0101] The drum assembly of this embodiment has a frame, a toner accommodating chamber is arranged in the frame, toner can be accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber, and the drum assembly chip mentioned above is arranged on the outer wall of the frame.

[0102] Electronic imaging device embodiment:

[0103] The electronic imaging device of this embodiment is a laser printer. The laser printer is provided with a body, and the drum assembly mentioned above is detachably provided in the body.

[0104] It can be seen that the drum assembly chip of the present invention is provided with a main controller. The main controller determines whether the inserted powder cartridge carries a powder cartridge chip by obtaining the voltage value of the voltage detection point. If the powder cartridge does not carry a powder cartridge chip, the voltage change of the powder cartridge with a powder cartridge chip in each step of the powder adding operation can be simulated. If the powder cartridge carries a powder cartridge chip, the powder cartridge chip can directly communicate with the laser printer without affecting the operation of the laser printer. Therefore, the drum assembly of the present invention can be adapted to powder cartridges with powder cartridge chips or to powder cartridges without powder cartridge chips.

[0105] In addition, when the powder cartridge does not have a powder cartridge chip, the drum unit chip provided by the present invention does not adopt a delay operation during the powder adding process. Instead, it detects the voltage value of pin P3 in real time and controls the on / off states of each switching device according to the change of the voltage value. That is, after each step in the user's powder adding operation actually occurs, the drum unit chip simulates the voltage corresponding to the corresponding step. In this way, the situation where the actual operation is inconsistent with the voltage output by the drum unit will not occur during the user's powder adding operation, and the abnormal powder adding operation can be avoided.

[0106] It should be noted that the communication between the drum unit chip and the laser printer in place of the powder cartridge chip can occur at any of the above steps. For example, after the powder cartridge is inserted, the laser printer may communicate with the powder cartridge chip to verify the authenticity and effectiveness of the powder cartridge chip. At this time, the drum unit chip can replace the powder cartridge chip to respond to the instructions sent by the laser printer.

[0107] Finally, it should be emphasized that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, changes in the types of each switching device, or changes in the connection relationship between each pin of the main controller and each switching device, etc., should also be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. Drum assembly chip, comprising: a main controller and a voltage control circuit, the voltage control circuit being provided with a voltage detection point; characterized in that: the voltage control circuit is provided with more than one switching device and more than one resistor, the main controller controls the on / off of the switching device to change the connection state of the resistor, and thereby changes the voltage value of the voltage detection point, so that the voltage detection point presents different voltage values when the drum assembly chip is not connected to the toner cartridge chip, when the drum assembly chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip, when the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch changes, when the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch changes, when the toner cartridge rotates, and when the toner cartridge is removed; The working method of this drum assembly chip includes: obtaining the voltage value of the voltage detection point, and judging whether the toner cartridge connected to the drum assembly chip is provided with a toner cartridge chip according to the voltage value of the voltage detection point. If a toner cartridge chip is provided, control the on / off of the switching device so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point sequentially presents the voltage values when the drum assembly chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip, when the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch changes, when the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch changes, when the toner cartridge rotates, and when the toner cartridge is removed; The working method of this drum assembly chip further includes: obtaining the voltage value of the voltage detection point, and judging whether the toner cartridge connected to the drum assembly chip is provided with a toner cartridge chip according to the voltage value of the voltage detection point. If no toner cartridge chip is provided, control the first switching device and the second switching device to be cut off so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the drum assembly chip is initially connected to the toner cartridge chip; before the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch changes, keep the cut-off states of the first switching device and the second switching device unchanged, and after the toner cartridge rotates, so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the state of the toner cartridge rotation detection switch changes; after the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch changes, control the first switching device to be cut off and control the second switching device to be turned on so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the state of the toner cartridge powder addition end switch changes; the main controller simulates communication between the toner cartridge chip and the electrophotographic device, and the electrophotographic device sends information on increasing the number of printed pages to the main controller; before the state of the toner cartridge rotation switch changes, keep the first switching device cut off and keep the second switching device turned on, and after the toner cartridge rotates, so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the toner cartridge rotates; when the toner cartridge is removed, control the first switching device to be turned on and control the second switching device to be cut off so that the voltage value of the voltage detection point is the voltage value when the toner cartridge is removed.

2. The drum assembly chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: the voltage control circuit includes a first switching device and a fifth resistor connected in parallel, and the main controller controls the on / off of the first switching device so that the fifth resistor is connected to or disconnected from the voltage control circuit.

3. The drum assembly chip according to claim 2, characterized in that: The voltage detection point is set at the first end of the fifth resistor, the second end of the fifth resistor is connected to the first end of the second resistor, and the first end of the second resistor is simultaneously connected to a pin of the main controller.

4. The drum assembly chip according to claim 3, wherein: The main controller determines whether each step of the powder adding operation is completed by the voltage change on the pin, and after the corresponding step is completed, the voltage monitoring point is made to present different voltage values by controlling the on / off of the switching device.

5. The drum assembly chip according to claim 4, wherein: The voltage control circuit includes a second switching device and a seventh resistor. One end of the seventh resistor is grounded, and the other end is connected to the second switching device. The main controller controls the on / off of the second switching device so that the voltage control circuit is grounded through or not through the seventh resistor.

6. A drum assembly, comprising a frame, wherein, The drum assembly chip according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided on the outer wall of the frame.

7. An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a body, wherein: The drum assembly according to claim 6 is provided in the body.

8. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: The drum assembly chip can be connected to an adapter circuit board, and a toner cartridge insertion detection switch is provided on the adapter circuit board.

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